Festival Archive: 2025 Festival

Cowbridge Music Festival Coffee Concert Enoch Wong – piano Bach – Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring Bach – Prelude and Fugue in B flat minor from ‘The Well-tempered Clavier’, Book II Chopin – A Selection of Etudes Chopin – Nocturne in B major, Op.62 No.1 Chopin – Mazurka in B major, Op.56 No.1 Chopin – Scherzo No.3 in C sharp minor, Op.39 Ravel – Gaspard de la Nuit We are thrilled to welcome the young pianist Enoch Wong to Cowbridge. Enoch has participated in a number of prestigious music courses, and studies with Robin Green (who has performed at the festival in the past). Enoch brings us a beautiful programme of Bach, Chopin and Ravel, which will last around an hour. Perfect to tie in with coffee or shopping, or just a pleasant morning in Cowbridge! Tea and Coffee will be served from 10.30am

Kaleidoscope Chamber Collective (featuring Ben Goldscheider – horn) Holy Cross Parish Church Horn Quintet in Eb major, K. 407 – Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart Impromptu for Piano Quartet – Dora Pejačevič Piano Quintet in G minor, Op. 1 – Samuel Coleridge-Taylor Lament for horn and piano – Huw Watkins Horn Trio in Eb major, Op. 40 – Johannes Brahms Enjoy a thrilling evening of chamber music with the celebrated Kaleidoscope Chamber Collective, featuring the virtuoso horn player Ben Goldscheider. This rich and varied programme sets classics by Mozart and Brahms alongside impassioned and powerful music by Dora Pejačević, Samuel Coleridge-Taylor and leading Welsh composer Huw Watkins. A concert of expressive depth and dazzling artistry. £22 front seats | £17 nave | £5 children/students

Kaleidoscope Chamber Collective Holy Cross Parish Church Arrangements of music from the Great American Songbook by Tom Poster Wind down your evening with an intimate and atmospheric late-night concert. Lit by candlelight, the Kaleidoscope Chamber Collective offers jazzy arrangements from the Great American Songbook by pianist Tom Poster. Expect timeless melodies, reimagined with charm, subtlety, and warmth by these masterful musicians. A perfect end to the day. £15 front seats | £10 nave | £5 children/students

Lenny Sayers with Tom Poster and Elena Urioste Cowbridge Comprehensive School Theatre A fun-filled family concert designed to engage, educate, and entertain young audiences! With vivacious performances, storytelling, and plenty of audience interaction, this concert is perfect for children and their grown-ups to explore music together. A joyful introduction to live music for all ages. £5 all ages

Come and Dance 1… The Minuet! Cowbridge Library With Joseph Fort, in advance of the publication of Haydn’s Minuets and Eighteenth-Century Dance with Cambridge University Press Step into the eighteenth century and discover the elegance of the minuet! Join musicologist and conductor Joseph Fort for a lively and engaging session exploring Haydn’s dance music, ahead of the publication of his new book by Cambridge University Press. This interactive event blends music history with movement: come ready to learn and dance! Free admission; no tickets needed

Carducci String Quartet, and Huw Watkins – piano Holy Cross Parish Church Quartet in Bb major, Op. 76, No. 4 ‘Sunrise’ – Joseph Haydn Quartet in Eb major – Fanny Hensel Piano Quintet in G minor, Op. 57 – Dmitri Shostakovich An exhilarating evening of chamber music with the renowned Carducci Quartet and pianist Huw Watkins. Revel in Haydn’s sparkling ‘Sunrise’ Quartet, Fanny Hensel’s lyrical and expressive quartet, and Shostakovich’s deeply moving Piano Quintet. This concert blends classical grace, romantic warmth and twentieth-century intensity—a journey through powerful emotional landscapes. £22 front seats | £17 nave | £5 children/students

Jazz Brunch with Sarah Meek and Dave Cottle Sarah Meek – vocals, Dave Cottle – keyboard The Bear Hotel Jazz brunch Start your Sunday with smooth jazz and a delicious brunch in Cowbridge’s iconic Bear Hotel. Festival favourites vocalist Sarah Meek and pianist Dave Cottle bring a relaxed, sophisticated vibe to the morning with soulful standards, swinging rhythms, and great tunes. Perfect for jazz lovers and brunch aficionados alike! Book with The Bear Hotel on 01446 774814  

Trios for clarinet, viola and piano Robert Plane – clarinet, Rosalind Ventris – viola, and Finghin Collins – piano Holy Cross Parish Church Prelude, Allegro and Pastorale – Rebecca Clarke Clarinet Sonata in F minor, Op. 120, No. 1 – Johannes Brahms Adagio and Allegro – Robert Schumann Drei Stücke – Luise Adolpha Le Beau Trio in Eb major, K. 498 ‘Kegelstatt’ – Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart Three exceptional musicians unite for a programme rich in lyricism and colour. Featuring music by Brahms, Schumann, Mozart and two pioneering women composers—Rebecca Clarke and Luise Adolpha Le Beau—this concert celebrates the beauty of the clarinet-viola-piano combination. Expect elegance, tenderness, and spirited dialogue in this captivating performance. £22 front seats | £17 nave | £5 children/students

Sinfonia Cymru presents Seascapes Sinfonia Cymru Septet The Duke of Wellington Ballroom Seascapes, featuring Sally Beamish’s Seavaigers Immerse yourself in musical seascapes as Sinfonia Cymru’s septet presents Sally Beamish’s evocative Seavaigers and more. Set in the convivial surroundings of the Duke of Wellington Pub Ballroom, this concert conjures the mystery, beauty, and turbulence of the sea through vivid and contemporary chamber music. A truly atmospheric experience. £15 | £5 children/students

