Annual Elgar Festival dates announced for 2024

Photo caption: Kenneth Woods, the Artistic Director of The Elgar Festival, is also the Principal Conductor of The Festival’s Orchestra-in-Residence, The English Symphony Orchestra

Photo credit: Michael Whitefoot/Whitefoot Photography

The annual celebration of the life and music of Worcestershire’s most famous composer will return to the county in early summer.

Organisers of The Elgar Festival have announced the dates for the 2024 event, which will take place between Monday 27 May and Sunday 2 June.

The Festival – which was launched in 2018 – was established by decree of Worcester City Council and is traditionally held on the weekend closest to Elgar’s birthday, 2 June 1857.

This year’s Festival will combine orchestral, chamber, vocal, choral and relaxed concerts with exhibitions and talks to celebrate the life and music of Sir Edward Elgar at various venues in Worcestershire.  Entitled ‘The Origins of Inspiration’, the Festival brings together an array of internationally renowned guest artists, placing the music of Worcester’s most famous son alongside that of his contemporaries and some of today’s leading composers and arrangers.

Kenneth Woods, Artistic Director of The Elgar Festival said : “We are delighted to be bringing The Elgar Festival back to Worcester this year!  Our celebration of the life and music of Elgar in the city of his birth engages and embraces people of all ages and all musical tastes.  It is a programme which celebrates a sense of place and community – which is more important than ever in today’s world – as well as Elgar’s music combined with the music of today, and which provides a showcase for music of composers from all genres.  We look forward to welcoming you.”

Some of the highlights for 2024 include:

• At the heart of the Festival is the Gala Concert by the English Symphony Orchestra at Worcester Cathedral on Saturday 1 June at 7.30pm featuring Elgar’s deeply personal Violin Concerto;
• The annual Elgar’s Strings by the English String Orchestra concert at Worcester Guildhall;
• Late night Club Elgar concerts featuring jazz, world music, blues and more with some of the UK’s most interesting musicians;
• Throughout the Festival, The Guildhall in Worcester, will have an exhibition on display of Elgar memorabilia on loan from prestigious private collections;
• The Elgar for Everyone Family Concert featuring over 100 young musicians, hosted by Julian Lloyd Webber and Esther Abrami.

Since it began in 2018 – lauded as ‘Critic’s Pick’ in both The Guardian and The Times – the Festival has doubled in size and scale and championed Sir Edward to as wide an audience as possible.

For a full list of events, costs and booking information, please visit www.elgarfestival.org.  Tickets are now on sale.

GoFundMe Campaign

Like many arts-based charities, the Elgar Festival is raising money to help deliver its 2024 iteration. Donations help towards costs for Relaxed concerts, artist’s fees and instrument and venue hire, and help to keep the free events free for all. Further details can be found at: https://www.gofundme.com/f/elgar-festival-2024