English Music Festival hailed a success after Dartington Hall bank holiday debut
The English Music Festival has praised strong audience support, acclaimed performances and community involvement after its first year at Dartington Hall, near Dartmoor, drew enthusiastic crowds over the bank holiday weekend
The English Music Festival has been hailed a success following its first year at Dartington Hall, with organisers praising audience support, performers and the welcome received from the local community.
The four-day festival took place over the late May bank holiday weekend, bringing leading musicians and a programme of English classical music to the historic Devon venue.
Festival founder-director Em Marshall-Luck told The Moorlander that the event had exceeded expectations.
“I was bowled over by the success of this year's English Music Festival, held in the beautiful and historic Great Hall at Dartington,” she said.
“Audiences were numerous, incredibly enthusiastic and really supportive; artists played their socks off; and the weather was just fabulous.
“We had a wonderful programme of music, from glorious orchestral and choral works through to intimate guitar recitals and English solo songs with world-class musicians.
“Everything came together to produce the most incredible bank holiday weekend of music-making, conviviality and celebration. I couldn't have asked for more.”
The festival featured performances from a range of internationally recognised artists alongside musicians with local connections.
Among Marshall-Luck's personal highlights were the opening night performance by the London Mozart Players, including Peter Cigleris's interpretation of Gerald Finzi's Clarinet Concerto.
She described the work as “an incredibly poignant and moving” piece.
Other standout moments included the University of Exeter Chapel Choir's performance of Edward Elgar's From the Bavarian Highlands, which she called “a rousing and joyful work”, and a performance of Ernest John Moeran's Piano Trio.
Marshall-Luck said audience numbers were strong throughout the weekend.
Local support was said to have played an important role, not only in helping to promote the event, but with residents also assisting by hosting visiting artists and interns.
In a message following the festival, organisers thanked performers and attendees for supporting the move to Dartington Hall.
A post on the festival's social media described the event as “the most spectacular time at our new location of Dartington Hall” and thanked audiences for embracing the wide range of English music featured across the weekend.
Visitors also praised both the programme and the setting.
One attendee described it as “a wonderful weekend of music and friendship in beautiful surroundings”, while members of the London Chamber Ensemble Quartet said they had “loved” performing at the festival.
The English Music Festival moved to Dartington Hall this year, continuing its mission to showcase English music, including lesser-known works alongside established favourites.