Keswick Music Society, for classical music concerts in the Lake District

Next concert:

Sunday 24th March 7.30pm

Royal Northern Sonfonia

71st Season
2018 - 2019

Season 2018 - 2019

Keswick Music Society promotes classical music concerts. It was founded in 1947 by Leslie & Joan Sparey. The Society is one of many thriving organisations in Keswick and contributes to the wide variety of attractions on offer to residents and visitors alike, in addition to the well known scenic attributes of the Lake District.

The Society has benefited greatly from the opening in 1999 of the new Theatre by the Lake, pictured above, where all concerts are held. Not only does the Theatre offer comfortable seating and excellent viewing for almost 400 people, together with refreshment facilities and easy concert booking for visitors, it was a significant plus factor in enabling the Society to obtain National Lottery funding for a Steinway grand piano.

Keswick Music Society currently has a marvellous membership of nearly 200 enthusiastic subscribers. Membership entitles each person to a reserved seat at all concerts in a season that runs from September to April. As well as eight concerts by professional musicians, the Society promotes one concert each season given by local young musicians as part of its aim to foster an interest in music at an early age. Members also enjoy one or two social functions during the season. Becoming a subscriber

In addition to the above, there is a wonderful Family Concert held each year on a Sunday afternoon preceding the evening concert - a fantastic opportunity for families to enjoy the fun of classical music, together.

Non-members can book seats directly with the Theatre by the Lake Box Office for individual concerts.

General enquiries can be made to the Hon. Secretary, Mary Cooke on 017687 77235.

The majority of the concerts are given by soloists or small ensembles. In recent years these have included Tasmin Little (violin), Angela Hewitt (piano), Emma Johnson (clarinet), Alison Balsam (trumpet) and Nicolai Demidenko (piano), Kathryn Tickell (Northumbrian Pipes), John Lill (piano), Moray Welsh (cello), The Brodsky Quartet, The Hermitage String Trio, Red Priest, The Fitzwilliam Quartet, Martin Roscoe (piano), Henschel String Quartet, The Fibonacci Sequence Chamber Ensemble, Imogen Cooper (piano), Nicholas Daniel (oboe), Alina Ibragimova (violin), Piers Lane (piano) and Jess Gillam (saxophone).

The Society has also formed a very good relationship with the Royal Northern Sinfonia, who usually give one concert in each season.

The ‘Orchestra Live’ scheme which, with funding from Arts Council England and the Northern Rock Foundation has the aim of taking orchestras to the more remote parts of the country. This has enabled:

Academy of St Martin in the Fields in 2006
Manchester Camerata in April 2007 with Tasmin Little
Mozart Players in April 2008,
The City of London Sinfonia in February 2009
European Union Chamber Orchestra in April 2010,
Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment in February 2011,
Orchestra of the Swan with Julian Lloyd Webber in September 2011
Northern Chamber Orchestra with Nicholas Daniel in September 2012
Sinfonia Viva with Martin Roscoe in September 2013
Britten Sinfonia with Nicholas Daniel February 2015
Northern Chamber Orchestra with Martin Roscoe March 2016
Orchestra of the Swan with Raphael Wallfisch September 2016
Royal Northern Sinfonia with Peter Francomb and Michael Gerard September 2017
La Serenissima with Adrian Chandler December 2018

KESWICK MUSIC SOCIETY IS AFFILIATED TO MAKING MUSIC AND ACKNOWLEDGES WITH GRATITUDE FINANCIAL HELP FROM ORCHESTRAS LIVE AND CUMBRIA COUNTY COUNCIL