Across eight days of vibrant performances, world premieres and chamber concerts, Cheltenham Music Festival celebrated its 79th year by hosting the brightest and best of the classical music scene, performed by a dazzling array of internationally renowned musicians. 

The Festival closed in fine style with a superb performance by the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra in one of its first performances following confirmation of King Charles III’s patronage. The finale paid homage to the 150th anniversary of the birth of Gustav Holst, champion of the arts and one of Cheltenham’s most famous sons, celebrating his legacy and influence on classical music today. A series of concerts, performances and talks embedded throughout the Festival programme brought to life Holst’s life and work. 

One of the highlights of this was a private tour of Holst’s birthplace and an intimate concert performed on Holst’s own grand piano by wonderful pianist Ashok Gupta and viola-player Elitsa Bogdanova. This was followed by another concert in All Saint’s Church where Holst spent his formative years composing his early juvenilia. Here, the old and new came together with organ and choral works of Holst and his contemporaries, with performances from the Cheltenham-based Oriel Singers and organist James Lancelot. The Royal Liverpool Philarmonic Orchestra and South Cotswold’s Big Sing Group brought to life four moving pieces from the last century in a restorative, one-of-a-kind concert in the stunning surroundings of Gloucester Cathedral, including Holst’s The Hymn of Jesus and Vaughan Williams’ Five Variants of Dives and Lazarus.  

Elsewhere in the programme, the Festival played host to a series of intimate chamber performances in the historic Pittville Pump Room, including acclaimed pianist Clare Hammond,baritone Roderick Williams andinternationally renowned Marmen Quartet. Festival audiences also heard from the next generation of musicians, including concerts featuring BBC New Generation Artists: violinist Geneva Lewis, cellist Santiago Cañón-Valancia, pianist Alim Beisembayev, anda rich and moving music expedition fromthe Chaos String Quartet. Many of these concerts were recorded by Radio 3 as part of the Festival’s ongoing relationship with the BBC. 

The Festival also reasserted its commitment to championing the trailblazers of tomorrow in a series of concerts in the stunning surroundings of St Gregory’s Church, featuring winners of the 2024 Gloucestershire Young Musician and Keith Nutland Award, and winner of the 2022 BBC Young Musician Award, viola player Jaren Ziegler.  

In a series of Festival firsts, astronaut Meganne Christian took audiences on a cosmic journey through one of J S Bach’s 200 cantatas, specially composed for that day of the year, while a performance from the UK’s most sought-after baritone Roderick Williams and pianist Roger Vignoles featured a new work from award-winning composer and Festival Composer Academy alumnus Cameron Biles-Liddell.  

As part of its year-round Learning and Participation programmes, the Festival also inspired audiences and musicians of the future from across Gloucestershire. During the Festival, two bespoke Concerts for Schools – one of which was a relaxed event specifically designed for pupils in special educational needs and disabilities schools – offered another 648 children and young people a vibrant experience of live classical music. Both concerts were followed by the opportunity to meet the musicians and for some, engage with a range of instruments for the first time.  

Furthering its commitment to champion access to classical music for all, the Mixtape event returned to present a one-off combination of all-star performers in a relaxed performance space, including Sean Shibe (guitar), Clare Hammond (piano), the Chaos String Quartet and the Choir of Merton College, Oxford all contributing to an evening of rule-free classical music.  The focus was on meditation and mindfulness, encouraging the audience to encounter music and performers in new and refreshing ways.  

The Festival also announced that from 2025 onwards, its Artistic Director will be Jack Bazalgette. “Every year, Cheltenham Music Festival reaffirms itself as one that champions the very best of classical music and its contemporaries, and this year has been no different” Jack said.  

Local communities were able to experience classical music in the heart of the town as part of Cheltenham Festivals' ...around town programme in association with Cheltenham BID. Pop-up performances featured musicians from the Birmingham Conservatoire including a brass quintet serenading passing shoppers, a wind trio in a wine bar and a vibrant folk quartet finishing off the day.  

“We couldn’t be prouder of what this year’s Cheltenham Music Festival has achieved,” said Ali Mawle, co-CEO at Cheltenham Festivals, the charity which produces the Festival alongside its Jazz, Literature and Science Festivals. “From continuing to curate the chamber music that forms so famous a strand of our Festival to building the next generation of exciting contemporary music, Cheltenham really is the place to come to sample the breadth of the current musical scene. Plans are already underway for 2025 and we can’t wait to share them with audiences as we head into our 80th year. 

“We are so grateful to our audiences, volunteers, supporters and performers for joining us for eight days of musical adventures.” 

—Ends— 

 Notes to Editors  

#CheltMusicFest @cheltfestivals  www.cheltenhamfestivals.com/music  

Cheltenham Music Festival is one of the UK’s leading classical music festivals, bringing together eight days of live music in the Regency spa town of Cheltenham each July. Founded in 1945, the Festival prides itself on encouraging a spirit of curiosity and welcoming bold performances. It is renowned for presenting world-class musicians in magnificent venues around Cheltenham and Gloucestershire. The Festival is a champion for new music from UK composers and supports the incubation of new talent, and also operates extensive education programmes.   

Cheltenham Music Festival is part of Cheltenham Festivals, an arts charity that creates experiences which bring joy, spark curiosity, connect communities and inspire change. Its year-round learning and participation and talent development programmes culminate in four world-class Festivals, offering everyone an opportunity to explore and create culture. Over 225,000 visitors a year are inspired by its Literature, Science, Jazz and Music Festivals.  

Cheltenham Music Festival was founded in 1945 and celebrates 80 years in 2025.  

Major Partners: Cheltenham BID, Cheltenham Music Festival Society, Make Music Gloucestershire, South Cotswold Big Sing Group  

Festival Partners: Attivo, The Big Give, Hinrichsen Foundation, Holst 150, The Honourable Company of Gloucestershire, Oldham Foundation, Reed Foundation, Royal Philharmonic Society, Willam A Cadbury  

In-Kind Partners: Birmingham City University, Leaf Creative, Queens Hotel, Willans LLP Solicitors 

Media Partners: Cotswold Life, Visitor+  

Cheltenham Festivals has signed up to the Keychange programme which aims for a 50:50 gender balance across the Festival line-up.