SHREWSBURY CANTATA CHOIR

Shrewsbury Cantata Choir are gearing up for their 40th-anniversary celebrations next year with four concerts across the rest of 2026.

The first of these sees the choir teaming up with Shrewsbury Sinfonia to present a performance of Antonín Dvořák’s Stabat Mater, a setting of a medieval Latin poem which describes the suffering of the Virgin Mary at the Crucifixion. 

St Chad’s Church, Shrewsbury, Saturday 25 April

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EX CATHEDRA: THE GARDEN OF LOVE

[Our concert] celebrates Spring and the season of beauty and love with a programme of ravishing music to delight the senses; a ‘grand tour’ of earthly delights.”

So says Ex Cathedra’s founder & conductor Jeffrey Skidmore, in talking about the programme of ‘evocative imagery and shimmering harmony’ which the ensemble is performing in this two-hour-long concert. Featured works include Claude Le Jeune’s Revecy venir du Printans (from Le printemps) and a world premiere from Bobbie-Jane Gardner, who takes inspiration from Daisaku Ikeda’s concept of ‘human flowers’. 

St Peter’s Church, Wolverhampton, Saturday 25 April

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ISATA KANNEH-MASON

“I’m striving to change the fact that there’s a big lack of diversity in classical music,” says pianist Isata Kanneh-Mason, whose studies at the Royal Academy of Music began at the tender age of 10, a couple of years after her first public performance. “Music should be for everyone, and my aim is to bring music to all kinds of people. I think it’s important to have a variety of role models in the classical music world.”

Festival Theatre, Malvern, Sunday 26 April

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FRANCESCA MASSEY ORGAN RECITAL

Birmingham-born Francesca Massey held several prestigious organ scholarships before becoming assistant director of music at Peterborough Cathedral, sub-organist at Durham Cathedral and director of music at Rochester Cathedral. With four critically acclaimed solo recordings to her name, she here displays her sublime talent by performing a programme that features works by Bach, Dupré, Whitlock, Farrington and Middelschulte. 

Birmingham Town Hall, Monday 27 April

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MANCHESTER COLLECTIVE: PAPILLONS 

Described by its publicity as a ‘disarmingly intimate performance’, Papillons sees the boundary-pushing Manchester Collective collaborate with dance-theatre company Thick & Tight and multimedia artist Chaines to contemplate  the question: how do we appreciate something in a time of loss? 
At the heart of the work is Kaija Saariaho’s Sept Papillons (Seven Butterflies), a set of miniatures for solo cello, here performed by Laura van der Heijden (pictured). 
The performance will be followed by a Q&A with the contributing artists.

Bradshaw Hall, Royal Birmingham Conservatoire, Sunday 3 May  

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ANDREY GUGNIN

With his mantelpiece no doubt creaking under the weight of the various glittering prizes he’s acquired during the course of a stellar career, pianist Andrey Gugnin makes a welcome return to the Leamington Music Festival, seven years after his first-ever performance in the town (a memorable Festival opener with violinist Tamsin Little)... Andrey’s Pump Rooms programme features compositions by Tchaikovsky (Nutcracker Suite for solo piano and Sleeping Beauty Suite for solo piano) and Stravinsky (Three Movements from Petrushka, and Infernal Dance, Berceuse and Finale from The Firebird).   

Royal Pump Rooms, Leamington Spa, Monday 4 May    

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HELLENSMUSIC

International music festival Hellensmusic returns to Much Marcle in Herefordshire for a 13th year mid-month.

Taking place across three of the village’s venues - Hellens Manor, St Bartholomew’s Church and The Walwyn Arms - the four-day event presents a programme of chamber music concerts and free-to-observe masterclasses. Highlights include the festival’s opening concert, Modes Of Transport - which traces composers ‘through their travels, imagined wanderings, and musical evocations of transportation’ - and Concert For The Inner Child - an afternoon of music inspired by the dreams, sounds and spirit of childhood.

venues in Much Marcle, Herefordshire, Wednesday 6 - Sunday 10 May 

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IYAD SUGHAYER

Jordanian-Palestinian concert pianist and rising star Iyad Sughayer visits Stoke-on-Trent with a reputation for excellence and a couple of critically acclaimed albums under his belt... 