Elaha Soroor Cowbridge Town Hall A programme of traditional Afghan music Experience the soulful voice of Elaha Soroor in an evening of traditional Afghan music. A powerful performer with a message of resilience and hope, Soroor brings ancient melodies to life with passion and modern flair. A unique and moving concert highlighting the rich musical culture of Afghanistan. £15 | £5 children/students

A Special Piece for Cowbridge Physic Garden & Old Hall Gardens Beacons – Lynne Plowman The world premiere of Beacons, by international composer (and Cowbridge local!) Lynne Plowman. A special piece for the town, to be performed in the Physic Garden and Old Hall Gardens. Come along from 11am on Tuesday 16th September to hear this new work performed by members of the Bute Wind Quintet and Vita String Quartet. Free admission

Young Ensembles’ Gala Performance Bute Wind Quintet and Vita String Quartet Holy Cross Parish Church String Quartet in C major, Op. 76, No. 3 ‘Emperor’ – Joseph Haydn String Quartet in G major – Florence Price ‘Late Sun’ from Threaded Light – Rhian Samuel ‘Charleston’ from Dance Suite – Norman Hallam Bethena – Scott Joplin, arr. R. Denwood Quintet for Winds No. 3, i – David Maslanka Suite for Wind Quintet, i – Amanda Harberg West Side Story Suite – Leonard Bernstein, arr. David Walter Celebrate the next generation of musical talent at this gala performance. With performances from the rising stars of the RWCMD’s Bute Wind Quintet and the Vita String Quartet, this concert promises youthful energy, superb technique, and inspiring artistry. A showcase of emerging talent not to be missed. £17 front seats | £12 nave | £5 children/students

Vrï Holy Cross Parish Church A programme of Welsh folk music Traditional Welsh folk music comes to life with the dynamic trio Vrï. Fiddle, voice, and foot-tapping rhythms meet with raw passion and storytelling in a concert that blends the ancient with the contemporary. Expect an evening of infectious energy, haunting harmonies, and rich musical heritage. £22 front seats | £17 nave | £5 children/students  

Young Artist’s Recital: Dafydd Jones – tenor, and Francesca Lauri – piano Holy Cross Parish Church £17 front seats | £12 nave | £5 children/students ‘Im Frühling’, ‘Nacht und Träume’ and ‘Der Musensohn’ – Franz Schubert Liederkreis, Op.39 – Robert Schumann Caneuon y Tri Aderyn – Dilys Elwyn-Edwards Venezia – Reynaldo Hahn Folk Song Arrangements – Benjamin Britten A rising star on the classical scene, tenor Dafydd Jones presents a varied and expressive programme featuring Schubert, Schumann, Dilys Elwyn-Edwards and more. With a voice of lyrical clarity and emotional depth, this recital offers an opportunity to witness a major talent at the start of an exciting career. £17 front seats | £12 nave | £5 children/students

Tango Calor Holy Cross Parish Church Let Tango Calor sweep you off your feet with their sultry, passionate performance of tango-inspired music. From the streets of Buenos Aires to the heart of Cowbridge, this ensemble brings Latin fire and emotional depth to every note. A concert guaranteed to stir the soul and get toes tapping. £22 front seats | £17 nave | £5 children/students

Coffee Concert – Ben Tarlton Holy Cross Parish Church Cello Suite No. 1 in G major, BWV 1007 – Johann Sebastian Bach Song of the Birds – Pablo Casals/Beamish Quietening – Eloise Gynn Suite for solo cello – Gaspar Cassadó Enjoy a morning of sublime solo cello music with exceptional Welsh cellist Ben Tarlton, featuring Bach’s much-loved First Cello Suite, alongside moving and virtuosic staples of the solo cello repertoire and a striking contemporary work by Eloise Gynn. An intimate and reflective concert showcasing the cello’s expressive power and Tarlton’s superb artistry. £15 front seats | £10 nave | £5 children/students

Come and dance 2… The Tango! The Duke of Wellington Ballroom Feel the heat and rhythm of the tango in this exciting dance workshop! Whether you’re a beginner or seasoned dancer, this session offers a chance to learn the steps and embrace the spirit of Argentina’s most iconic dance style. No partner needed—just bring your enthusiasm! £5 any age

Festival Evensong Holy Cross Parish Church Join us for a reflective and uplifting Evensong, celebrated in the festival’s home of Holy Cross Church. With sublime choral music and famous Welsh hymns, this special service brings a moment of peace and reflection in the heart of the festival. Free admission; no tickets needed

The Brahms Requiem English Chamber Voices Joseph Fort – conductor Holy Cross Parish Church Mi Gerddaff gyda thi (World Premiere) – John Metcalf A German Requiem (London Version) – Johannes Brahms A choir formed of some of the UK’s leading professional singers makes its Cowbridge debut with Brahms’s Requiem in this intimate, chamber setting, and new festival commission by John Metcalf. An evening of beauty, reflection and musical brilliance—book soon to avoid disappointment. £22 front seats | £17 nave | £5 children/students

Welsh of the West End Cowbridge Comprehensive School Theatre Musical Theatre selections Enjoy a spectacular celebration of musical theatre from the stars of Welsh of the West End. With powerful vocals, dazzling show tunes, and charismatic stage presence, this group brings the magic of the West End straight to Cowbridge. A joyful afternoon for musical theatre lovers of all ages. £22 | £5 children/students

Kat Rees and the Siglo Section Cowbridge Comprehensive School Theatre Welsh-language jazz Round off the festival with an irresistible evening of jazz. Kat Rees and the Siglo Section blend contemporary jazz grooves with lyrical melodies and soulful vocals. With style, sophistication, and a distinctly Welsh flavour, this final concert promises a vibrant and upbeat end to the festival. £22 | £5 children/students