Chagford Music | Free Live Summer Music!

Friday June 7th 2024

Amanes

Lisa Rowe (accordion/vocal)
Anita Munson (clarinet)

Passionate East European, Roma and Balkan music. Lisa and Anita take their audience on a meandering musical journey through different countries, cultures and eras, by means of beautiful melodies and soulful songs.

Anita Munson (clarinet) and Lisa Rowe (accordion/vocal) are Amanes, a duo playing a mixture of East European, Roma and Balkan music, with a few other influences thrown in for good measure. Their collaboration began during the lockdown of 2020, when they began meeting for a weekly al fresco play in a riverside meadow on Dartmoor. Since then, they have performed all over the South West and in London, playing for various events, festivals, weddings and parties for people who love the heart-stirring sounds of their music. Their name derives from a song called ‘Amanes tis kalinichtias’, the first piece they learned together – an ‘aman’ being an improvised vocal often serving as an introduction to a traditional Greek/Turkish song.

Lisa and Anita look forward to taking the Chagford audience on a meandering musical journey through different countries, cultures and eras, by means of beautiful melodies and soulful songs.

Sponsored by Paul Henderson

Friday June 14th 2024

Adeos Duo

Joel Munday (violin) and Vanessa Hristova (viola)

Rising star Joel Munday took Chagford by storm last year (“like a young Mick Jagger”). He returns with Bulgarian violist, Vanessa, to perform a dazzling mosaic of violin and viola duets.

Joel Munday
British violinist Joel David Munday performs internationally as a soloist and chamber musician. His extensive repertoire incorporates all the major violin works, and he has a particular interest in exploring lesser known and contemporary music. In 2023, he was an inaugural winner of the London Symphony Orchestra’s Conservatoire Scholarship. He is currently a Stift International Music Festival Young Artist.

Joel has won top prizes at numerous international violin competitions, including First Prize at the International Competition Dobrich, Bulgaria (2022), Erben Music Festival’s Scholarship Prize (2023), Third Prize at the London Daddario String Prize (2023), Sponsors Award at the Pila Festival, Poland (2021), first prize at the Royal College of Music Concerto Competition (2017), first prize at the Two Moors Festival Young Musician Competition (2016), third prize at Whitgift International Violin Competition (2017) and String Prize at the Gregynog Young Musician Competition (2018).

Vanessa Hristova
Bulgarian violist Vanessa Hristova performs internationally as a soloist, chamber musician and principal violist. She is a top prize winner at the International Music Competition Dobrich, the King’s Peak Competition, and the Beethoven Viola Concours, and a Young Artist of the Stift International Music Festival.

Vanessa graduated from the National School of Arts in Varna. She completed her Bachelor of Music and Master of Performance with Distinction as an Elsie Gertrude Martin Scholar at the Royal College of Music, where she is currently studying for an Artist Diploma in Performance.

Vanessa is an Orpheus Sinfonia Foundation Programme Musician as well as a recipient of the Royal Philharmonic Society Julius Isserlis Scholarship, the Help Musicians Postgraduate Award, the Kathleen Trust Grant, and the Henry Wood Accommodation Trust Award. Her studies have been supported by the Countess of Munster Musical Trust and the Stephen Bell Trust.

Joel and Vanessa formed the Adeos Duo in 2021.

Sponsored by Kit and Anthony Newsome

Friday June 21st 2024

Flute Cake

Sophie Brewer, Jennifer Campbell and Ruth Molins (flutes)

A selection of light classics and original pieces celebrating the summer solstice, including ‘Ancient Rites’ by local composer Andrew Wilson which features the whole flute family and is inspired by ancient Devon traditions.

Flute Cake are a trio of flautists – Sophie Brewer, Jennifer Campbell and Ruth Molins – who perform on the whole flute family: piccolo, concert flute, alto flute and bass flute. Their repertoire includes around 200 unique arrangements by Jennifer of music from folk, films, jazz, pop and classical idioms; as well as original works by composers old and new. Their arrangements are unique to them and include works such as Holst’s ‘The Planets Suite’ Disney’s ‘Frozen’ and West Side Story!