This Piano Masters Series appearance sees him bringing to bear his impressive talent on compositions by Mozart, Beethoven, Khachaturian and Liszt.          

Stoke-on-Trent Repertory Theatre, Thursday 7 May    

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CARDUCCI QUARTET

Performing more than 90 international concerts each year and regarded as one of the most successful string quartets in the business, Carducci are here presenting their final concert in the Shropshire Music Trust’s 2025/26 season.

They are joined for the occasion by star pianist Simon Callaghan. 
The programme features Shostakovich’s Piano Quintet in G minor, Op57, Caroline Shaw’s Entr'acte, and Schumann’s Piano Quintet in E-flat major, Op44.

St Alkmund’s Church, Shrewsbury, Friday 8 May

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BBC PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA

Residing at the Corporation’s Manchester home of Media City, the BBC Philharmonic visits the Potteries early this month in the company of violinist Zoe Beyers and cellist Peter Dixon, who will be teaming up to perform Brahms’ Double Concerto. 

Berlioz’ Roman Carnival and Mendelssohn’s Italian Symphony also feature, lending the programme a decidedly Mediterranean flavour... Widely admired Icelandic composer Daniel Bjarnason (pictured) is the conductor of this season-finale concert.

Victoria Hall, Stoke-on-Trent, Friday 8 May

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LICHFIELD CATHEDRAL CHORUS

Two Glorias for the price of one is the mouthwatering prospect when the Lichfield Cathedral Chorus next get together. 

Antonio Vivaldi’s Gloria, probably composed in 1715, boasts the splendidly sunny nature with which much of the composer’s work is readily associated... 

Francis Poulenc’s Gloria, meanwhile - written for soprano, chorus and orchestra, and premiered some 246 years after Vivaldi’s composition - features music that ‘spans from dark to whimsical’. 

Lichfield Cathedral, Saturday 9 May

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PICCADILLY SINFONIETTA

Piccadilly Sinfonietta may be less than a decade old, but the ensemble has already established an impressive reputation for its performances of baroque and classical works for chamber orchestra. 
Their latest Birmingham performance -  taking place in the city’s cathedral, by the tranquil glow of candlelight - sees them presenting a programme comprising three well-known works: Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No5 - also known as ‘The Emperor’ - Grieg’s Morning from Peer Gynt and Piano Concerto No2 by Rachmaninov. The concert’s pianist is the widely acclaimed Warren Mailley-Smith (pictured).

Birmingham Cathedral, Saturday 9 May

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WORCESTERSHIRE SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA

Worcestershire Symphony Orchestra get to grips with the challenge of Beethoven’s Ninth in their first of two concerts this month. Conducted by Keith Slade, the orchestra will be joined by four soloists and a 100-strong chorus of local singers. 

The programme also features Brahms’ Violin Concerto and Parry’s I Was Glad...

The orchestra then make a late-month contribution to the Elgar Festival, presenting a free-to-enjoy programme of music featuring works by Bach (Brandenburg Concerto No3), Doreen Carwithen (Lento for Strings), Mozart (Symphony No25) and - as one might expect - Elgar (Salut d’Amour).   

Worcester Cathedral, Saturday 9 May & Worcester Guildhall, Saturday 30 May

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WARSAW PHILHARMONIC

Warsaw Philharmonic’s last appearance at Birmingham’s Symphony Hall was back in the 20th century, so their return this month is indeed a welcome one. 

The 125-year-old orchestra have earned a much-deserved reputation for championing the output of Polish composers - something which they’re certainly doing in this mid-afternoon concert. Alongside Beethoven’s energetic Seventh Symphony, the Philharmonic will be turning their attention to Chopin’s best-known Piano Concerto (No2) - performed by trailblazing pianist Alexandra Dariescu - Witold Lutosławski’s Little Suite - a musical snapshot of Polish folk culture - and Grażyna Bacewicz’s dancing scherzo for piano. 

Krzysztof Urbański (pictured), the orchestra’s music & artistic director since 2024, is the concert’s conductor.  

