A rising star of the violin will bring an hour of music to Epsom in a free early-evening concert on Monday 2 November.

Gáspár Kelemen, an international prize-winning violinist from Hungary and a student at the Royal Academy of Music, will perform at Epsom Methodist Church on Ashley Road.

His programme includes Bartók’s First Rhapsody, Bach’s Andante and Allegro in A minor, Paganini’s Caprice No. 13, Ysaÿe’s Saint-Saëns Waltz Caprice and Sibelius’s Violin Concerto in D minor.

The concert begins at 6.30pm and lasts for one hour—an opportunity to relax after work and before dinner while enjoying music from an exceptional young performer.

He wowed the audience at a Ukraine Music Evening at Epsom Methodist Church on 3rd October and this is a chance to hear this remarkable talent again as he returns to Epsom.

The event is organised by Lionel Blackman, director of Epsom Music, the charity that also runs Epsom Jazz Club.

Admission is free, all are welcome and no reservations are necessary.

When: Monday 2 November 2026, 6.30pm–7.30pm
Where: Epsom Methodist Church, Ashley Road, Epsom KT18 5AQ
Enquiries: epsommusicsoc@gmail.com

FULL DETAILS

An Epsom artist has won a readers’ choice award in the Surrey Artist of the Year 2026 competition with a painting of peaches.

Artan Jahaj’s Peaches on Navy was voted the favourite among the work of 17 shortlisted artists in the Essential Surrey Readers’ Choice Award.

Artan, a long-time Epsom resident, is a classically trained painter who began as an apprentice in a working studio in central Athens. He went on to spend more than ten years working there as a professional artist.

He remains drawn to Mediterranean light and travels in southern Europe, taking photographs that inspire paintings full of light, colour and warmth.

Speaking to Essential Surrey about the award, Artan said: “I am absolutely thrilled to hear that my work won the Readers’ Choice Award. It means a great deal, especially as I have made Surrey my home and it is amazing to know that people here have connected with my work.”

The readers’ award was held alongside the Surrey Artist of the Year competition, organised by Surrey Artists Open Studios and the New Ashgate Gallery in Farnham. Own Art

Artan’s work will have an extended display at the New Ashgate Gallery until 16 January 2027. The gallery is a not-for-profit organisation, and sales of artwork benefit both the gallery and the artist.

Lionel Blackman

How did a Surrey town help people fleeing the Nazis? What can Winnie-the-Pooh’s woodland tell us all about belonging? And what does a mechanical piano teach us about music in the age of AI? 

The University of Surrey is inviting the public to explore these questions through ten free events during the Being Human Festival, running from 5 to 14 November 2026. Held across Guildford, Dorking and Compton, its programme brings archives, performances and hands-on activities together under this year’s theme, ‘Crossroads’. 

At Refugee Voices from World War II, visitors will discover how ordinary people in Dorking helped those escaping the Nazi regime. A pop-up exhibition at Dorking Museum on 7 November, 10am–4pm, draws on the Dorking Refugee Committee’s archive from 1938–1949, documenting both the difficulties refugees faced and the support they received. Visitors can explore a new website developed by Surrey academics and speak with historians, curators and teachers about this local history of solidarity. 

On 8 November, 11am–4pm, Into the Hundred Acre Wood: Queering Space in Children’s Literature offers a different perspective on some of Britain’s best-loved fictional landscapes. At the University’s Library, Dr Amy Louise Morgan will explore how children’s literary spaces open up possibilities for imagination and transformation through queer theory. Visitors will receive guided access to archive materials relating to E. H. Shepard, illustrator of Winnie-the-Pooh and The Wind in the Willows, before creating their own literary worlds in a workshop with award-winning author Ally Sherrick. The event is for ages 16 and over. 

The relationship between human creativity and machines takes centre stage at The Evolution of Musical Creativity, at the Guildford Institute on 11 November, 7pm–8pm. Composer and music technologist Milton Mermikides will trace a history stretching from ninth-century programmable machines in Baghdad to today’s AI-driven music. Historical demonstrations and musical examples will explore how technology has repeatedly changed the way people compose, perform and listen. 

Dr Lucy Ella Rose, Lecturer in Victorian Literature and event lead at the University of Surrey said: 

“These events show how stories from the past speak directly to questions we face today: how we welcome people seeking refuge, who feels a sense of belonging and what happens when machines become part of the creative process. 

“We’re inviting people to get close to the archives, meet the researchers and try things for themselves. Whether you come for Winnie-the-Pooh, wartime history or a live performance, there’s an opportunity to discover something unexpected about Surrey and the wider world.” 

Elsewhere, families can explore Lewis Carroll’s Surrey connections through immersive Alice in Wonderland storytelling, performance and ‘imagination stations’ at the Guildford Institute on 7 November. Dorking Museum will also host refugee-history zine-making workshops that day. 

