Southwell Music Festival fills Southwell Minster with song over Bank Holiday weekend

Southwell was filled with song and sound over the Bank Holiday weekend as the town’s annual classical music festival returned.

Now in its tenth year, Southwell Music Festival saw a whole host of singers and musicians performing in Southwell Minster’s Nave, Chapter House, Palace Garden, as well as the Market Square and Methodist church across four days (August 23 to 26).

Despite inclement bank holiday weather, the anniversary show did go on with live classical music and performances from world-famous vocalists including homegrown talent the Festival Sinfonia and Festival Voices performing Mozart’s Requiem and at the ever-popular A Night at the Opera!, showcasing the best of opera and musical theatre.

Acclaimed British tenor Mark Padmore was Artist-in-Residence, with legendary jazz vocalist Norma Winstone, and award-winning folk trio Leveret also performing over the weekend.

There were also talks from experts including composer Martin Bussey and librettist Anthony Pinching, tenor Mark Padmore, mezzo soprano Susan Bickley, and Byron expert Geoffrey Bond.

Also returning was the annual Come and Sing, where singers from across the county of all abilities were invited to come together to sing Mozart’s Coronation Mass in the Minster’s Nave, led by conductor Marcus Farnsworth.