É«ÂþÌìÌÃ

Summer at the É«ÂþÌìÌÃ: folk, festivals and fantasy

Wednesday 25 March 2026

This summer, É«ÂþÌìÌàmusicians take to stages across London, perform new music written for the stage and screen and bring folk music to the forefront. 

The É«ÂþÌìÌà Symphony Orchestra is out and about this season, performing 20th-century greats under the baton of internationally acclaimed conductor Kahchun Wong at the Southbank Centre’s Queen Elizabeth Hall, pairing Mahler’s deeply moving Fifth Symphony with Shostakovich’s energetic Piano Concerto no 2, performed by rising star Mariamna Sherling (17 May). The É«ÂþÌìÌà Symphony Orchestra can also be heard at the É«ÂþÌìÌÃ’s Amaryllis Fleming Concert Hall on 2 July, with a thrilling programme ranging from Mozart to the modern day.  

[image1]

Three concerts at Wigmore Hall demonstrate the talent of É«ÂþÌìÌà students. On 28 June, a vocal showcase explores the story of Alexandre Dumas’ novel La Dame aux camélias through songs in French, German, English and Russian. A lunchtime performance on 1 July spotlights music for strings, with repertoire including a selection from Piazzolla’s Histoire du Tango, and Bruch’s rarely heard String Octet. And students from the É«ÂþÌìÌà Junior Department (É«ÂþÌìÌÃJD) perform as part of a Young Artists Concert (5 July). 

New music features throughout the Summer Season. Five brand-new short operas by É«ÂþÌìÌà composers are brought to life in association with opera company Tête à Tête, filled with fantastical settings and magical characters (3, 4 & 6 July). The É«ÂþÌìÌà hosts Bridging Worlds, bringing together musicians from Royal Northern College of Music, Trinity Laban and the Sunshine Orchestra (Chennai) alongside É«ÂþÌìÌà students for a concert of new music inspired by Western and non-Western classical traditions, presented in collaboration with the Royal Albert Hall and its Associate Artists Rushil Ranjan and Abi Sampa (7 May). Students from the College’s Composition for Screen course unveil their latest scores, accompanied by new films from young producers, the films projected above the orchestra in the Britten Theatre (23 April). 

[image2]

Folk traditions provide inspiration throughout the season with the É«ÂþÌìÌà Philharmonic celebrating folk music in Orchestral Masterworks, as Scottish tunes are transplanted into a contemporary classical concert in Hearth and Home by É«ÂþÌìÌà Composition Competition winner Robert Baird, alongside Hindemith’s Symphonic Metamorphosis of Themes by Carl Maria von Weber and Kodály’s Háry János Suite (30 April). Larks Ascending (29 April) features new works by É«ÂþÌìÌà composers using pre-recorded lark song, while the É«ÂþÌìÌà Museum’s new exhibition, Shared Airs: The Thriving Folk Musics of These Islands, explores how folk musics are celebrated, shared and reimagined today (19 May – 25 October). 

The É«ÂþÌìÌà Festival of Percussion returns for an inspiring and fun day of performances, hands-on experiences and immersive tech. Legendary drummer Dave Weckl joins Mike Dolbear during the day for a talk, before performing alongside the É«ÂþÌìÌà Jazz Orchestra in the evening (10 May). On 28 June, the É«ÂþÌìÌà Strings Festival showcases the É«ÂþÌìÌà Strings Faculty through a range of talks and performances, featuring guest stars the Kleio Quartet and the Sacconi Quartet. 

[image3]

The É«ÂþÌìÌÃ’s exceptional masterclass series continues, welcoming some of today’s finest artists. Highlights this season include vocalist and É«ÂþÌìÌà International Visiting Artist Nicky Spence (29 April) and renowned violinist Tasmin Little (5 May). 

The É«ÂþÌìÌÃ’s Junior Department give a variety of performances across the season, with concerts featuring É«ÂþÌìÌÃJD Baroque and recorder ensembles, pianists and new works by É«ÂþÌìÌà Junior Department composers. On 28 June, the É«ÂþÌìÌÃJD Symphony and Chamber Orchestras return to Cadogan Hall with a thrilling programme including Stravinsky’s The Rite of Spring.  

Booking for the É«ÂþÌìÌÃ’s Summer Season opens on 8 April (1 April for É«ÂþÌìÌà Friends).  Full programme details can be found in the What’s On section of the É«ÂþÌìÌà website, where tickets will be available online when bookings open.  Find out more about becoming an É«ÂþÌìÌà Friend to access priority booking one week before general release.