Shipley Arts Festival 2026 gets underway

Having celebrated its 25th anniversary in 2025, the Shipley Arts Festival 2026 gets underway on Sunday, May 3 at 6pm in St Mary’s Church, Shipley.

Festival founder and artistic director Andrew Bernardi: “Opening night has always held a special place in the life of the Festival. It is a moment where friends, audiences and musicians come together, many familiar faces, and always a few new ones, united by a shared love of music in a place that means so much to us. For many, opening night has become a much-loved tradition and a moment to begin the Festival together.

“This year, we are joined by an exceptional group of string players alongside the Shipley Festival Choir, formed by Maria Marchant for our 25th anniversary last year and drawn from the surrounding parishes, plus members of the outstanding London Christian Choir. Together, these musicians embody the spirit of the Festival, rooted in community while reaching outward through music.

“Our evening brings together well-loved choral music with newly commissioned work, reflecting both tradition and the Festival’s continuing creative spirit.

“The choirs will perform a sequence of much-loved pieces including Bach’s Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring, Mozart’s Ave Verum Corpus, Elgar’s The Snow, and Stanford’s The Bluebird, featuring soprano soloist Beatrice Cheung. Fauré’s Cantique de Jean Racine and Haydn’s The Heavens are Telling bring further richness to the choral sound, alongside Vaughan Williams’ familiar Monks Gate tune.

“At the centre of the evening sits Paul Lewis’ Shipley Concerto, commissioned for the Festival and performed on our 1696 Stradivarius violin. Its three movements – Cremona 1696, Shipley Idyll, and Chinese Adventure – reflect both the instrument’s origins and its journey within the Festival.

“We are also delighted that our great friend Malcolm Singer joins us to conduct his Eli, Eli Fantasy, bringing a more reflective contrast within the programme, alongside James Whitbourn’s Adagio for Strings.

“There is something unique about sharing music in St Mary’s. The sense of place, the closeness of the audience, and the shared experience of listening together create an atmosphere that is both intimate and uplifting. After the concert, we continue the evening over a glass of Nyetimber, a chance to meet, reflect, and enjoy the company of fellow audience members and performers alike.”

This year’s festival goes through until October and features 21 events.

“With our box office now open, we invite you to experience an extraordinary line-up. Whether you’re a longtime fan or a first-time guest, Shipley promises a year of music that will inspire and uplift.

“Back in 2000, the Shipley Arts Festival began with an intimate performance at the Selsey Arms pub, just outside Horsham, featuring Christina Maude and Gini de Zoete. With the unwavering support of a core group, including Peter Sanderson and Gordon Lindsay, we embarked on a journey that has been nothing short of extraordinary.

“From these humble beginnings, the Festival has grown into a cherished institution, fostering emerging talent through initiatives like the String Academy, a vital platform for young musicians. Over the years, we have collaborated with and commissioned works from esteemed composers such as Cecilia McDowall, Malcolm Singer, and John Rutter. Helen Ottaway’s White Storks resonated with audiences during a special BBC Radio 3 broadcast from Knepp Castle’s Wilding Concert during lockdown, while Paul Lewis’ Violin Concerto beautifully captures the journey of our treasured Stradivarius under our custodianship.

“Our commitment to community runs deep. Across Sussex, we unite audiences through music and have supported vital charities, including Blood Cancer UK, Chestnut Tree House Children’s Hospice, and The Alzheimer’s Society, Friends of Sussex Hospices and The Focus Foundation.”