News Story

Rising star trumpeter Aaron Akugbo recently appeared on the Three In A Bar Podcast, offering a glimpse into his eagerly anticipated performance at Cheltenham Music Festival.

On the podcast, Aaron Akugbo spoke warmly about his connection to the Festival's new Artistic Director, Jack Bazalgette, describing him as a long-time friend. The two share a creative connection, having recently collaborated on Through the Noise, Jack's innovative classical music series.

At Cheltenham Music Festival, Aaron will be joined by pianist Zeynep Özsuca. Together, they have curated a unique programme that pushes the boundaries of traditional trumpet playing. The pair have performed together for several years, but this concert marks the final performance for this particular programme, which Aaron says will be the best one yet. 

Rather than presenting a typical trumpet performance, Aaron and Zeynep's concert features a range of works originally written for other instruments, including arrangements of piano, flute and violin music.

The performance promises a unique and intimate experience, with the trumpet woven thoughtfully into a broader musical landscape. The boundary-defying programme will feature music by Mahler, Boulanger, Honegger and more. 

With his extraordinary technical skill, lyrical tone and musical exploration, Aaron's appearance at Cheltenham Music Festival is shaping up to be an unforgettable Festival highlight. Get tickets to see Aaron Akugo and Zeynep Özsuca's performance here.

Whilst there are some trumpet bits in it, mostly the programme is made up of stuff that isn't originally for the trumpet... It takes a complete 180.

Aaron Akugbo