Music events include a live pianola concert with Rex Lawson on 5 November, an online player-piano exhibition throughout the festival and an interactive schools’ session on 9 November. 

Another event, Older LGBT+ Housing and Care at a Crossroads and Beyonde, explores how housing and care can better support LGBTQ+ people in later life. Taking place at the International Longevity Centre in London on 5 November, 5pm–7pm, the event combines a short animation, conversation and an interactive theatre workshop inspired by Surrey’s Life House Project. Open to anyone aged 16 and over, no theatre experience is needed. 

Creative writers can explore Turner’s life and art at Watts Gallery on 13 November, while a family concert celebrating composer Richard Stoker at Guildford United Reformed Church on 14 November will bring together opera, literary song settings and music from Pirates of the Caribbean. 

Explore the full programme and booking details. Advance booking is required for most events. 

Surrey University

Music students at Nescot college in Epsom have just launched a brand-new radio station, Nescot Music Radio, allowing them to get practical experience of working in radio and broadcasting.

Students take on real industry roles, including presenters, DJs, producers, researchers and music curators, developing skills and building professional portfolios as they go. They are involved in every stage of production, from developing the station’s branding and jingles to writing scripts, planning transitions, creating adverts and curating music.

As well as offering music, the station provides a platform for the whole Nescot community, with content including student and staff interviews, artist spotlights, campus news and events, and themed shows. The project also creates opportunities for collaboration between students on different courses.

The first episode, ‘Your campus, Your Sound’, was recorded over the summer as a pilot. Presenters will change from episode to episode, and around 20 students are expected to be involved across the series, with learners from all levels invited to help shape future shows.

Harry Fairclough, Music Lecturer at Nescot said: “This project is all about giving students the opportunity to step into real broadcasting roles and gain practical, hands-on industry experience. There are many different career paths within the music industry, and the radio station is a great way for students to discover the range of creative, technical and production roles that come together to make a radio show.

“It’s been fantastic to see students’ creativity, confidence and skills develop through a project they are driving themselves. I’m incredibly proud of what they have achieved so far, and I’m excited for everyone to hear the first episode.”

Julie Kapsalis MBE, Principal and CEO at Nescot said: “It’s brilliant to hear that Nescot students are now on the airwaves, entertaining students and talking about the issues that matter to them. They’ve done a fantastic job pulling it all together. I’m hoping for a guest spot at some point, so I can have a look behind the scenes at how it all comes together.”

Alongside the radio project, the Nescot music department has also introduced three other weekly industry skills sessions, giving students experience in events, marketing and promotion, running a record label, and studio management. Together, these sessions give students the opportunity to explore different areas of the industry and develop skills beyond their main specialism.

Nescot Music Radio launches with pre-recorded programmes, with ambitions to develop into internal broadcasting and potentially public online radio in the future. The project is built around student voice, creativity, collaboration and employability, and offers another platform to showcase the work happening across Nescot.

The first episode is available to listen to now on YouTube: https://youtu.be/agD8Tnnq9JY

Nescot offers a wide range of other courses for school leavers and adults, including Motor Vehicle, Animal Care, Hair & Beauty, Computing and IT, Performing Arts, Childcare and Health & Social Care. To find out more about studying at Nescot call 020 8394 3038, visit www.nescot.ac.uk or emailadviceteam@nescot.ac.uk

NESCOT

Epsom audiences will be the first to see a new immersive adaptation of Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice when an Ashtead-based theatre company launches the show at Labyrinth on Saturday 17 October.

Best Life Productions will present a preview of Pride & Prejudice – The Hoedown Edition at 2pm, ahead of a planned tour of venues across Surrey, London and Kent.

The production transports Lizzie Bennet, Mr Darcy and the Bennet family to a 1930s frontier saloon, combining Austen’s romance with line dancing, audience participation and a wedding disco finale.

Rather than watching from rows of seats facing a stage, audiences will find the story unfolding around them. Guests can enjoy a drink, learn some simple line-dancing steps and become part of the action.

Producer Claire Zuurbier said choosing Epsom for the first public performance reflected the company’s local roots.

“As a local company, it felt right that our home audience should be the first to experience this new show. Before we take Pride & Prejudice – The Hoedown Edition further afield, we wanted to share it with the community that has supported our work from the beginning.”

The company hopes the combination of Austen’s characters and country dancing will offer audiences a different kind of theatre experience, with opportunities to meet and interact with fellow guests.

“Most theatre is face-forward,” said Zuurbier. “You sit in your seat, watch the action and go home. We wanted to create something more visceral. Something that surrounds you, includes you and helps people connect with each other.”

She added: “In a world where so much of life happens through screens, we think there is huge value in gathering people together in the same room to laugh, dance and experience something collectively. This show is designed to leave your worries at the door. For a few hours, it’s simply about joy, connection and having unapologetically good fun.”

