THE ENGLISH MUSIC FESTIVAL celebrates Britain’s rich musical heritage by showcasing the brilliance, innovation and beauty of English music.
FOUNDER‑DIRECTOR EM MARSHALL‑LUCK
Photograph | Frances MarshallIt was established to give a platform to those many powerful and lovely works by British composers – primarily of the late-nineteenth to mid-twentieth centuries – that for so many years were all-too-rarely heard. Yet although the focus of the Festival is the Golden Renaissance of English Music, our programmes span from mediaeval music and the timeless delights of Tallis and Byrd through to contemporary music: indeed, the Festival has commissioned numerous thrilling and accessible new works from some of Britain’s most admired contemporary composers. We are proud to have staged the world première performances not just of these new pieces, but also of important works by Frederick Delius, Ralph Vaughan Williams, Sir Edward Elgar, Sir Charles Villiers Stanford, Arnold Bax, Sir Arthur Bliss, Herbert Howells, Benjamin Britten, York Bowen, E.J. Moeran, Ivor Gurney, George Butterworth, Sir Henry Walford Davies, Joseph Holbrooke and Rutland Boughton (amongst many others).
FOUNDER‑DIRECTOR EM MARSHALL‑LUCK
Photograph | Frances Marshall
Each Festival is a dynamic and inspiring event, which not only acts as a platform for some truly exciting and moving music, but also offers talks to put the music in context, and a number of social events, such as our popular EMF lunches. We are indebted to members of our Friends’ Scheme, whose financial contributions at all levels help to ensure the continuation of our work; and Friends receive a number of benefits at the Festival, such as free tickets, advance booking and reserved seating.
Our main Festival in Oxfordshire is now complemented by a number of other events that we hold around the country and abroad: most notably concerts and recitals in our UK & European Concert Series, and our regular Autumn Festivals in the beautiful Yorkshire Dales.
Our record label, EM Records, and publishing arm, EM Publishing, take our work to a new level, further facilitating accessibility of these rare and wonderful pieces by enabling listeners worldwide to experience these works for themselves, giving performers previously-denied access to scores, and advancing scholarship and knowledge of composers and musicians through our books.
I do hope that you will join us at future EMF events, and, if possible, support the important work we do in resurrecting, discovering and commissioning the most glorious works by joining us as a Friend.
EM MARSHALL-LUCK | Founder-Director
This year was the first year we have held The English Music Festival entirely in Dorchester-on-Thames, and this was only possible because of the support and encouragement of all those at Dorchester Abbey and at Dorchester Village Hall, as well as of the local community: our heartfelt thanks to you all for your help before and during the Festival, and for welcoming us so warmly. Sincere thanks, too, to the artists, for the energy and commitment of their performances; to all the volunteers who assisted with general administration, staffing the Box Office, stage-managing and stewarding, and without whose help running the Festival would simply not be possible; and, of course, to our audiences, whose enthusiasm and financial and moral support all continue to mean so much to us.
We have recently introduced a new tier to our Friends’ Scheme for Corporate Friends — so, if you own, or help to run, a company or a similar organisation, and would like to enjoy the special benefits that this tier offers, please do consider joining at this level. For more details about our Friends’ Scheme, please follow this link for a description of the tiers and their benefits, together with information about how to join.