Two Moors Festival celebrates 25 years with Royal anniversary dinner

The Two Moors Festival marked its 25th anniversary with a glittering celebration at Powderham Castle on Thursday, 5 June, attended by HRH The Duchess of Edinburgh, who serves as Patron of the festival. The milestone event brought together over 120 supporters, including founders, trustees, sponsors, and longstanding friends of the festival.

The evening was hosted by Andrew Welch, Chair of Trustees, alongside the festival’s governing board. Guests enjoyed a formal dinner in the historic surroundings of Powderham Castle, ancestral home of the Earl of Devon. The celebration was sponsored by Arbuthnot Latham, with the event raising over £16,000 through a silent auction to support the upcoming 2025 edition of the festival.

Radio 3 presenter Petroc Trelawny, who gave the after-dinner speech, praised the festival as “a glittering jewel in the crown of music-making, a vital cultural force… of national importance".

Founded in 2001 by Penny Adie, the Two Moors Festival was initially conceived to bring world-class classical music to the rural communities of Exmoor and Dartmoor following the devastation of the foot-and-mouth outbreak. It has since grown into one of the UK’s most distinctive classical music festivals, annually drawing over 4,000 attendees to unique and often remote venues nestled within the moorland landscapes of Devon.

Since 2020, the festival’s artistic direction has been led by violinist Tamsin Waley-Cohen, under whose leadership the programme has expanded to include not only renowned performances but also talks, workshops, and a strong educational strand, most notably the Young Musicians’ Competition, which nurtures emerging classical talent.

Looking ahead, the 2025 festival promises a rich and ambitious line up. Running from 1–5 October on Exmoor and 8–12 October on Dartmoor, the programme will feature 21 events across 15 venues, spanning six centuries of chamber music and song.

Reflecting on the evening, Chair Andrew Welch remarked: “It was lovely to have so many of our supporters with us to celebrate our 25th anniversary with our Patron HRH The Duchess of Edinburgh. Everyone seemed to be enjoying themselves, and the silent auction with its wide range of prizes was a huge success.”

Rob Salisbury, Director and Head of Arbuthnot Latham’s Exeter office, added: “It was a real pleasure to support the 25th anniversary of the Two Moors Festival. Held at the impressive Powderham Castle, the evening reflected the strength of the region’s cultural life, and we were proud to play a part in celebrating such an important milestone.”

With a legacy rooted in resilience and community, and a future shaped by ambition and artistic excellence, the Two Moors Festival continues to be a cornerstone of the cultural landscape in the South West and beyond.