Last week’s Autumn Festival in Beverley was a real ‘harvest’ of music, gathering in 25 exceptional musicians from across the world for 15 performances. Joining them on the main stage were five of our Voyagers – local young musicians of outstanding promise, all of whom did themselves and the region proud.
The sun shone, and the abundance of musical experiences enjoyed by festivalgoers included chamber music, song, the world premiere of a new work for families by David Knotts, moving stories from Dr Kate Kennedy’s book ‘Cello: A Journey Through Silence to Sound’, and much more besides.
Audience members travelled from near and far and everyone had their own highlight: for many it was Benjamin Appl’s Saturday morning song recital with our artistic director Libby Burgess; for others it was the sparkling piano duets from old friends Libby & Sholto Kynoch. Some picked ‘From the Homeland’ – centred around Dvořák’s soulful Dumky Trio – as their favourite concert; whilst others were wowed by Richard Watkins’ virtuosic horn playing in Peter Maxwell Davies’ Sea Eagle.
A potent mix of old and new music yielded magical programmes from the Attacca Quartet who ended their UK tour in a candlelit St Mary’s Church, and from Helen Charlston & Sholto who gave a spellbinding final performance in their ‘Notes of Old’ tour.
A spirit of discovery ran through the joyful event from start to finish, and works new to most festivalgoers included Ellen Taaffe Zwilich’s A Little Violin Music in Memory of Elijah McClain, powerfully performed by Sophie Rosa, Sir James MacMillan’s Lament for Mary, Queen of Scots, and Libby Larsen’s rapid-fire Gavel Patter.
Also joining in the adventure were a group of brave amateur recorder players who took part in a workshop led by Professor Ian Wilson, culminating in a performance under the 15th-century Ceiling of Kings in St Mary’s. The repertoire they worked on echoed the broader festival programme, including pieces by John Dowland and Arvo Pärt.
The fruits of the festival were savoured at all times of day, from breakfast-time Schubert Impromptus performed by Libby to a late-night performance of ‘Royal Rivals’ by the Flautadors Recorder Quartet in the intimate confines of St John of Beverley RC Church. Non-musical treats along the way included interval ice creams from local business Burgess Ice Cream!
Our next musical bounty in Beverley will be the Spring Festival, running 15th – 19th April 2026. The festival will be a big celebration of New Paths’ 10th anniversary. We hope that you can join us for what will be a whopper of a festival featuring choral music, organ music and a carnival of everything in between. We’ll be welcoming back star artists and re-living some of the most memorable moments from our first decade. And we’ll be showcasing our glorious town to new festivalgoers. Mark your diaries and look out for the programme announcement in December.
