Looking Forward To May 2026

An excellent evening of incredible entertainment and skill. It was a fantastic opportunity to bring young musicians from school along to hear professionals at work and they had a brilliant time!

I liked the different ensembles, it made it really varied and the piano duo was so impressive. I also liked that they played pieces by different composers, (Mozart, Schubert, Brahms), because it gave each piece a different style which is amazing to hear.

The concert was amazing, the musicians performed with such a passion and brought a lot of emotions to the music. Especially I enjoyed the announcer between the pieces, the stories were filled with humor and warmness

I really enjoyed the piano for 4 hands and the sax, piano and singing trio.

The concert was so beautiful and relaxed. The different instruments and how they made one beautiful interaction was just incredible! I loved the variation of Saxophone, piano, string instruments and a voice! My highlight was the tenor singer who sang German which was just different from the rest and made it so special. It was not just a ‘normal’ classical concert, it was much more.

It was really good, I really enjoyed it. I would love if there was a wider variety of instruments each evening, but I understand why that is difficult.

An astonishingly beautiful concert; loved the saxophone and Mark Padmore. The piano duet with four hands was remarkable and the Brahms just exquisite.

Wonderfully enthusiastic and energetic performers.

Wonderful musicianship. Lovely to hear so many different groups playing together.

Whittington Music Festival is a welcome holiday from real life. While the world is pulled apart, we are fortunate to enjoy a series of wonderful concerts played by highly gifted, mostly young, musicians. What could be more enchanting? Thank you so much. Now back to reality…

Exciting programming. Great format. Good programme notes at a reasonable price.

Great programming. Challenging. Lots of variety. Welcome was good. Loved the family concert.

Music in great variety. Warm welcome.

Brilliant all round. It’s an amazing collection of first class artists and with interesting, stimulating programming.

Excellent director. Quality of artists. Very good performances. For me – choice of programme. Good to be taken out of my comfort zone!

Music without exception

The music! and especially the performances. Announcements & refreshments. Young peoples’ workshops and family concert. Jazz concert was excellent.

Everything. Fabulous players playing fabulous music. This festival was outstanding, out of this world in many ways! Congratulations on its success.

Formidable talent of musicians. Well organised inside church. Jazz tunes much improved over last year.

Selection of individual pieces. I thought Friday evening’s concert was excellent and the jazz on Saturday was superb. David’s pieces were a thought-provoking addition to the festival.

Music – fabulous music – lots of variety. Lovely atmosphere. Enjoyed the young people’s concert. Particularly liked Friday evening singing (moved to tears) and Messiaen.

All. Many have said they (between the lines – not my preference) enjoyed the Messiaen.

Everything!

Wonderful again. Always good to hear a new piece (to me). So many young performers. We saw them here first!

The enthusiasm of Sophia. The excellence and sublimeness of the programme and the playing.

Wonderful programme and mentoring of musicians. Eclectic mix of musicians from many different places and bringing them together. Creating a team feeling amongst the musicians. Inspiring leadership by Sophia Rahman.

Music is of excellent quality and some of the instrumentals, such as the saxophone in the Messiaen, were a remarkable tour de force. The rapturous applause testifies to the quality of the performances.

Standard of playing was excellent.

Yet again a marvellous four days.

Presented a splendid programme of varied chamber music to professional standards in a friendly setting (and perfect weather!).

General organisation is excellent. Programme planning 5*. I discovered new works which I wouldn’t have chosen to listen to on a CD. Brilliant young musicians! The audiences have been TOTALLY absorbed in the music.

Splendid and varied programme. Love all the young performers (and Jeremy Sams!). How about some Bach and some Early Music?

Everything – excellent and varied.

Variety, quality, number of new (to us) musicians, plus old friends.

Enthusiasm. Musicianship. Sheer pathos. Wonderful.

Absolutely everything! Top musicians.

Excellent as always.

Great music.

Brahms especially enjoyable.

The spoken introductions were excellent. The Auf dem Strom on sax was wonderful.

Exceptional performances.

Diverse programme of music/players. Friendly welcome. Excellent programme notes – thank you Mr CS.

The music and the acoustic world-class. Variety, new music and integrating young musicians are all wonderful.

Enraptured and enthralled by the sheer exuberance and enthusiasm displayed by so many talented young musicians. Magnetism and some musical magic was captured in every performance.

Masterclasses great. Dave’s singing. Overall programming.

Whittington Festival 2025 was a special experience for me as an artist. It was wonderful to play a range of great music with many old friends and colleagues. To give a masterclass to a young student again – one year on – and see the development was rewarding and exciting to see. The week is intense, we work hard and yet the whole residency feels like a retreat being beautifully hosted in the countryside. We returned to Derwen College for students with special educational needs and disabilities, which proved once again to be an incredibly inspiring and moving moment for all musicians involved and a strong example of the power of music – an experience that will again stay with me for a long time.
Braimah Kanneh-Mason, violin