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Inspiration • July 28th, 2026
|The North York Moors Chamber Music Festival is gearing up to celebrate its 18th birthday this August, bringing an exciting mix of music and creativity to the stunning North York Moors. Running from 8 to 22 August 2026, this year’s festival, aptly titled Creation, will feature the premieres of six brand new compositions from some of the UK’s most talented contemporary composers.
Six New Premieres
This year, the festival will showcase works from acclaimed composers such as Thomas Adès and Huw Watkins, both of whom will also perform during the event. Other featured composers include Charlotte Bray, Tom Coult, Isabella Gellis, and Helen Grime. A highlight of the festival will be Bray’s powerful piece for horn and string quartet, which will be paired with a collaborative artwork by Caroline Burraway. This artwork will be displayed on stage at St Hedda’s, Egton Bridge during the performance, as well as at two additional concerts on 14 and 15 August.
Charley Spring © Matthew Johnson
Matthew Hunt © Matthew Johnson
Simon Tandree, Claude Frochaux © Matthew Johnson
James Gilchrist © Matthew Johnson
Alena Beava © Matthew Johnson
Alena Beava, Joseph Havlat, Matthew Hunt © Matthew JohnsonFestival Director's Vision
Festival director Jamie Walton expressed excitement about this year's theme and the commissioned works:
We’ve commissioned works from five of arguably the UK’s finest composers, and are premiering the work of a sixth, all to represent the six days to create the universe, forming part of the overall theme of creation.”
“We’re really proud of the fact that, alongside these six outstanding composers, we have such a stellar line-up of international artists.”
Venues and Atmosphere
The festival will take place across four historic moorland churches: St Hilda’s in Danby, St Hedda’s in Egton Bridge, St Michael’s in Coxwold, and St Mary’s in Lastingham. The majority of concerts will be hosted in the grounds of Welburn Manor, near Kirkbymoorside. This venue has been acoustically treated and enlarged this year to accommodate the festival's growing popularity.
A Celebration of Arts
The North York Moors Chamber Music Festival is not just about the music; it also highlights local visual artists from the moors by pairing their work with concert titles in the festival brochure. This initiative has been in place for the past two years and aims to foster collaboration between artists of different disciplines. Walton stated, “It’s a wonderful way to cross-pollinate and collaborate with more artists.”
Award Recognition
Recently, the festival received recognition as a Best of British Fund Winner 2026 from Airbnb, highlighting its importance as part of the North York Moors Beacon for the Arts. This accolade showcases the festival's commitment to celebrating and promoting the arts in Yorkshire.
International Artists and Young Talent
This year’s festival continues to attract international artists, many of whom choose to take up residencies for the entire two weeks. Among the talented musicians participating are:
Violinists: Alena Baeva, Benjamin Baker, Oliver Cave, Oliver Heath, Alessandro Ruisi, and Charlotte Scott
Viola players: Sascha Bota, Meghan Cassidy, Elliott Perks, Emma Wernig, and Simone van der Giessen
Cellists: Rebecca Gilliver, Barthomolew LaFollette, Tim Posner, and Jamie Walton
Double bass: Will Duerden
Pianists: Thomas Adès, Katya Apekisheva, Joseph Havlat, Roman Kosyakov, Daniel Lebhardt, and Huw Watkins
French horn: Ben Goldscheider
Oboe: Nicholas Daniel
Clarinet: Matthew Hunt
Bassoon: Jonathan Davies
Tenor: James Gilchrist
Additionally, the festival will feature the award-winning Young Artists, The Davidoff Trio, alongside the talented composers Helen Grime, Charlotte Bray, Isabella Gellis, and Tom Coult.
The North York Moors Chamber Music Festival promises to be an unforgettable celebration of music, art, and community in one of Yorkshire's most beautiful locations. With its rich programme and focus on new works, it continues to foster a love for the arts among locals and visitors alike.