Flute Cake’s repertoire ranges from Bach to Beeftink and Orchestral to Opera. Performing together for over ten years, Jennifer, Ruth and Sophie have a unique blend of sounds which captivates and brings joy to audiences. Listeners often express delight at how Flute Cake can recreate the sound of an entire orchestra.

“It was like listening to an intimate conversation, I’ve never heard flutes sound like that!”

“A wonderful mix of classical, folk, and film music. The audience loved them!”

“I loved your playing, you took me away to a different place for a while.”

Sponsored by Anonymous Donation

Friday June 28th 2024

Elizabeth-Jane Baldry

Elizabeth-Jane Baldry (harp)

Internationally recognised harpist performs delicious harp music from the last five centuries: music by the 19th-century Devon-born harp virtuoso, Elias Parish-Alvars, Victorian fairy harp music and arrangements of traditional Devon folk melodies.

“She is a great artist and consummate performer. She can draw more tone colours out of the instrument than any other harpist living in the world today.” – David Watkins, Professor of Harp, Guildhall School of Music

Elizabeth-Jane Baldry has been in love with the sound of the harp since her earliest childhood. She studied music at Exeter University and (pre-Covid) presented around fifty performances a year from recitals in historic houses or on specialist arts cruises to weddings and funerals. She is the only silent movie harpist in the world, performing live accompaniment to cinema screenings of early film, exciting and creative work which takes her to film festivals around Europe. Her compositions have been used by ITV, the BBC and by Irish, Japanese, Danish and Canadian film, radio and television.

Elizabeth-Jane’s unique research into Victorian Fairy Harp Music has led to a CD with worldwide distribution; radio and TV broadcasts; a West End stage show with actor Simon Callow for which she also wrote the songs; appearances at the Royal Academy of Art exhibition of Victorian Fairy Paintings and at Prince Charles’s unveiling of the restored Elfin Oak Tree in Kensington Gardens; involvement in the major French exhibition Dragons, Elfes et Fées; and an appearance in the award-winning Canadian television documentary The Fairy Faith.

Her uniquely rich tone on the harp has graced several film/TV soundtracks screened in over thirty countries including America, Canada, Iceland, Kenya, Iran, South Africa, Poland and Cyprus.

Elizabeth-Jane lives here in Chagford.

Sponsored by Vanessa Garrett and family

Friday July 5th 2024

Music on the Edge

Susie Hodder-Williams and Chris Caldwell

The Dartmoor-based multi-instrumentalists perform music which melds the ancient with the contemporary, creating ambient improvisations and landscape inspired soundscapes. ‘Utterly captivating’ – The Independent

Susie Hodder-Williams and Chris Caldwell have been creating landscape and nature inspired music since 2005.

They have worked with many artists and created music to accompany exhibitions, documentaries, nature journals and multimedia productions. The artist, André Wallace commissioned them to create the music for his exhibition, the Voyage, at Poole Museum. The music for this was released on their album, Coracle of Life.

Their first solo album, ‘Mariner’s Way,’ was released on the FMR label. Here they musically followed the mythical footsteps of the ancient mariner traversing across Dartmoor. It received stunning reviews both nationally and overseas. They have also worked and recorded alongside many of the eclectic artists at FMR.

Since then, some memorable highlights have been spending time with an Aboriginal tribe in the remote central mountainous regions of Taiwan; performing in the basement of the Downtown Music Gallery in New York, the jumping Avant Garden club in Houston, the sublime Zeitgeist art house cinema in New Orleans and giving a 2.00am recital to a cool and very wide awake hip crowd at the Two Days, Two Nights Contemporary Music Festival in Odessa!

Recently they have had the opportunity to perform meditative music in support of mental health and well-being in the glorious space of Wells Cathedral, Somerset, aptly described as the most poetic of English cathedrals. This performance series goes under the banner of Blue Rainbow Concerts.

Their music reaches across musical boundaries and geographical borders. It is regularly broadcast on RTÉ Lyric FM, along with BBC Radio 3, ABC Australia, Radio New Zealand, WDR, ÖRF, RTHK, local Art Stations including Phonic FM, South Dublin FM & Devonstream as well as many internet stations in Europe, Japan and US.

Susie and Chris live here in the Dartmoor National Park.

