Taunton Young Musician Competition
2024-03-10 - 2024-03-11 | Somerset
The Trustees of the Festival have established a fund, designated to provide prizes for young musicians who have demonstrated outstanding musical ability. Run on competitive lines, the competition aims to assist and encourage musical excellence amongst students living in the Taunton area.

Last minute change: Rodney Branigan
2024-03-24 14:00 - 17:00 (Europe/London) | St Mary’s Church, Westonzoyland, Westonzoyland, Somerset, TA7 0EP, United Kingdom
We have had a last-minute change to the programme and are delighted to announce that Americana singer/guitar player the ‘impossibly talented’ Rodney Branigan has agreed to step in at short notice for the free concert on Sunday 24 March in St Mary’s Church, Main Road, Westonzoyland, TA7 0EP.
As usual, the concert starts at 3 pm and refreshments are available at modest charge from 2.15 pm.

Lunchtime Concert - Taunton School Young Muscians’ Showcase
2024-04-14 08:00 - 17:00 | Somerset
Soloists of a range of ages are delighted to return to St John’s Church to present a varied programme encompassing a number of musical styles.

Arthur Hope-Barton, organist
2024-04-20 15:00 - 17:00 | Taunton Minster (St Mary Magdalene Church), Church Square, Taunton, Somerset, TA1 1SA, United Kingdom
Come and listen to organist Arthur Hope-Barton, Sherborne Abbey and Organ Scholar-elect, Queen’s College, Oxford.
3.00 to 3.45 pm, followed by afternoon tea.

Somerset Liederabend
2024-04-27 15:00 - 17:00 | Brewhouse Theatre & Arts Centre, Taunton, Coal Orchard , Taunton, Somerset, TA1 1JL, United Kingdom
A joint venture from Somerset Opera and Somerset Song Prize, Liederabend will be an informal and friendly opportunity for singers to perform.

Sally Jenkins: Flights of Fancy
2024-04-28 14:00 - 17:00 | St Mary’s Church, Westonzoyland, Westonzoyland, Somerset, TA7 0EP, United Kingdom
The concert features a welcome return of renowned harpist and regular at Music on the Levels, Sally Jenkins, who will be presenting a programme entitled Flights of Fancy.
‘The programme will include music from many of the diverse harp traditions from Europe and beyond,’ says Sally.
Sally has appeared in many prestigious venues including the Royal Albert Hall and Symphony Hall in Birmingham.
She is an experienced pedal and early triple harpist, and has also presented lecture-recitals on the history of the instrument including to the Royal Musicological Society. In developing her musical skills she has worked with some of the UK’s preeminent harpists including Jeanette Bevan in the Royal Ballet Orchestra, Meinir Heulyn from the Welsh National Opera Orchestra and Frances Kelly of the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment.
The concert starts at 3 pm and refreshments are available at modest charge from 2.15 pm.
In order to help with the artists’ and other costs a raffle is held. In addition, donations are encouraged.

Spring Romance
2024-04-28 15:00 - 17:00 | St John the Evangelist Church, Taunton, Park Street, Taunton, Somerset, TA1 4DG, United Kingdom
The Elegance Duo have arranged a programme of much loved music from the Romantic Period to make their post Lockdown debut in Somerset a special occasion by playing much loved music, including pieces by Elgar, Tchaikovsky Dvorak . Yulia Northridge and Ekaterina Shetliffe are long-standing friends of St John’s Church and are very much looking forward to returning to entertain you again. Enjoy a relaxing afternoon that will be rounded off with Tea and Cakes. Retiring Collection in aid of St John’s Church.

Somerset Song Prize Semi Final
2024-05-11 - 2024-05-12 | Somerset
he Somerset Song Prize (SSP) is a biennial national song competition for young people aged 18 to 26. The competition begins with a series of regional rounds across the country. The semi-final and final are both held in Taunton, usually across a packed weekend in May.
The winning singer will receive a cash prize of £1000 and, decided separately, the winning pianist will receive a cash prize of £1000. There will be other cash prizes too. Further information Somerset Song Prize website.
The SSP is a competition for art song and it places special importance on the collaborative relationship between the singer and their pianist. Arias from oratorios and operas are not permitted. The definition of art song is reasonably wide, although competitors must include in their programme a song which is not in their native language.
In 2019 the competition received financial support from Somerset Opera, the Ronald Tickner Educational Trust, the Amici Choir and private donations. The SSP is immensely grateful to these organisations and individuals for their support.
The Somerset Song Prize was inaugurated in 2013 under the aegis of the Taunton Festival of the Arts. The competition has quickly developed an excellent reputation in part due to some great adjudicators – including Iain Burnside, Elizabeth Watts, Jonathan Lemalu, Neal Davies, Joan Rogers, Lorna Anderson, Roger Vingnoles and Malcolm Martineau. The soprano Elizabeth Watts and the pianist Roger Vignoles are the competition’s Patrons.
For more information on the Somerset Song Prize, please visit the Somerset Song Prize website here.

