The Whittington Festival provides an environment that allows for musicians to interact in imaginative ways due to Sophia Rahman’s visionary approach.

I was delighted to compose a new piece, “ Break Out”, for the 2026 festival. It is a special experience to play and direct my own work. This gives scope for endless artistic discoveries and a workshopping approach in rehearsal that is artistically rich.

We took the new work to Derwen College and played an excerpt to the students there. It was wonderful to see and hear their reaction to the music. It is so important to connect with local communities in a variety of ways, and I believe that we did exactly that.

Katherine Hunka, composer-in-residence, violin, viola

The Whittington Music Festival concert on Friday night was an incredible evening full of high-class performances. I particularly enjoyed the Finzi Clarinet pieces and would love to see more woodwind or brass instrumentalists performing. The accompanying string players were brilliant, performing with such ease and communicating so well with each other even after only a few rehearsals. The BSL was a nice touch without being overdone or distracting, and the local singers were truly world-class.  All-round brilliant!

I love the quirky and varied programme, the quality of the musicianship and the acoustic, and the friendliness of everyone.  Thank you, thank you.

This festival is known for surprising us with unusual combinations of instruments playing familiar works.  Excellent programming and young talent.

The standard of the music is exceptional and it is wonderful to see such talented young players.  What a treat for those of us lucky enough to hear them!

Varied programme – some favourites, some surprises.  Quality of music superb.  Love the ethos of the music festival, showcasing young musicians.  Love the contemporary pieces.  Who knew there was so much beauty in brambles!  Wonderful finale – so much to love about the whole festival.  Thank you.

The Katherine Hunka Break Out was heartbreakingly beautiful – really spoke to me and Pete.  Fantastic piece.  Sunday was both profoundly moving and great fun.

To quote Caliban of his island, the festival is full of “sounds and sweet airs that give delight and hurt not”.  It offers many wonders.  It is a privilege that so many (mostly) young people bring their passion, charm, creativity and incredible talent to our small rural community.  Long may it continue!

Fabulous.  Very varied programme.  Very enjoyable.  Thrilling.  I loved having some Shostakovich, Saint Saens and even Klezmer, Gershwin and Schumann, Mozart and bumblebees.  Lovely seeing the young musicians year after year with all their enthusiasm and new people’s brilliance and great sense of working together.  Irish contingent superb!

The bringing together and gathering of musicians and nurturing them so they flower and shine is a wonderful and heart-warming phenomenon.  The programming is imaginative and inventive and we always hear something new and inspiring.  To coin a phrase from Animal Farm, “Some festivals are equal but some are more equal than others” – Whittington!