Festival announces return of dementia friendly concerts

Organisers of the annual celebration of the life and music of Worcestershire’s most famous composer have announced three relaxed concerts for those living with dementia.

The free events will be held on:

• Thursday 22 May, St George’s Church, Barbourne, Worcester at 11.00am, performed by DownsideUp String Duo;
• Friday 30 May, Malvern Priory at 11.00am and again at 3.00pm at Henry Sandon Hall in Worcester, both performed by ESO Winds.

Kenneth Woods, Artistic Director of The Elgar Festival said: “These hour long concerts are bursting with beautiful music. They are particularly suited to those living with dementia and other similar health conditions, as well as adults and children with additional learning needs, their carers and anybody who wishes to experience classical music in a relaxed and informal environment.”

Themed ‘Celebrate with Elgar’, this year’s Festival – which will take place from Saturday 24 May until Sunday 1 June – will bring together world class professional musicians and artists alongside local choirs and ensembles placing the music of Worcester’s most famous son alongside that of his contemporaries and some of today’s leading composers and arrangers.

Set in the composer’s hometown and surrounding areas, the Festival is an annual celebration of Elgar’s music spanning symphonic and string orchestra concerts by the resident and world renowned English Symphony Orchestra.

DownsideUp is made up of duo Corinne Frost and Stephen Warner.  They perform an ecletic mix of music for cello and double bass, alongside guitar, clapping, piano and voice.  Invited by the National Trust, the duo were involved in the making of a DVD for people no longer able to access live music, such as those in care homes and hospices, filmed at Worcestershire’s Croome Court.

ESO Winds is part of the world renowned English Symphony Orchestra.

Other highlights this year include Elgar’s Symphony No. 2 and John Ireland’s oratorio ‘These Things Shall Be’ performed by the ESO and joined by the 2025 Festival Chorus on Saturday 31 May in Worcester Cathedral. There are further performances by English String and Chamber Orchestras, recitals by world renowned performers Raphael Wallfisch, David Briggs and April Fredrick, several participatory events including ‘Come and Play Elgar 1’ and a Young Singers Masterclass. The ever-popular family concert returns hosted by Classic FM’s Zeb Soanes including the winning pieces of the Festival’s Young Composers’ Competition; the event will also celebrate the work and 70^th birthday of Worcester’s finest living composer Ian Venables. 

There are several free events, relaxed concerts, an exhibition, choral events, a film screening, Q and As, a guided walk, a new performance partnership with students from the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire and a Club Elgar event.

Since its inauguration in 2018, when it was a Critic’s Pick in both The Guardian and The Times, the festival has doubled in size and scale and continues to grow annually through an innovative development programme of appealing and accessible events, working with hundreds of both internationally renowned professional artists and amateur musicians and performers of all ages to ensure Elgar really is for everyone.

For further information and to book tickets please visit www.elgarfestival.org