Islington Festival returns this july NEWS


Islington Festival returns this july

Brief resumé and highlights: • 10 Day Festival in 5 iconic venues throughout Islington • TWELVE concerts of chamber music featuring 30 musicians • Figurative art class • Photography workshop • THREE lunchtime concerts on the Stage @ Islington Square • SIX evening concerts centered around the theme: “Johannes Brahms – Influences and Legacy” • THREE late night concerts featuring Baroque music • Music by Schumann, Janacek, Beethoven, Mozart and many more! • Many Female composers: Clara Schumann, Louise Farrenc, Mel Bonis and others! • Series Bundles, Day Passes, and Early Bird Tickets available • FREE tickets to most concerts for anyone under the age of 26



In 2020 during the pandemic, we put on many concerts of classical music in outdoor spaces and private gardens in our local neighbourhood (Highbury and Islington). We were very inspired by the warm and positive reaction from local people, who were thrilled to be able to attend, safely, a concert of LIVE music, and be able to get to it without using any (or only local) form of transport.

As a result, we put together a 4-day long weekend of concerts and workshops in wonderful locations, inviting international artists who were thrilled to have the opportunity to come together in a celebration of the arts for the local community. As well as the 11 concerts arranged in 3 different series (lunchtime, early evening, and late night), there were 3 workshops featuring abstract and figurative art, and string instrument maintenance/repair.

Blessed by mainly glorious weather (apart from the last day, when torrential rain poured through the roof of Christ Church and threatened to force the cancellation of the Closing Concert!), the people of Islington and further afield turned out in great force to attend the concerts, and the positive support and response was overwhelming. This gave us renewed energy, and with the help and support of the venues, has inspired us to grow and expand a little for the 2022 Festival.

We are proud to announce that we have 5 Partner Venues for the Festival:

THE LUNCHTIME SERIES (1pm-2pm) takes place in the recently restored and elegant ISLINGTON SQUARE, where there is a performing stage in the South Arcade. Jazz Pianist Nathan Tinker returns to the Square, and making their first appearance will be The Sol Grimshaw Gypsy Jazz Quartet.

THE EVENING SERIES (7pm-9pm) is shared between CHRIST CHURCH HIGHBURY and ST. MARYS, Upper Street, both important churches at the heart of the neighbourhood. Christ Church has a recently renovated Steinway grand piano, which will be showcased with a Solo Piano Recital by Prize-winning pianist Dmitrii Kalashnikov. Christ Church is a fabulous venue for listening to music and having a glass of wine in the gardens before the concert, during the interval, or both! St Marys will host the Opening Concert, as well as ZRI an Ensemble of 5 talented musicians who will perform their radical version of Brahms Clarinet Quintet, which includes an accordion and santouri (dulcimer).

THE LATE NIGHT SERIES (9.30pm-10.30pm) is shared between NEWINGTON GREEN MEETING HOUSE and the exquisite LITTLE ANGEL THEATRE Londons only purpose built puppet theatre. The Festival welcomes back 2 of the stars of the 2021 Festival: Baroque violinist Kati Debretzeni and Lutenist Sergio Bucheli. The Concert Trombone Quartette complete a high-profile roster.

The Festival will host 2 Workshops: Photographer Marc Gasgoine (who took all of the beautiful photos for last years event) will present a photography workshop.

Artist Dolph van Eden repeats his memorable Figurative Art Class with Live Music.

We are honoured to be presenting these concerts and events with important artists from the world of music and art. Everyone involved in the Festival is coming to Islington to bring pleasure and their expertise to a wide audience: the 3 series of concerts are aimed at a diverse and varied public, and for most concerts there are FREE tickets for people under the age of 26, thanks to the incredible generosity and foresight of the Cavatina Chamber Music Trust.

We hope that our programme will attract great interest not only from local people but many others from further afield, and we aim to deliver a high-quality product at reasonable price to hundreds of people.

About the author
Islington Festival of Music and Art Registered charity no1198568



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