Somerset Song Prize Final
2024-05-12 - 2024-05-13 | Somerset

Afternoon Tea Concert
2024-05-18 15:00 - 16:30 | Taunton Minster (St Mary Magdalene Church), Church Square, Taunton, Somerset, TA1 1SA, United Kingdom
Theodora Poole is on piano, followed by afternoon tea at 3.45 – 4.15 pm.

Lunchtime Concert - YOUNG MUSICIANS' SHOWCASE
2024-05-20 12:00 - 14:00 | St John the Evangelist Church, Taunton, Park Street, Taunton, Somerset, TA1 4DG, United Kingdom
Students from Taunton School will return to St John’s Church for it hoped will become an annual event. Soloists of a range of ages
from Taunton School will be
delighted to present a varied programme, encompassing a number of musical styles.
Retiring collection in aid of D & S Air and St John’s Church.
Doors open at 12.00pm concert starts at 12.45pm.

Dan Whitehouse: An Afternoon Of Glass
2024-05-26 14:00 - 17:00 | St Mary’s Church, Westonzoyland, Westonzoyland, Somerset, TA7 0EP, United Kingdom
Premiered at Birmingham’s Symphony Hall last year and receiving great reviews, this show brings together his glass-related work, including real-life stories of glassmaking in the Black Country, breathed sensationally into life by Dan’s sonorous Bowie-esque tenor.
Gorgeous . . . . intriguing The Guardian
As usual, the concert will take place in in St Mary’s Church, Main Road, Westonzoyland, TA7 0EP. Starting at 3 pm with refreshments served from 2.15 pm.
There is no need to book but please note, seats are available on a first come, first served basis.
In order to help with the artists’ and other costs we are continuing with the raffle. In addition, we welcome donations.

Lunchtime Concert – Search of Light in Desperation
2024-06-14 12:00 - 14:00 | St John the Evangelist Church, Taunton, Park Street, Taunton, Somerset, TA1 4DG, United Kingdom
Sarah Wynne, well known local soprano has arranged a programme by combining art song and arias, hopes to reflect times of hardship, different struggles, and testing times. Although despite what may often seem as never ending, there can be glimmers of light and hope along the way that can be an anchor through turbulent times.
Retiring collection in aid of BEAT, the UK’s charity committed to help those with eating disorders and St John’s Church.

Collegium Singers Summer Concert – In Every Corner Sing!
2024-06-15 19:30 - 21:30 | St John the Evangelist Church, Taunton, Park Street, Taunton, Somerset, TA1 4DG, United Kingdom
Summer Concert.
Music from the King’s Coronation and the Commonwealth
PROGRAMME
Singet dem Herrn ein neues Lied BWV 190 – JS Bach
Sing Joyfully – William Byrd
Cantate Domino – Heinrich Schutz
5 Mystical Songs: Easter Ralph Vaughan Williams
5 Mystical Songs: I got me flowers Ralph Vaughan Williams
5 Mystical Songs: Love bade me welcome Ralph Vaughan Williams
5 Mystical Songs: The Call Ralph Vaughan Williams
5 Mystical Songs: Antiphon Ralph Vaughan Williams
INTERVAL
Coronation Kyrie eleison – Paul Mealor
Confortate – Henry Walford Davies
Lay a Garland – Robert Pearsall
All things are quite silent – Kerry Andrew
The Turtle Dove – Ralph Vaughan Williams
Lassie, wad ye loe me James Macmillan
Loch lomond Ralph Vaughan Williams
Star of the County Down – Ben Parry
Wellerman – Traditional
Blest pair of sirens – Hubert Parry

TAUNTON YOUNG SINGERS
2024-07-12 12:00 - 14:00 | St John the Evangelist Church, Taunton, Park Street, Taunton, Somerset, TA1 4DG, United Kingdom
Taunton Festival of the Arts organised three competitions for young singers in March of this year. Some of the prize winners from these events have been invited to St. John’s to share their programmes of music with the audience. Do come and hear for yourselves the high standard of musicianship and performance achieved by these young people.
Retiring collection in aid of Taunton Festival of the Arts and St. John’s Church.

Lunchtime Concert Alex Roche Classical Guitarist
2024-08-09 12:00 - 14:00 | St John the Evangelist Church, Taunton, Park Street, Taunton, Somerset, TA1 4DG, United Kingdom
Prizewinning Classical Guitarist Alex Roche performs a varied recital including music from his native Cornwall, film music, original compositions as well as the occasional nod to guitar heroes throughout history!
Retiring Collection in aid of Ron Tickner Education Trust and St John’s Church.

