Welcome
Shaldon Festival 2025
Sunday 15 June – Saturday 21 June
The 2025 season will commence on Sunday 15 June with a free children’s Sea Shanty workshop hosted by renowned opera baritone Alistair Sutherland which will be followed by three evening concerts on Thursday 19, Friday 20 and Saturday 21 June, to include performances by VOCES8, The Paddington Trio and pianist Martin James Bartlett. Read on to find out more about our performers for 2025 and the wonderful music that awaits you!
2025 Programme
Alistair Sutherland – children’s workshop Sunday, 15 June
Operatic baritone, music educator, and workshop leader, Alistair Sutherland, has plunged headfirst
into the lively world of sea shanties.
A regular performer with the Colliers Wood Sea Shanty Singers, Alistair has already brought the spirit of the high seas to pubs and theatres across London, with a few unforgettable sessions even aboard Sir Francis Drake’s iconic ship, The Golden Hinde.
With his deep roots in community engagement and music education, Alistair has also introduced these accessible, energetic tunes to young families all over London – and now Devon! Alistair shows you don’t need any prior experience—just a love of music and a thirst for fun is all you need to dive in and enjoy a raucous sing-along!
So, bring your voices, your enthusiasm, and your sea legs! Join in for a hearty sing-song that will have the whole crew feeling like they’ve sailed the seven seas.
Voces 8 – Thursday, 19 June SOLD OUT!!
Latest news – Voces8’s concert sold out on the first day of open booking. In the event of any cancellations we will be running a reserve list, so if you were unable to book please contact our secretary on secretary@shaldonfestival.co.uk . The list will operate on a strict first come, first served basis.
A welcome return visit (their third to the Shaldon Festival) of this 2023 Grammy-nominated British vocal ensemble, celebrating their twentieth anniversary season. Their programme will feature a wide range of music from across the centuries: their full programme is here.
Voces8 will also be running a free children’s workshop for local schools and youth choirs during the afternoon before their evening concert, giving a tremendous opportunity for local youngsters to hone their vocal skills with a truly world-class ensemble!
The Paddington Trio – Friday, 20 June
Winners of the Parkhouse Award 2023, the Paddington Trio is regarded as the one of the most exciting chamber ensembles of their generation and has been recognized in international competitions and live performances for their fresh interpretations and exuberant energy. As did the famous bear, Finnish violinist Tuulia Hero, Irish cellist Patrick Moriarty and American pianist Stephanie Tang have made London their home and emerged as an ensemble of an entirely unique and lasting entity. The trio is celebrated for its close and energetic communication, insightful and imaginative programming as well as its highly refined ensemble playing. The Trio will play pieces from Shostakovich, Schumann and Schubert – full details are here.
Martin James Bartlett – Saturday 21 June
Winning the BBC Young Musician of the Year in 2014 led to engagements with orchestras around the country and to his BBC Proms debut with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, playing Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue. Since then, he has had an exciting international career as both soloist and recitalist. We are very fortunate to be able to welcome him to the Shaldon Festival. His programme for our final evening of the 2025 Festival is here.
https://www.martinjamesbartlett.co.uk
Voces 8 Programme
O Clap Your Hands – Orlando Gibbons
Ubi Caritas – Ola Gjeilo
Let My Love Be Heard – Jake Runestad
Straighten Up and Fly Right – Nat ‘King’ Cole arr. Jim Clements
Fever – Otis Blackwell arr. Jim Clements
Cheek to Cheek – Irving Berlin arr. Jim Clements
Denn er hat seinen Engeln – Felix Mendelssohn
Lux Aeterna (Nimrod) – Edward Elgar arr. James Cameron
Interval
Underneath the Stars – Kate Rusby arr. Jim Clements
Bourée – J.S. Bach arr. Ward Swingle
As Vesta Was from Lathmos Hill Descending – Thomas Weelkes
Dessus le marché d’Arras – Orlando di Lasso
The Sound of Silence – Paul Simon arr. Alexander L’Estrange
The Masquerade is Over – Herb Madison & Allie Wrubel arr. Blake Morgan
Vincent – Don McLean arr. Jim Clements
Nobody Does It Better – Marvin Hamlisch & Carole Bayer-Sager arr. Jim Clements
Slap That Bass – George Gershwin arr. Jim Clements
The Paddington Trio Programme
Shostakovich Trio No. 1 c minor
Schumann Trio No. 1 in d minor
Interval
Schubert Trio No. 1 in B-flat Major
Martin James Bartlett Programme
Bach/Siloti – Prelude in B Minor, BWV 855a
Gluck/Sgambati – Melodie from “Orfeo ed Euridice”, Wq. 30
Schubert – 4 Impromptus, Op. 90, D.899
Schumann/Liszt – Widmung
Interval
Ravel – Pavane pour une infante défunte, M.19
Debussy – Arabesque No. 1 in E minor, L. 66
Wagner/Liszt – Isoldes Liebestod from Tristan and Isolde, S.447
Ravel – La valse, M.72