Banbury Early Music Festival returns this weekend with packed programme of concerts and workshops

Organisers of the popular festival have confirmed that three workshops have already sold out.

Founded by local musicians Alison Kinder, Heidi Fardell and Dylan McCaig in 2023, the fast-growing Banbury Early Music Festival has become a major celebration of early and Baroque music in the region.

The festival offers visitors the chance to discover music spanning the medieval, Renaissance, Baroque and early classical periods through a programme of workshops and live performances.

This year’s event gets underway on Saturday with a 10am choral workshop at St Mary’s Church, exploring Renaissance and early Baroque repertoire, including music by John Dowland to mark the 400th anniversary of his death.

Also starting at 10am is the free-entry marketplace at Whately Hall Hotel and Cromwell Lodge Hotel, where visitors can browse instruments, sheet music and crafts, meet specialist exhibitors and explore the world of early music between performances.

At noon, Blondel presents Cover Story in the Swift Suite at Whately Hall Hotel.

Heidi Fardell will then lead a recorder workshop at 1.45pm in St Mary’s Church Hall, followed by Dr Helen Davidge’s sold-out Regency dance workshop at 3.30pm.

The free Performers’ Platform will take place in Whately Hall’s Swift Suite from 3.30pm to 4.30pm.

The event will feature Pink Noise, Holly Tree Ensemble, students from the National Youth Recorder Orchestra and Melissa Mentzer.

A spokesperson for the festival said: “The free Performers’ Platform offers audiences the chance to hear amateur and young musicians alongside the festival’s professional programme.”

At 5pm, The Little Song Party presents Sense and Musicality at St Mary’s Church, featuring soprano Penelope Appleyard and pianist Jonathan Delbridge exploring Jane Austen’s musical world through songs and stories.

Saturday concludes at 7.30pm with the Linarol Consort and soprano Héloïse Bernard performing Epitaph for a Green Lover at Banbury Town Hall, replacing the previously advertised venue.

Sunday’s festivities get underway with the Festival Service at St Mary’s Church at 10am, including the presentation of the Royal School of Church Music’s Young Church Musician Award to festival co-director Dylan McCaig.

The Makers’ Marketplace will be open from 10am to 4pm, with a workshop led by David Hatcher at 10.30am. A free Performers’ Platform follows at Cromwell Lodge from 11am to 12.30pm.

At 1pm, Lynda Sayce performs a solo lute recital at St Mary’s Church, followed by a medieval music workshop and performances at Cromwell Lodge from 2.30pm.

The Gonzaga Band performs Love’s Labyrinth at Whately Hall at 4.30pm, before the festival concludes at St Mary’s Church at 7pm with Ensemble Augelletti’s Jewels That Brightly Burn.

A spokesperson for the festival added: “With professional concerts, opportunities to participate and free events throughout the weekend, the festival welcomes both established early/classical music enthusiasts and those discovering the repertoire for the first time.”

The full programme and booking links are available on the Banbury Early Music Festival website at: https://banburyearlymusicfestival.weebly.com/concerts--schedule