Piano Recital – MICHAEL MONTAVONT
2024-09-08 15:00 - 17:00 | St John the Evangelist Church, Taunton, Park Street, Taunton, Somerset, TA1 4DG, United Kingdom
This is the first performance in a series of piano recitals and related educational events inspired by the solo piano recital on the visit of Franz LISZT to TAUNTON in 1840 devised & promoted by Normandy Piano Courses.
MICHAEL MONTAVONT is the Artistic Director of Normandy Piano Courses.
His programme will include Beethoven Sonata in A flat op26 and Liszt Transcriptions of lieder by Schubert.

Lunchtime Concert – KCT New Year Cocert
2024-09-13 12:00 - 14:00 | St John the Evangelist Church, Taunton, Park Street, Taunton, Somerset, TA1 4DG, United Kingdom
Pupils from King’s College, Taunton provide a programme of solos, chamber music and jazz at the first performance of the new academic year.
Retiring collection will be in aid of Versus Arthritis and St John’s Church.

Piano Recital – PATRICK HEMMERLÉ
2024-09-27 08:00 - 17:00, 2024-09-27 19:30 - 21:30 | St John the Evangelist Church, Taunton, Park Street, Taunton, Somerset, TA1 4DG, United Kingdom
This recital is one of a series of piano recitals and related educational events inspired by the solo piano recital on the visit of Franz LISZT to TAUNTON in 1840 devised and promoted by Normandy Piano Courses.
Programme will include BEETHOVEN Sonata in C minor op111 and LISZT Sonata in b minor.
Find out more about Patrick Hemmerlé by following to link below to his website.
Tickets can be purchased via the link below. Young accompanied by an adult are allowed free admission.
https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/null/t-jzpykvv

Reg Meuross
2024-09-29 14:00 - 17:00 | St Mary’s Church, Westonzoyland, Westonzoyland, Somerset, TA7 0EP, United Kingdom
Somerset’s own troubadour. The breadth and depth of his material is unparalleled in contemporary folk: songs about forgotten heroes, famous names, folk legends, the climate emergency, tales from the kitchen sink and news from the world stage.
Someone said: ‘If something needs to be sung about then Reg Meuross has a song for it!’ And this proved to be the case when Reg performed here in February 2020 with a especially composed song about Westonzoyland. Challenged by a resident in 2010 to write a song about the village, the composition became a moving tribute to the many who fought and died in the Battle of Weston in 1685, and travesty of justice that followed.
Meuross has the gift of being able to touch people through his songs and performance, painting pictures that remain with the listener long after the song has been sung.
“I’m happy to be returning to sing in this beautiful church, to a wonderful audience and community,” says Reg.
As usual, the concert will take place in in St Mary’s Church, Main Road, Westonzoyland, TA7 0EP. Starting at 3 pm with refreshments served from 2.15 pm.
There is no need to book but please note seats are available on a first come, first served basis.
In order to help with the artists’ and other costs we hold a raffle. In addition, we welcome donations.

Somerset Chamber Choir Amicus Piano Recital by Anita D’Attellis
2024-10-05 15:00 - 16:30 | Taunton Minster (St Mary Magdalene Church), Church Square, Taunton, Somerset, TA1 1SA, United Kingdom
Piano Recital
Schubert – Four Impromptus (D899)
Gershwin – Rhapsody in Blue
Scriabin – Sonate-Fantasie (Op 19)
Rachmaninov – Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini (18th Variation)
Liszt – Hungarian Rhapsody No 2
We are delighted that Anita D’Attellis, the choir’s principal accompanist, will give the second concert in our Amicus Recital Series. This series is an opportunity for us to showcase some very good friends of the choir, performing a programme of well-known and popular works, interspersed with something less familiar.
Anita has performed extensively as a solo and concerto pianist and chamber musician, with recitals at the Brighton and Cheltenham International Festivals, Snape Maltings, the Royal Festival Hall, the Royal Albert Hall and the Symphony Hall, Birmingham. This ‘rhapsodic’ recital will be a wonderful opportunity to witness Anita’s virtuosic playing at close hand, a real treat!

Blackdowns Early Music Projects - The King's Flutes
2024-10-25 19:30 - 21:00 | All Saints Church, Culmstock, Fore Street,, CULMSTOCK, Devon, EX15 3JD, United Kingdom
Professional series: We are delighted to welcome the international ensemble Phaedrus, as part of their UK tour following an appearance at the Cambridge Early Music Festival.
Emma-Lisa Roux (voice & & lute) with Mara Winter, Charlotte Schneider and Luis Martinez Pueyo (renaissance flute consort) are bringing a programme entitled The King’s Flutes, referring to the 72 Renaissance flutes found in Henry VIII’s collection. The ensemble first came together while studying at the renowned Swiss music centre, Schola Cantorum Basiliensis.
In England, one of the greatest patrons of the arts was Henry VIII who developed the cultural and musical splendour of the Tudor court, and it is music of this time that the members of Phaedrus are bringing to Culmstock in October.

