The 32nd Northern Aldborough Festival came to a close just over two weeks ago. The orchestras, choirs, chamber ensembles, soloists, jazz musicians and rock bands have all departed, and Aldborough has returned to its familiar bucolic calm.
Before we begin shaping next year’s festival in August, we’d like to look back on some of the memorable moments that made this year’s festival so special.
Thursday 18 June
The opening night of the festival saw a long overdue visit by the Orchestra of Opera North, one of the UK’s leading orchestras, and the only ensemble in the country to have a year-round dual role in the opera house and concert hall.
With 31 performers packed onto the St Andrew’s stage, it is fair to say that the wonderful sound raised the roof! A programme that included Mozart’s Symphony No. 25, Stravinsky’s beautifully constructed Dumbarton Oaks and the virtuoso fireworks of Vivaldi’s Four Seasons, in front of a sell-out audience, made the perfect opening statement of the 32nd festival.
Friday 19 June
The following day saw the return of Britain’s most loved clarinettist, Emma Johnson, in the company of two esteemed chamber music specialists, pianist Andrew West and cellist Alice Neary (a late replacement for Guy Johnston).
Their programme of Brahms and Beethoven cello and clarinet sonatas and trios was very well received by a large audience, whose warm response reflected the artistry and musical rapport on display.
Later, in the SHED, jazz pianist Ben Bown provided the perfect soundtrack to a summer evening, entertaining us with a relaxed set of jazz standards.
Saturday 20 June
We spent a memorable day at the Old Hall in North Deighton, with two remarkable concerts in this most popular of venues.
In the morning Sarah Beth Briggs, a former child prodigy who has become one of the UK’s most respected pianists, performed a spellbinding recital that included Haydn’s late masterpiece, Sonata in C, Hob XVI/50, works by Schumann and Poulenc and finished with Mendelssohn’s extraordinary and virtuosic Variations sérieuses.
In the evening was the Festival’s annual jazz gig, this time performed by legendary drummer Clark Tracey and his quintet of Jazz Champions. Their blistering set, punctuated with wry asides from Clark, left the audience spellbound.
The reviewer in the Reviews Hub, giving the gig a 90% rating, saying ‘The band members’ long experience playing together in different groups showed in all the little touches’.
Read the full review [here].
Sunday 21 June
Young Artists 2026, from left to right:
Enjuan Han (cellist), Gabriel Serrano-Medina (trumpeter), Evie Lu (pianist), Rose Ritson (mezzo-soprano)
Nurturing the next generation of musicians has been at the heart of the Northern Aldborough Festival since its inception. Alongside the Competition, the annual Young Artist Showcase offers gifted young performers from Yorkshire the invaluable opportunity to appear on a professional festival stage.
This year’s showcase featured musicians aged between 12 and 18, each demonstrating remarkable talent and promise. Soon to begin her studies at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, Rose Ritson impressed with the warmth and maturity of her mezzo-soprano in a beautifully poised recital that included Kathleen Ferrier’s much-loved Blow the Wind Southerly. Just 12 years old, cellist Enjuan Han delivered a polished and expressive account of the opening movement of Elgar’s Cello Concerto, while pianist Evie Lu tackled Beethoven’s demanding Sonata in E major, Op.14 No.1 with confidence and aplomb. Trumpeter Gabriel Serrano-Medina brought the recital to a triumphant close with Haydn’s ever-popular Trumpet Concerto. Our sincere thanks also go to pianist William Dore, whose sensitive accompaniment supported two of the four young performers and contributed greatly to the afternoon’s success.
Monday 22 & Tuesday 23 June
Now firmly established as a highlight of the Festival, the New Voices Singing Competition returned for its third edition, continuing to grow in both stature and reputation. Our distinguished panel of judges, soprano Carolyn Sampson, conductor Paul Daniel and renowned song accompanist Anna Tilbrook, brought exceptional insight, generosity and encouragement to every stage of the competition, making it an inspiring experience for all involved.
For two days, St Andrew’s Church and the SHED resonated with the sounds of singers and pianists rehearsing, while the anticipation and nervous excitement among the competitors were unmistakable. The final showcased an outstanding range of voices across the classical spectrum, from soprano to countertenor, tenor and baritone.
This year’s competition crowned its first countertenor winner, Tom Lilburn, accompanied by Jack Redman (right and left, respectively in the image on the left). Their compelling programme culminated in a searing performance of the Refugee’s Aria from Jonathan Dove’s Flight, earning them the Seastock Prize of £5,000, presented by businessman and philanthropist Dr Terry Bramall. The £1,500 Yorkshire Music Future Fund Prize was awarded to baritone Harrison Robb and his pianist, Catriona Mackenzie, whose engaging programme also won them the Audience Prize. The remaining finalists were Korean soprano Elisabeth Lee with pianist Alfonso Sánchez Pérez and tenor Archie Inns with his pianist Daniel Silcock.
The competition also welcomed back last year’s winners, soprano Rachel Munro and pianist Jia Ning Ng, whose beautifully crafted recital ranged effortlessly across English, French and German repertoire, demonstrating impressive artistry, stylistic assurance and technical command.