Sponsored by Anonymous Donation

Friday July 12th 2024

Sophia Surenovna McKett

Sophia Surenovna McKett (piano)

Soul-stirring works by Tchaikovsky, Schubert and Beethoven. The tragic ‘Tempest Sonata’ forms the focal point: a magic journey in a storm of emotions. Sophia gave her first piano recital at the age of 11 at the Russian Cultural Centre in Colombo.

Sophia Surenovna McKett is of mixed parentage and, being half Russian, quarter Sri Lankan, quarter English, has had exposure to the music and cultures of both East and West.

She began music studies at the age of six and gave her first piano recital at the age of eleven at the Russian Cultural Centre in Colombo. Further studies continued at the Gnessin Academy of Music, Moscow, whose alumni include pianist Evgeny Kissin and conductor Evgeny Svethlanov.

During her six years in Moscow Sophia actively participated in Academy concerts performing both in chamber ensembles and solo. After graduating with a master’s degree she went on to perform in wide ranging concerts both in Russia and Sri Lanka, where she appeared as soloist with the Sri Lanka Symphony Orchestra. The following year Sophia completed the masterclasses of the legendary pianist Vitaly Margulis in Freiburg, Germany.

Now settled in England, Sophia has appeared in many solo concerts. She regularly accompanies mezzo soprano Caroline MacPhie (Countess of Munster Trust scholarship winner) and has an ongoing piano duo partnership with pianist Giuseppe Bavetta. She founded the Sonacri Piano Trio with violinist Naomi Rump and cellist Chris Greenhalgh with whom she has performed widely. Her most recent collaboration has been with violinist Sara Stagg.

Much in demand and a sought after tutor, Sophia teaches at Wells Cathedral School, Clifton College, and Badminton School. She also has a successful private teaching studio with many prize-winning pupils and enjoys passing on the rich traditions of the Russian School of piano playing.

This year Sophia taught in the prestigious International Summer Piano Course held in Wells. She has also just taken on the responsibility of regional representative of EPTA (European Piano Teacher’s Association) for Bristol and enjoys organising masterclasses and lecture recitals for its members.

For her Chagford concert, Sophia performs a programme of soul-stirring works by Tchaikovsky, Schubert and Beethoven. The tragic ‘Tempest’ sonata forms the focal point of the recital – a magic journey in a storm of emotions, fiercely ascending in the dexterity of the fingers to an emotional outburst, descending suddenly into nothingness. The unexpected end of the third movement leaves the audience with sweet haunting sounds, yet thirsty for one more repetition in this mesmerising melody.

Sponsored by Casa Magnolia

Friday July 19th 2024

Levowan XII

Chamber Choir

Music from some of the popular choir’s favourite young talented American composers including Eric Whitacre, Dan Forrest, and Elaine Hagenberg. Haunting melodies, innovative arrangements of spirituals and rich harmonic choral pieces.

The chamber choir Levowan XII was established in 2015 by Musical Director, Marcus Alleyne, and draws its members from Cornwall and Devon. Membership of the choir is by invitation and a robust audition process, ensuring the high quality for which the group is becoming well-known.

Originally eight voices, the choir was assembled to perform a live carol concert for local radio, but now numbers twelve. All the members have strong musical backgrounds and bring a broad range of experience and versatility.

The choir performs throughout the year and collaborates with other music ensembles at events throughout the region. Delivering a vast repertoire covering almost any genre, including major works, they perform a cappella, accompanied by piano, organ or chamber orchestra.

Levowan XII has firm links with both British and international composers, premiering several of their works here in the UK. A highlight has been to perform alongside the Band of Her Majesty’s Royal Marines.

A former Royal Navy medic, Marcus Alleyne has found his true calling as a champion of community music-making, garnering international acclaim for his contributions to the world of music. He is also the conductor of the South West Philharmonia Orchestra and Chorus, amongst other musical groups across the region.

For more information, please visit: www.levowan.com and listen to the choir on www.levowan.com/hear-up

Sponsored by Anonymous Donation

Friday July 26th 2024

Music Allsorts

Ruth Penrose (clarinet) and Roger Cleverdon (piano)

An engaging selection of music for clarinet and piano, perfect for a summer lunchtime. Meet Mozart, visit the Victorian Kitchen Garden, and sail down the Swanee River

What better way is there to spend a summer lunchtime than enjoying some Musical Allsorts carefully selected from the huge clarinet repertoire? From melodies of Mozart – one of the earliest composers to write for clarinet – through Gabriel Pierné and Gerald Finzi, to Paul Reade’s 1989 television theme tune for ‘The Victorian Kitchen Garden’.