Symphony Hall, Birmingham, Sunday 17 May

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ORCHESTRA OF THE SWAN: RED SKY AT SUNRISE

Inspiration for this patchwork of words & music is provided by author Laurie Lee’s much-loved trilogy of novels: Cider With Rosie, As I Walked Out One Midsummer Morning and A Moment Of War.

Featuring the music of Vaughan Williams, Walton, Holst, Elgar, Britten, Grainger, Albeniz, Turina and Falla, the programme transports the audience from the lush Gloucestershire countryside of Lee’s childhood to the ‘dry landscapes of Spain’, where he fought against Franco’s forces in the Spanish Civil War.

 
Alongside music by the Orchestra Of The Swan, the production sees actors Anton Lesser and Charlie Hamblett (both pictured above) taking on the role of Lee. 

Warwick Arts Centre, Coventry, Tuesday 19 May

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CBSO: ATLANTIC CONNECTIONS

The City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra’s ever-popular Centre Stage season continues this month, giving audiences the chance to experience the artistry of the musicians in an intimate setting. 

Curated by CBSO Principal Second Clarinet Jo Patton, this latest concert has a 2pm start time, lasts for an hour, and features Muczynski’s Fantasy Trio, Boulanger’s Trois Pieces (arr. Needleman), and Gwyneth Van Anden Walker’s Craftsbury Trio. 

CBSO Centre, Birmingham, Friday 22 May

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PETER DONOHOE

A much-admired figure on the Midlands music scene, Peter Donohoe is widely considered to be one of the foremost pianists of modern times, building up a significant repertoire during the course of a glittering 50-year career.

Peter’s magnificent musicianship, stylistic versatility and commanding technique will be much in evidence during this Ludlow Piano Festival concert, which sees him performing works by Mozart, Brahms, 
Chopin and Schubert.   

St Laurence Church, Ludlow, South Shropshire, Saturday 23 May   

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ELGAR FESTIVAL

“Every year, on the weekend closest to the date of his birth, we celebrate the life and music of Sir Edward Elgar with an immersive, accessible and engaging week of concerts, exhibits, talks, films and more.” So says Kenneth Woods in talking about the Elgar Festival, of which he’s the artistic director. “Our motto is ‘Elgar for everyone’; from relaxed concerts to family events, free performances in iconic buildings and walks on the Malverns, to world-class performances by our resident orchestra - the English Symphony Orchestra - in Worcester Cathedral.

“There’s also plenty of opportunity to take part. Come and play Elgar, join the Elgar Festival Chorus, be coached in our Young Strings Masterclass, or enter our renowned Young Composer competition... 
“The Elgar Festival has something for everybody in our community.”

various locations Worcestershire, Saturday 23 - Sunday 31 May

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SOLOMON'S KNOT

An international, flexible and award-winning baroque collective of hugely talented instrumentalists and singers, Solomon’s Knot perform as a chamber ensemble without conductor. “We rely on the collective intelligence and 360º musicianship of our performers to create a unique collaborative bond on stage,” explain the collective. “Building on this, our singers perform everything from memory - fostering an intense, heightened communication and creating a more theatrical and immersive experience.” 
Best known for having memorised all of  JS Bach’s major vocal compositions, the ensemble here perform a selection of his work, ably assisted in the endeavour by a 17-piece period-instrument orchestra.

Elgar Concert Hall, Bramall, University of Birmingham, Wednesday 27 May    

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PHILIP GLASS' DOUBLE TIMPANI CONCERTO

Presenting the audience with a rare chance to see the timpani up front and central, Philip Glass’ Concerto is arguably the stand-out offering in this two-hour celebration of dance, performed under the baton of Birmingham Opera Company’s music director, Alpesh Chauhan (pictured). 

Glass’ composition shares the programme with two other exceptional works: Carlos Simon’s Four Black American Dances - featuring depictions of rituals and traditions from Black communities - and Rachmaninoff’s Dances - the composer’s final composition... The concert is preceded by an in-conversation event with conductor Chauhan and timpani players Matthew Hardy and Toby Kearney.

Symphony Hall, Birmingham, Thursday 28 May

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