Whiddon Autumn Festival set to return with world-class music on northern Dartmoor

The Whiddon Autumn Festival will return to northern Dartmoor from 17-21 September.

Now in its fifth year, the festival takes place in venues across the Whiddon Parishes and features a bill of choral music, chamber music, art song, jazz and children’s events.

The programme is curated by Artistic Director Freddie Crowley, who grew up locally.

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A central aim is to bring professional live music to rural areas which otherwise see few performances of this kind.

The event also provides a platform for emerging musicians at the start of their careers.

Alongside concerts, the festival runs a Learning and Engagement programme with local schools, encouraging around 200 local children to take part in group singing and develop teamwork through music.

This year’s festival features its Ensemble-in-Residence, the Corvus Consort, directed by Crowley, alongside a resident string quartet and guest artists.

A Composer-in-Residence is appointed annually to create three new works, including one for the children’s choir. In 2025, the composer will be Ben Nobuto, whose new pieces will receive their world premieres at the festival.

Freddie Crowley, organiser of the festival, said: "I’m delighted to be staging WAF for the fifth year in a row, and hugely excited for this year’s festival. It gives me so much joy to bring such a wonderful group of musicians to my home on Dartmoor, and I can’t wait to share that joy with everyone coming along to our events. I hope there’ll be something for everyone, with several free and donate-what-you-can events running alongside our ticketed concerts, and with free or discounted tickets available for young people and those claiming benefits. I’m particularly pleased that we are also continuing to expand our Learning & Engagement programme, this year working with six local primary schools to provide musical opportunities for around 200 local schoolchildren."

Community events are also included, giving local residents the chance to perform alongside professional artists.

Organisers say this year’s ticket price increase is the first since the festival began and reflects higher costs of staging live events.

The Whiddon Autumn Festival is run by a charitable trust and works with a commitment to inclusion and accessibility.

Several events during the programme are offered free of charge or on a “pay-what-you-feel” basis.