Ashburton Chamber Music Festival 2019

Latest News about the festival here: We’re on the Radio,
Open Rehearsal venues announced…

For a week this summer, an international group of fabulous (and friendly!) musicians will live among us, playing concerts, inviting us into their rehearsals and performing in unusual places. Only the first concert is at the Arts Centre. The rest of the events are spread around Ashburton and Broadhempston. Book tickets here now.

  • Sat 20 July: Concert 1: Ashburton Arts Centre, 7.30pm
  • Sun 21 July: Meet the Musicians: Discussion and Introduction, Ashburton Arts Centre, 4pm
  • Mon 22 July: Hausmusik 1: Music Room, Great Ambrook, 7pm
  • Tue 23 July: Family Concert: Ashburton Arts Centre, 6.30 – 7.15pm
  • Wed 24 July: Hausmusik 2: Bigadon Cottage, Nr Pennywell, 7pm
  • Thur 25 July: Concert 2: Broadhempston Church, 7.30pm
  • Fri 26 July: Hausmusik 3: 25 East St, Ashburton, 7pm
  • Sat 27 July: Concert 3: St Andrew’s Church, Ashburton, 7.30pm

The three main concerts feature string quartets by Mozart, Shostakovich, Dvorak and Bartok, plus myriad other fine music for various combinations of instruments. Plus there will be a performance of a new piece by Tom Vignieri, for string quartet and saxophone commissioned specially for this festival. Full programme details for each concert here.

For the Hausmusik events, in some beautiful local private houses, nobody knows the programme in advance – not even the musicians! From a pile of music, the audience will choose pieces, and the musicians will sight-read them, right there in front of everyone: no rehearsal! More details…

Alongside all of this, the musicians will hold open rehearsals, in various places around Ashburton – full details to be announced, watch this space.

The musicians who’ll be living among us in Ashburton all week, are:

  • Sara Trickey: violin
  • Solenne Païdassi: violin
  • David Yang: viola
  • Reinoud Ford: cello
  • Judith Hall: Flute
  • Andy Williamson: Saxophone
  • Tom Vignieri: composer

More about all of these musicians here…

Poster for the three main concerts in Ashburton Chamber Music Festival.

David Yang started this unusual type of festival in Newburyport, near Boston, in 2002 where it continues to thrive. For the first time, he is bringing it to the UK. Right here to Ashburton. See newburyportchambermusic.org.

Jul 2019

Ashburton Chamber Music Festival Concert #1
Saturday 20 July 2019 at 7:30 PM
Ashburton Chamber Music Festival Concert #1
More info and tickets

The opening concert of the inaugural Ashburton Chamber Music Festival: bringing an international group of musicians to live and play in Ashburton for a week.


Hausmusik at Great Ambrook
Monday 22 July 2019 at 7:00 PM
Hausmusik at Great Ambrook
More info and tickets

Nobody knows the programme in advance – not even the musicians! From a pile of music the audience will choose pieces, and the musicians will sight-read them, right there in front of everyone: no rehearsal! All in a stunning Grade 2 listed C17th manor house and garden.


Ashburton Chamber Music Festival: Family Concert
Tuesday 23 July 2019 at 6:30 PM
Ashburton Chamber Music Festival: Family Concert
More info and tickets

A short concert aimed at a younger audience. Adults £5 children free. (It’ll end just in time for the KS2 Disco at Ashburton Primary School).


Hausmusik at Bigadon Cottage
Wednesday 24 July 2019 at 7:00 PM
Hausmusik at Bigadon Cottage
More info and tickets

Nobody knows the programme in advance – not even the musicians! Enjoy the second hausmusik performance in a walled garden with amazing acoustics and gorgeous views.


Ashburton Chamber Music Festival: Concert 2
Thursday 25 July 2019 at 7:30 PM
Ashburton Chamber Music Festival: Concert 2
More info and tickets

Second concert in the 2019 Chamber Music Festival, in this lovely village a few miles from Ashburton. String Quartets by Shostakovich and Dvorak, plus a solo cello suite.


Hausmusik in Ashburton [standing room only]
Friday 26 July 2019 at 7:00 PM
Hausmusik in Ashburton [standing room only]
More info and tickets

Advance tickets now sold out. There may be some standing tickets available on the door.
Nobody knows the programme in advance – not even the musicians!


Ashburton Chamber Music Festival: Concert 3
Saturday 27 July 2019 at 7:30 PM
Ashburton Chamber Music Festival: Concert 3
More info and tickets

The final concert of the 2019 Chamber Music Festival. Featuring the 20th Century masterpiece that is Bartok’s fourth string quartet, plus a world premiere by Tom Vignieri for saxophone and string quartet.