Arquebus
2024-10-27 14:00 - 17:00 | St Mary’s Church, Westonzoyland, Westonzoyland, Somerset, TA7 0EP, United Kingdom
Arquebus is a dynamic Somerset based folk trio formed by local guitarist, Sam Patten. With a mixture of foot stomping fiddle tunes and upbeat songs, playing with the energy of a band that loves what it does, this is not to be missed. The programme will be a mixture self-written songs and traditional tunes- jigs, reels and hornpipes.
‘The name is a long story, says Sam Patten, ‘but basically an arquebus was one of the first types of musket from the 15th century. It all comes from a comment someone made when we first started about how the arquebus was a bit hit & miss and you would basically set fire to it and hope for the best. Our bass player joked that it was a bit like our playing and the name stuck.’
He added: ‘Yeah we just liked the sound of it and again as our bass player is fond if saying, much like the gun there’s a certain amount if backfiring!’

Piano Recital – Stanislav Yovanovitch
2024-11-03 15:00 - 17:00 | St John the Evangelist Church, Taunton, Park Street, Taunton, Somerset, TA1 4DG, United Kingdom
Relatively new resident to Taunton, Stanislav Yovanovitch has kindly agreed to give a recital of some of his favourite music prior to his visit to China to give the same perforation. Included in the programme are pieces by Chopin, Debussy, Liszt, Rachmaninov, Ravel and Scriabin. Mr Yovaonvich has had an amazing career stretching across the globe and is guaranteed to keep his audience entertained during the afternoon. Read more about the adventures throughout the life of the fascinating gentleman on his website yovagerlanegends.com and mark the date in your diary to be sure not to miss this exciting recital.
Tea and Cakes will be served after the performance to conclude the afternoon. A retiring collection will be taken to defray costs and for the benefit of St John’s Church,

Collegium Singers Christmas Concert
2024-12-16 19:30 - 21:00 | St John the Baptist Church, Wellington, High Street, Wellington, Somerset, TA21 8QY, United Kingdom
Advent Responsory – Charles Paterson
The Angel Gabriel – arr Andrew Kirk
Song of the Holly – arr. Andrew Kirk
Quem Pastores = arr. Andrew Kirk
While Shepherd’s Watched
Shepherd’s Pipe Carol – John Rutter
Bethlehem Down – Peter Warlock
A Spotless Rose – Herbert Howells
God Rest you merry gentlemen
In the bleak midwinter – Harold Darke
Interval
Ding dong merrily on high
A great and mighty wonder – Richard Barnes
There is no rose – Richard Barnes
See amid the winter’s snow – Richard Barnes
Hark the herald angels sing
Coventry Carol – Trad.
The infant king – Josephine Stephenson
Jesus Christ the Apple Tree – Elizabeth Poston
Twelve Days of Christmas
We wish you a merry Christmas

The Brian Creswell Music Festival
2025-02-03 - 2025-02-14 | Temple Methodist Church, Taunton, Upper High Street Taunton, Taunton, Somerset, TA1 3PY, United Kingdom
This Music festival has been named in honour of Brian Cresswell “Taunton’s Man of Music” who made such an inspiring and important contribution to the Taunton Festival of the Arts over many years.
This year, Taunton Festival of the Arts requires entrants to arrange their own accompaniment, as no official accompanist will be provided. Alternatively, you may contact Andrew Trewhella, who has previously accompanied at our festival.

Contemporary/ Pop Vocals Competition
2025-02-08 17:00 - 22:00 | Tacchi Morris Arts Center, School Rd, Monkton Heathfield, Taunton, Somerset, TA2 8PD, United Kingdom
Can you sing like Adele? Does your band rival Guns and Roses? Sing with the soul of Ella Fitzgerald? Or maybe you can rap like Stormzy?
For the fourth year, an exciting competition opportunity for contemporary music soloists, duos and bands.
Come and watch local emerging artists perform, with an industry professional adjudicator in the chair.
With classes in three age categories, 12 and under, 16 and under and Open, this is sure to be an uplifting and inspiring day

Divertimento String Quartet concert in Taunton on February 9th
2025-02-09 16:00 - 18:00 | Temple Methodist Church, Taunton, Upper High Street Taunton, Taunton, Somerset, TA1 3PY, United Kingdom
At 4pm on Sunday 9th February, at Temple Methodist Church, Divertimento String Quartet will be playing a programme of Mozart, Stravinsky and Mendelssohn.