Ruth Penrose
Being taken to hear past masters such as Jack Brymer and Alan Hacker started Ruth’s journey playing the clarinet whilst she was still in primary school. A fairly smooth journey took her eventually to lessons with Mark O’Brien, bass clarinetist for the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra. But then life, as it does, got in the way, and her clarinet didn’t see much daylight for a while.
After some busy years delivering other people’s babies as a midwife, then having her own family, she rediscovered the joy of the clarinet. Its versatility and expressive abilities make it an ideal instrument for many different kinds of music, whether beautifully lyrical melodies or spiky and waspish passages.

Roger Cleverdon
Roger started his musical life in 1951 as a chorister at Exeter Cathedral. He went on to study Singing, Organ and Piano at the Guildhall School of Music in London.

He sang as a Lay Vicar in the Choir of Westminster Abbey from 1965 to 2002, combining this with freelance work. He was the Bass in the Quintet for two stage shows with Donald Swann; and he appeared on television with the Two Ronnies and the Monty Pythons. He also sang with the ‘Sixteen’, and taught at the Arts Educational School, London.

Roger has been the Organist of St. Andrew’s Church, Sampford Courtenay, Devon; for the past twenty years, and is acting organist here at St. Michael the Archangel. He is also the much-loved musical director of the choir at St Michael’s.

Sponsored by The Exeter Music Depot

Friday August 2nd 2024

Trojan Gorse

Explore this remarkable band’s musical journey through Latin American rhythms and Celtic melodies, blending double bass, flugal horn, cahon, and harp into an enchanting, borderless aural tapestry.

Embark on a voyage with Trojan Gorse as we navigate the deep waters of our musical past and future. From the exotic vibrant rhythms of Latin America to the enchanting melodies of our Celtic homelands. The unique confluence of double bass, flugal horn, cahon and pedal harp weaves an aural tapestry without borders.

Nurtured amidst the inspiring landscapes of Dartmoor, Trojan Gorse emerged from a shared reverence for music that knows no cultural bounds. At the core of our musical journey lies a celebration of tradition, from the intricate harmonies of the Baroque era to the intoxicating rhythms of habaneras from the 19th century, our music is more than homage; it’s a dynamic testament to the art of improvisation and reinterpretation. Our performances are a dynamic exploration of tradition and innovation, where familiar melodies intertwine with spontaneous improvisations to craft something truly magical.

Sponsored by The Chagford Spar

Friday August 9th 2024

Louis Bingham and Griselda Sanderson

A vivid soundscape inspired by the many rich traditions of Europe and beyond, the mother and son duo perform music on instruments such as Celtic cittern, guitar, Bulgarian tambura, fiddle, viola, Norwegian Hardanger and Swedish nyckelharpa.

Louis Bingham and Griselda Sanderson are a mother and son duo who keep alive the timeless traditions of a musical family. Louis plays fretted instruments such as the Celtic cittern, guitar, tenor banjo and Bulgarian tambura. Griselda plays bowed strings – fiddle, viola, Norwegian Hardanger and the Swedish nyckelharpa. Highly regarded as individual stylists on their respective instruments, their arrangements evoke a vivid soundscape echoing the broad span of their repertoire.

Inspired by the many rich traditions of Europe and beyond, Louis and Griselda’s music reaches from Galicia to Norway, Donegal to Crete, with many stops between.

Louis Bingham is a multi-instrumentalist and singer specialising in fretted string instruments including cittern, guitar, mandolin, tenor banjo and tambura. A graduate of the Folk Degree in Newcastle he has been organising music sessions and teaching fretted strings and traditional dance ever since. He is dedicated to community building, co-teaching on long-running mixed-instrument workshop series Tunelink South West as well as performing regularly for ceilidhs and Irish set dancing in the South West. For two years he was a member of Gifford’s Circus band and has been involved in a variety of theatre shows.

