North Norfolk churches’ music festival returns 

Five churches in the Glaven Valley on the North Norfolk coast will play host to an exciting and varied programme of music in July, as the Five Churches Festival returns for its third year, and tickets are now available.

Each church has its own unique architecture and atmosphere, and the festival will feature musicians of international acclaim alongside established professionals from across Norfolk, providing five days of high-level concerts with something for everyone - Chamber music, jazz, brass, and an idyllic finale of English music for strings.
 
The festival launch in Wiveton Church, on Wednesday July 9, welcomes international mezzo-soprano Lotte Betts-Dean and guitarist Dimitris Soukaras. Their inventive programme ‘Time Stands Still’ brings together the music of John Dowland and Nick Drake and takes us on exciting musical journeys far and wide.
 
Thursday July 10 will feature Norfolk Young Musician 2025, violinist Tristan McCardel, in Cley Church, followed by ‘Glaven Rhapsody’ in Glandford Church - a specially composed multimedia performance by Ivan McCready (cello) and Rachel Stacy (viola) including live music, film, spoken word and pre-recorded soundscape. The day ends in style with Jazz@Bayfield – outside in the beautiful grounds of Bayfield Hall featuring the legendary jazz singer Barbar Gough with the Chris Cooper Trio.
 
Blakeney Church on Friday July 11 sees festival artistic directors Brenda Blewett and Chaos Collective in collaboration with renowned international cellist, Robert Cohen. ‘Schh….’ features duos by Schubert, Schumann (Robert and Clara) and the Schubert String Quintet.
 
Award winning London Central Brass Quintet will bring their amazing sound and energy to Letheringsett Church on Saturday July 12, and then Cley Church will host the Festival finale, ‘An English Idyll’ on Sunday July 13 - music for string ensemble conducted by Stephen Threlfall. Alongside favourites by Elgar, Britten and Holst, the finale concert features BBC Young Musician 2020 woodwind finalist Ewan Millar in Vaughan Williams’ Oboe Concerto.
 
Full details, online booking and how to become a Festival Friend can be found at fivechurchesfestival.com.
 

Do you have a news story or forthcoming event relating to Christians or a church in North Norfolk?  

If so, e-mail tony.rothe@networknorwich.co.uk with details and, if possible a suitable picture.