15 of today’s most exciting chamber musicians and soloists

The 2026 Lewes Chamber Music Festival sees 15 of today’s most exciting chamber musicians and soloists gathering in Lewes to present a diverse programme, celebrating Kurtag’s 100th anniversary via the festival’s theme: Exploring musical legacy.

The festival will run from June 12-14.

The 2026 musicians are – violin: Beatrice Philips (artistic director), Charlotte Spruit, Maja Horvat, Katharine Gowers; viola: Edgar Francis, Adam Newman, Isobel Neary-Adams; cello: Hannah Sloane, Tim Posner, Robin Michael; piano: Tom Poster, Miles Walter; clarinet: Julian Bliss; horn: Annemarie Federle; and tenor: Laurence Kilsby.

Claire Parker, festival manager, said: “Now a much-loved annual event, and one of the most respected festivals in the country, the 14th Lewes Chamber Music Festival sees seven concerts spread over three days in mid-June.

“There will be an open rehearsal for Friends and Patrons on Thursday, June 11 at the Depot Cinema in Lewes. This gives audiences a chance to witness a group of the festival musicians rehearsing together with a unique opportunity for questions and discussion. Concerts

then begin the following day on June 12 at midday and are divided between two beautiful venues: the intimate High Street church of St Michael’s, and the Festival’s main home of Trinity Church St John sub Castro, where the piano is kept.

“The programme includes an opening concert to which local school children are invited along with the regular festival audience. The informal nature of this concert which sees the musicians introducing the pieces and explaining much of the programme set out for the rest of the festival weekend has meant it has become a much-loved aspect of LCMF.

“After the opening night 6.30pm concert at Trinity St Johns, which includes Ravel’s Piano Trio performed by pianist Tom Poster along with artistic director Beatrice Philips and cellist Hannah Sloane, there is a dinner break before the atmospheric Late-Night Bach concert. This will be an unforgettable experience with the audience set up in the round, surrounding a string trio led by award-winning violinist Charlotte Spruit, performing Bach’s iconic masterpiece: his Goldberg Variations.

“Day two Saturday, June 13 begins with a lunchtime concert at midday focusing on Kurtág’s time studying in France, with Darius Milhaud’s fabulous character piece Suite featuring clarinetist Julian Bliss.

“The central concert of the festival is the Gala Concert – a double-length concert at 6pm on Saturday, June 13. The programme includes Schumann’s beautiful trio for viola, piano and clarinet Op.132 as well as Kurtág’s piece Hommage à Schumann for the same instrument combination. Janáček’s thrillingly virtuosic Intimate Letters Quartet will also be performed as well as Benjamin Britten’s Les Illuminations for which rising star tenor Laurence Kilsby will take to the stage, accompanied by a string orchestra made up of festival musicians and some of the UKs most exciting string players.

“Despite the starry line-up LCMF maintains its unique juxtapositioning of world-class excellence alongside charming personal touches such as much of the refreshments for the gala concert are the result of community efforts and locally sourced wine.

“Similarly the coffee concert the following morning on June 14 at 11am sees locally ground and roasted coffee served from 10.30 at Trinity Church. All the cakes are locally made and have gained a reputation for being outstanding. At this concert Classic FM rising star horn player Annemarie Federle will perform Ligeti’s incredible horn trio with pianist and composer Miles Walter and violinist Maja Horvat.

“The festival finale at 4pm on Sunday, June 14 includes many lush and beautiful chamber music works including Brahms’ glorious Sextet for strings in G major. The two festival pianists will come together before this to perform some works by Kurtág for four hands.”

The programme has been curated by artistic director Beatrice Philips.

Beatrice said: “When considering the musical influences of the life of György Kurtág I inevitably was led to consider homage as a more general concept in creativity. So many composers pay homage to those who inspired them in their writing and it has been wonderful to explore this for the 2026 programme. Kurtág’s time spent in Paris as well as his Bohemian ancestry means the programme is rich and varied whilst always coming back to the intensely personal nature of his miniatures Signs, Games and Messages – an intimacy

only possible in a chamber-music setting.”