Newbury Spring Festival

Newbury Spring Festival is one of the most popular and successful music festivals in the South of England.

Over the last years the Festival has grown hugely in size and quality building up a reputation of international status.

The very best young musical stars appear alongside some of the world’s most distinguished and famous names.

Newbury Spring Festival is a glorious fortnight of world class music in Newbury and its beautiful neighbouring villages, with up to 45 events in 18 venues, and where international symphony orchestras, ensembles and soloists rub shoulders with jazz legends, world music artists and the stars of tomorrow.

The Festival was founded in 1979 to provide the opportunity to promote culture in the region by creating an annual festival accessible to all.

It aims to bring excellent, new and innovative work from around the world to a variety of local venues adding to the economic and cultural wellbeing of the area, and to continue to create opportunities for young people, existing and new audiences to enjoy the arts.

Newbury Spring Festival is funded entirely by private donation, charitable giving and corporate sponsorship and enjoys its reputation as one of the most important cultural events in the region, attracting audiences of several thousand each year from the immediate area and beyond.

Over the past few years, highlights have included the Soweto Gospel Choir at Douai Abbey which has become one of the Festival’s major venues and established a tradition of world class choirs.

Also in 2006, the Victoria Mullova Ensemble performed an unforgettable concert at Englefield House.

In 2008 John Williams and Emanuel Ax both performed in the Corn Exchange, developing a pattern of an International Celebrity Recital Series in this venue.

In 2004 the Tibetan Monks from Tashi Lhunpo Monastry took part in an exciting week long Festival residency.

WORLD-CLASS MUSIC CELEBRATION RETURNS TO WEST BERKSHIRE AS NEWBURY SPRING FESTIVAL TICKETS GO ON SALE

Tickets available from Tuesday 10 February at 10:00am

The Festival brings world-class music to Newbury and its surrounding villages, with more than 45 events across 20 venues, featuring leading international artists alongside outstanding emerging talent.

Following the success of last year’s launch, the Festival will once again open with the Festival Parade – a free outdoor magical spectacle and celebration of music and performance, produced in partnership with Corn Exchange Newbury and 101 Outdoor Arts, bringing local musicians, performers and community groups together in the heart of Newbury.

The Festival’s orchestral programme features four large-scale concerts, with a strong focus this year on major soloists, new music and landmark performances at St Nicolas Church.

The London Mozart Players open the Festival with a programme that combines classical favourites with contemporary innovation.

Horn soloist Ben Goldscheider, recognised as one of the leading musicians of his generation, performs Mozart’s ever-popular Horn Concerto No. 4, and also gives the Festival debut performance of Sirens, a new work by GRAMMY-nominated composer Anna Clyne, one of today’s most important contemporary composers.

Written especially for Goldscheider, Sirens draws on the myth of the sirens who lured sailors to their doom with irresistible voices.

Working closely together, Clyne and Goldscheider push the expressive boundaries of the horn to create a hypnotic, ethereal and completely entrancing sound world.

The following Saturday the Philharmonia Orchestra appear at St Nicolas Church as part of their 80th anniversary year, joined by rising star conductor Adam Hickox.

The concert features Alim Beisembayev, winner of the Leeds International Piano Competition and BBC New Generation Artist 2023–25, in a much anticipated performance of Beethoven’s Piano Concerto no 4.

The Festival also welcomes back the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra, performing Britten’s Four Sea Interludes, Richard Strauss’s Four Last Songs with soprano Elizabeth Watts, and Tchaikovsky’s Symphony No. 6 ‘Pathétique’, conducted by Tom Featherstonhaugh.

The programme also includes a Festival appearance from the Berkshire Youth Symphony Orchestra, joined by internationally rising star cellist Jonathan Swensen, winner of the Windsor International String Competition in 2019.

Now enjoying a flourishing international career, Swensen performs Elgar’s Cello Concerto, bringing fresh energy and insight to one of Britain’s most loved works, alongside Sibelius’s Symphony No. 1.

For the first time in 20 years, the Festival presents five concerts at St Nicolas Church, including a performance of Brahms’s German Requiem by the Festival Chorus, conducted by chorus master Tom Primrose joined by rising stars soprano Hilary Cronin and baritone James Atkinson.

Further choral performance include Harry Christophers and The Sixteen at Douai Abbey and VOCES8 returning to St Martin’s East Woodhay.

A wide-ranging chamber music series runs throughout the fortnight, from solo recitals to chamber ensembles including a recital by Irish pianist Barry Douglas at the Corn Exchange, performing works by Schubert and Prokofiev alongside Beethoven’s Appassionata sonata.

Renowned brass ensemble Septura return after their huge success last year, while Ireland’s Fidelio Trio and the Pavel Haas Quartet on tour from their home city of Prague, reinforce the Festival’s reputation for presenting world-class classical music of international quality.

The Festival’s world music and genre-crossing events bring global influences to Newbury. At the Corn Exchange, the Romano Viazzani Ensemble present An Evening of Tango, Music and Dance, combining traditional tango with original arrangements and live dance. Also appearing are the Budapest Café Orchestra, whose concert draws on gypsy, folk and European café traditions in a fast-paced and virtuosic ensemble performance.

Jazz, cabaret and crossover music form a vibrant strand of the Festival programme, featuring many of the UK’s best-known and most-loved artists.

Star saxophonist Jess Gillam appears both in concert and leading a public masterclass, while the uplifting Soul Sanctuary Gospel Choir bring their infectious energy to Festival audiences, including a free outdoor performance before their concert at Newbury Corn Exchange. Further highlights include performances from Joe Stilgoe, Liza Pulman, Dominic Alldis and Ian Shaw, all acclaimed figures on the national and international jazz and cabaret scene.

Supporting emerging performers remains a central part of the Festival’s mission.

The Young Artists Lunchtime Series at the Corn Exchange showcases musicians across a range of styles and disciplines. Baritone Florian Störtz presents a lunchtime recital featuring Wagner’s Wesendonck Lieder, alongside songs by Liszt, Müller-Hermann and Richard Strauss.

The series also includes the Paddington Trio , Fibonacci Quartet, the winner of the Festival’s own 2026 Sheepdrove Piano Competition and Immy Churchill Jazz Quartet, performing jazz standards and American Songbook repertoire, continuing the Festival’s commitment to championing the next generation of artists.

Mark Eynon, Festival Director of Newbury Spring Festival, said:

“This year’s programme reflects everything the Festival stands for – artistic quality, variety and a sense of discovery.

We’re delighted to welcome internationally recognised performers alongside outstanding young artists, and to present music that ranges from large-scale orchestral works to intimate recitals, community celebration and global traditions.

It’s a programme we’re immensely proud of, and we look forward to sharing it with audiences across Newbury and the surrounding villages.”

Priority booking for Festival Friends has already taken place.

Full programme details and ticket information are available at newburyspringfestival.org.uk and a copy of the Festival Guide can be found here.