Beyond the performances themselves, what made this year’s competition especially memorable was its atmosphere of warmth and camaraderie. Judges, finalists and even semi-finalists gathered together in the SHED after the awards, celebrating one another’s achievements before enjoying some close-up magic from Festival favourite Oliver Parker. A fitting end to two inspiring days of music-making.
L-R: Sir Andrew Lawson-Tancred, Dr Terry Bramall, Robert Ogden, Tom Lilburn (countertenor), Jack Redman (piano), Catriona Mackenzie (piano), Harrison Robb (baritone), Paul Daniel, Carolyn Sampson & Anna Tilbrook
Wednesday 24 June
The following day took the Festival to a new venue: the beautiful ballroom of HMP Askham Grange. A truly stellar pairing, violinist Harriet Mackenzie and guitarist Morgan Szymanski brought virtuoso brilliance to music by Vivaldi, Paganini, de Falla and Piazzolla, before pausing to deliver a beautifully poised and deeply poignant account of Fauré’s exquisite Pavane.
That evening brought one of the most moving performances in the Festival’s history: a Composer Portrait of Clara Schumann given by pianist Lucy Parham (right in photograph) with actress Joanna David. Music by Clara and Robert Schumann, together with works by composers who were frequent visitors to the Schumanns’ home, was interwoven with readings from Clara’s diaries, creating an intimate and compelling portrait of one of music’s most remarkable figures. Lucy’s performance of Liszt’s transcription of Robert Schumann’s Widmung was utterly unforgettable and will live long in the memory.
Thursday 25 June
The following morning, the Festival returned to the picturesque Grade I listed Farnley Hall for a heartwarming concert that effortlessly bridged the worlds of classical, folk and pop. Dedicated to presenting music in its broadest sense, Eleanor Grant and Gus McQuade (above) delighted the audience with a programme full of warmth, imagination and charm. Eleanor’s pure, radiant voice moved with effortless ease across its range, while Gus’s beautifully judged guitar accompaniment concealed a formidable virtuosity of its own.
In the evening, due to unforeseen circumstances Amol Rajan was unable to attend, but we were thrilled to welcome an icon and broadcasting veteran, John Humphrys, in his place. John gave thought-provoking answers to the audience’s questions, despite a sound issue. (We are reviewing tech to ensure such issues don’t happen again!).
Among the many fascinating stories he shared was the revelation that he had been the first journalist to arrive at the scene of the Aberfan disaster in 1966, an experience he reflected had “affected me like nothing else in my life”. He also recalled Margaret Thatcher as his most challenging interviewee. Hoping to wrong-foot her, he opened with what he thought was a “gotcha” question: “What does religion mean to you?” He had expected an answer such as “charity” or “kindness”, which would have allowed him to challenge whether her policies truly reflected those values. Instead, she simply replied, “Choice”, immediately disarming his carefully prepared line of questioning. Turning to contemporary politics, he admitted to being “deeply suspicious” of Reform UK leader Nigel Farage.
Following the talk, John was rushed to York station to make the last train while many of the audience repaired to the SHED to enjoy delicious food and drinks to the sound of the jazz guitar of Andy Morgan.
Friday 26 June
The Marriage of Figaro Cast (photo: Marc Eskenazi)
The Festival’s final classical event was Mozart’s The Marriage of Figaro, presented by Wild Arts, who made a welcome return following last year’s triumph.
The musical performance could scarcely have been bettered, with a cast of outstanding young principals who seem destined to become mainstays of the UK opera scene. Elinor Rolfe Johnson brought just the right lyric warmth to the Countess, with “Porgi, amor” and “Dove sono” among the evening’s musical highlights. Jack Sandison was a swaggering Figaro, combining commanding stage presence with real vocal lustre, while Ellie Neate’s Susanna sparkled with wit, charm and vocal brilliance. Timothy Nelson, who also appeared at last year’s Festival, again demonstrated a rich baritone of immense promise. The supporting roles – Marcellina, Dr Bartolo (doubling as Antonio), Barbarina, and Basilio (doubling as Don Curzio) – were all superbly cast and vividly characterised.
Although billed as an enhanced concert performance, it retained the unmistakable hallmarks of Danielle de Niese’s imaginative production. The storytelling was crystal clear, bringing both the comedy and the emotional depth of Da Ponte’s libretto vividly to life.
The production received five-star reviews from both The Reviews Hub and MusicOMH.
Saturday 27 June
The Festival’s final day found the team in the grounds of Aldborough Manor, preparing to welcome a crowd of more than 1,200 people for Definitely Oasis, the UK’s leading Oasis tribute band.
With the stage, lighting, signage and safety barriers all in place, the team paused for a well-earned lunch at the newly reopened Ship Inn before the gates opened. The weather could scarcely have been better, and the capacity crowd enjoyed a return performance from the hugely talented Pearl Natasha, this time with her full band, before the headline act recreated all the swagger, energy and anthemic spirit of Oasis in a set packed with the band’s greatest hits.
A spectacular fireworks display brought the evening, and the Festival, to a memorable close. The photograph below, taken by Definitely Oasis’s drummer, perfectly captures the fantastic atmosphere of the night.
Now it’s time for a short breather before next year’s festival, which takes place between 17 and 26 June 2027.
We look forward to seeing you there!
Yours,
Rob & Rachael