Youtube channel
https://www.youtube.com/@LouisBinghamMusic
Facebook Music page
https://www.facebook.com/LouisBinghamMusic/
Bandcamp
https://louisbingham.bandcamp.com

Griselda Sanderson grew up in Scotland. The daughter of a violin maker she has been immersed in music of all kinds her entire life, now specialising in nyckelharpa and fiddle. As well as teaching traditional styles (Swedish, Scots & Irish) she is also involved in community music, playing for Scottish and Irish set dancing and ceilidhs, tutoring on courses and organising mixed-instrument traditional music workshops. She toured with the Royal Shakespeare Company playing the nyckelharpa, and provided music for a season at Shakespeare’s Globe.

YouTube Channel
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCR6z93mjfxlgfRFFz7XQvXQ
Bandcamp
https://griseldasanderson1.bandcamp.com
Facebook Music
https://www.facebook.com/GriseldaSandersonMusic/

Sponsored by Fowlers Properties

Friday August 16th 2024

Songs from the Shows

Gregory and Ellen Steward (voice)

James Garland (piano)

Brother and sister Gregory and Ellen perform songs from musicals such as West Side Story, Sound of Music and Carousel, along with classical favourites, accompanied by James on piano.

Gregory and Ellen Steward (voice), James Garland (piano)

For their Chagford lunchtime concert, Gregory and Ellen Steward will perform a varied programme of solos and duets from musicals such as West Side Story, The Sound of Music and Carousel. They’ll also perform songs by composers such as Schubert, Handel, Gershwin and Ivor Novello. They will be accompanied by James Garland.

Gregory is a graduate of The Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama. Since graduating in 2022, he travels widely over the South West of England as a professional tenor, giving solo recitals in many churches and private functions.

In their third year of study at the same College, soprano Ellen studies under Suzanne Murphy and James studies jazz trumpet under Head of Department Andrew Bain, but also really enjoys playing in contrasting styles as an accompanist.

Sponsored by The Fat Mouse Dairy

Friday August 23rd 2024

Pete Canter Jazz Trio

Superb swing and latin jazz with fine saxophonist and flute player Pete Canter and talented fellow musicians James Clemas on piano and Kevin Sanders on upright bass. One of last year’s most popular concerts.

Pete Canter is an accomplished jazz saxophonist, upright bass player and flautist and a composer of original jazz and contemporary music. His jazz repertoire draws upon swing, bebop, latin jazz standards and originals. Pete first played on the 1980s London jazz scene, then in Wales during the 1990s, before moving to the Southwest in 2001. He has established himself on the local jazz scene and further afield as a fine saxophone player, composer and band leader responsible for a string of creative projects. Pete has recorded several well received jazz albums and has played at major UK festivals including Cheltenham and Teignmouth Jazz Festivals. He is accompanied in Chagford by two of the South West’s most in-demand and highly talented musicians, James Clemas on piano and Kevin Sanders on upright bass.

Sponsored by the Van Der Steens

Welcome to free Summer concerts in Chagford every Friday lunchtime

June 7th to August 23rd 2024

Enriching and connecting the community through free live music

Welcome to free Summer concerts in Chagford every Friday lunchtime

June 7th to August 23rd 2024

Enriching and connecting the community through free live music

Enjoy live music in the beautiful parish church of St. Michael the Archangel. Concerts begin at 1.10pm and last about 45 minutes

Sponsored by:

The Exeter Music Depot

Full Concert Details

Pete Canter Jazz Trio

Superb swing and latin jazz with fine saxophonist and flute player Pete Canter and talented fellow musicians James Clemas on piano and Kevin Sanders on upright bass. One of last year’s most popular concerts.

Sponsored by:

the VanDer Steens

Full Concert Details

Friday June 7th 2024

Amanes

Lisa Rowe (accordion/vocal)Anita Munson (clarinet)

Passionate East European, Roma and Balkan music. Lisa and Anita take their audience on a meandering musical journey through different countries, cultures and eras, by means of beautiful melodies and soulful songs.

Friday June 14th 2024

Adeos Duo

Joel Munday (violin) and Vanessa Hristova (viola)

Rising star Joel Munday took Chagford by storm last year (“like a young Mick Jagger”). He returns with Bulgarian violist, Vanessa, to perform a dazzling mosaic of violin and viola duets.

