SUMMER 2025 – Season 6

This is the sixth year our international cast of world class musicians will be playing in beautiful venues around Ashburton and Widecombe. Featuring string quartets, sax and contemporary dance (Lois Taylor), our unique festival is founded on collaboration and community. Whatever your age or experience of classical music, our informal performances and formats invite everyone to celebrate music-making.

This year’s repertoire – find out more

Ludwig van Beethoven (1770 – 1827) String Quartet in Eb Major, Opus 127

Gabriell Mills (b.1977) Dartmoor Quintet for saxophone and strings (world premiere)

Dimitri Shostakovich (1906-1975) String Quartet No.4

Augusta Read Thomas (b.1964) Rumi Settings for violin and cello, with dancer Lois Taylor

Oliver Knussen CBE (1952-2018) Secret Psalm for solo violin

Tom Vignieri (b.1961) Walk with me for saxophone and string quartet

Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750) Partita No.1 in B Minor, BWV 1002 doe solo violin

Performance dates, times and venues.

At our informal Huismusik events, audiences decide what’s played from a selection of chamber music and the musicians sight-read it together.

Friday 18 July | 7pm: Huismusik #1. We return to the this lovely house and garden in the heart of Ashburton. Venue entrance has steps: 25 East Street, Ashburton, TQ13 7AQ

Saturday 19 July | 7pm: Huismusik #2. Bring a picnic from 6pm and enjoy music at this gorgeous house with a walled garden and views down the Dart valley: Bigadon Cottage, Buckfastleigh, TQ11 0FJ

The Open Rehearsals, Meet the Musicians and Family Concert are free to attend – check back nearer the time for locations. Donations welcome

Sunday 20 July | 10am – 1pm: Open rehearsal

Sunday 20 July | 4.00 – 5.15pm: Meet the Musicians panel discussion – Ashburton Arts Centre Introduced by Richard Gonski (Conductor Torbay Symphony Orchestra).

Monday 21 July | 10am – 1pm: Open rehearsal

Tuesday 22 July | 5pm: Family Concert – Ashburton Arts Centre

Wednesday 23 July | 10am – 1pm: Open rehearsal and Meet the Composer – Ashburton Arts Centre

Wednesday 23 July | 7pm: Concert #1 Bach, Shostakovich and Knussen – Ashburton Arts Centre

Our concert series includes, new for 2025, Nachtmusik. This performance is programmed later and close to nature in a magical Dartmoor location. It is played with minimal light and with no applause.

Thursday 24 July | 9-10pm: Concert #2 – Nachtmusik – St Raphael’s Chapel, Huccaby, Hexworthy, PL20 6SB. There is no bar at St Raphael’s, but the Forest Inn is nearby (PL20 6SD).

Friday 25 July | 7.30pm: Concert #3 – Bach, Shostakovich and Knussen – St Pancras Church, Widecome-in-the-Moor, TQ13 7TA

Saturday 26 July | 7.30pm: Concert #4 with pre-concert talk 6.45pm – Thomas (plus dance), Vignieri, Mills (world premiere), Beethoven – St Andrews Church, Ashburton TQ13 7DT

Sunday 27 July | 5- 6.15pm: Concert #5 -Festival Highlights – Ashburton Arts Centre. We choose our favourite pieces from the festival – tell us yours. A shorter concert with no interval.