Friday June 21st 2024

Flute Cake

Sophie Brewer, Jennifer Campbell and Ruth Molins (flutes)

A selection of light classics and original pieces celebrating the summer solstice, including ‘Ancient Rites’ by local composer Andrew Wilson which features the whole flute family and is inspired by ancient Devon traditions.

Friday June 28th 2024

Elizabeth-Jane Baldry

Elizabeth-Jane Baldry (harp)

Internationally recognised harpist performs delicious harp music from the last five centuries: music by the 19th-century Devon-born harp virtuoso, Elias Parish-Alvars, Victorian fairy harp music and arrangements of traditional Devon folk melodies.

Friday July 5th 2024

Music on the Edge

Susie Hodder-Williams and Chris Caldwell

The Dartmoor-based multi-instrumentalists perform music which melds the ancient with the contemporary, creating ambient improvisations and landscape inspired soundscapes. ‘Utterly captivating’ – The Independent

Friday July 12th 2024

Sophia Surenovna McKett

Sophia Surenovna McKett (piano)

Soul-stirring works by Tchaikovsky, Schubert and Beethoven. The tragic ‘Tempest Sonata’ forms the focal point: a magic journey in a storm of emotions. Sophia gave her first piano recital at the age of 11 at the Russian Cultural Centre in Colombo.

Friday July 19th 2024

Levowan XII

Chamber Choir

Music from some of the popular choir’s favourite young talented American composers including Eric Whitacre, Dan Forrest, and Elaine Hagenberg. Haunting melodies, innovative arrangements of spirituals and rich harmonic choral pieces.

Friday July 26th 2024

Music Allsorts

Ruth Penrose (clarinet) and Roger Cleverdon (piano)

An engaging selection of music for clarinet and piano, perfect for a summer lunchtime. Meet Mozart, visit the Victorian Kitchen Garden, and sail down the Swanee River

Friday August 2nd 2024

Trojan Gorse

Explore this remarkable band’s musical journey through Latin American rhythms and Celtic melodies, blending double bass, flugal horn, cahon, and harp into an enchanting, borderless aural tapestry.

Friday August 9th 2024

Louis Bingham and Griselda Sanderson

A vivid soundscape inspired by the many rich traditions of Europe and beyond, the mother and son duo perform music on instruments such as Celtic cittern, guitar, Bulgarian tambura, fiddle, viola, Norwegian Hardanger and Swedish nyckelharpa.

Friday August 16th 2024

Songs from the Shows

Gregory and Ellen Steward (voice)

James Garland (piano)

Brother and sister Gregory and Ellen perform songs from musicals such as West Side Story, Sound of Music and Carousel, along with classical favourites, accompanied by James on piano.

Friday August 23rd 2024

Pete Canter Jazz Trio

Superb swing and latin jazz with fine saxophonist and flute player Pete Canter and talented fellow musicians James Clemas on piano and Kevin Sanders on upright bass. One of last year’s most popular concerts.

Welcome to free Summer concerts in Chagford every Friday lunchtime

June 7th to August 23rd 2024

Enriching and connecting the community through free live music

Welcome to free Summer concerts in Chagford every Friday lunchtime

June 7th to August 23rd 2024

Enriching and connecting the community through free live music

Enjoy live music in the beautiful parish church of St. Michael the Archangel. Concerts begin at 1.10pm and last about 45 minutes

Don’t go hungry! You are welcome to bring your lunch into the church

Why not treat yourself to something delicious?

Blacks Delicatessen and Beachwood Bakery in the centre of Chagford are very happy to provide takeaway lunches for concert-goers

Friday 7th June 2024

Amanes

Sponsored by:

Paul Henderson

Friday 14th June 2024

Adeos Duo

Sponsored by:

Kit and Anthony Newsome

Friday 21st June 2024

Flute Cake

Sponsored by:

Anonymous Donation

Friday 28th June 2024

Elizabeth-Jane Baldry

Sponsored by:

Vanessa Garrett and family

Friday 5th July 2024

Music on the Edge

Sponsored by:

Anonymous Donation

Friday 12th July 2024

Sophia Surenovna McKett

Sponsored by:

Casa Magnolia

Lisa Rowe (accordion/vocal)
Anita Munson (clarinet)