Charlotte Farrer will play Lizzie Bennet alongside Filippo Brozzo as Mr Darcy. Amaya Clarke takes the roles of Lydia Bennet and Mr Collins, while Ata Dirilgen plays Wickham and Mrs Bennet. Eleanor Bayford appears as Annie Penrose and Joseph Burdge as Fitzwilliam Allen, with both also serving as swings.

Friends, couples, book clubs and family groups are encouraged to attend, and solo visitors are also welcome. The performance ends with a wedding disco, inviting the audience to join the celebrations.

“We aren’t just retelling Pride & Prejudice,” said Zuurbier. “We’re creating an occasion. The aim is for audiences to walk out smiling, having met new people, danced a little, laughed a lot and remembered how much fun live experiences can be.”

Pride & Prejudice – The Hoedown Edition previews at Labyrinth, Epsom, at 2pm on Saturday 17 October 2026.

Tickets and further information are available from Best Life Productions.

Lionel Blackman

.

The photo is by Simon Vail Photographer and were taken at an advertising shoot where the people featured are friends of Best Life Productions and the show’s creative team.

.

.

.

.

.

Do you know a young singer or instrumentalist who deserves to be heard? Epsom Rotary Club is inviting entries for the local round of the Rotary Young Musician Competition 2026/27.

Returning to Epsom College for the twelth consecutive year, the competition offers young performers an opportunity to share their talent, gain experience on a public stage and receive feedback from professional judges.

There are two categories: Solo Instrumental and Solo Vocal. The competition welcomes amateur young musicians aged 17 or under on 31 August 2026, with classical and modern musical styles welcome.

This year’s local round will take place on Monday 16th November and will be judged by two distinguished musicians:

Natalia Zadorhizna, a graduate of the Glière Kyiv Municipal Academy of Music, is a piano teacher, performer and accompanist.

Dr Graham Jones MBE is the former Senior Director of Music for the Household Division, bringing extensive experience of musical performance and leadership.

Successful entrants selected at the local round can progress through district and cluster finals, with the national final scheduled for Saturday 24 April 2027.

Whether your passion is singing, piano, strings, woodwind, brass or another instrument, this is an opportunity to work towards a performance goal and celebrate your musical achievements.

Parents, schools, music teachers and youth organisations across Epsom, Ewell and the surrounding area are encouraged to spread the word and help young musicians take part.

For local entry details and enquiries, contact Lionel Blackman, Epsom Rotary Club’s local round organiser, at epsommusicsoc@gmail.com.

Full competition guidelines and the 2026/27 information pack are available on the official Rotary Young Musician webpage.

Bring your talent to the stage — we would love to hear from you.

Epsom Rotary

.

Photo from the 2024 competition. Instrumental winner Satomi Brocklebank with Mayor of Epsom and Ewell Steve Bridger

Epsom guitarist Nigel Price returned to a sold-out Epsom Jazz Club on Thursday (24 September) with his organ trio, just a week after the same line-up sold out Ronnie Scott’s in London.

For Price, who has lived in Epsom for 48 years, the concert at the Comrades Club in The Parade was a home-town celebration as well as the opening night of the club’s autumn season. He was joined by Ross Stanley on Hammond organ and Joel Barford on drums.

Price has built a national reputation through decades of performing, recording and touring. His career has taken him from the acid jazz band the Filthy Six to the James Taylor Quartet, while his appearances at Ronnie Scott’s number more than 600. His organ trio won a Parliamentary Jazz Award for Best Ensemble in 2010 and a British Jazz Award for Best Small Group in 2016.

The musicians alongside him have substantial careers of their own. Stanley is an acclaimed jazz pianist as well as an organist who has played with artists including Jim Mullen and Jacqui Dankworth. Barford began playing drums at six, joined the National Youth Jazz Orchestra as a teenager and has since toured and recorded with Price’s trio.

Their London appearance took place on Thursday 17 September. A review of the sold-out Ronnie Scott’s concert praised the close understanding between the three musicians, built through extensive touring together. Seven days later, Epsom audiences had the chance to hear Price and his trio on their own doorstep.

Epsom Jazz Club’s next concert is on 22 October, featuring vocalist Riketté Genesis. Venue Comrades Club, The Parade in the centre of Epsom

Lionel Blackman

(A director of Epsom and Ewell Times and founder of the Epsom Jazz Club. The Club operates under the charity Epsom Music – 1197449. The charity’s next event is the Ukraine Music Evening 3rd October Epsom Methodist Church.)

Image – L to R – Nige Price, Joel Barford and Ross Stanley. Credit Steven McCormick Photography

Rare posters from Ewell Technical College (today’s NESCOT) concerts featuring Nick Drake, Genesis, Black Sabbath and Led Zeppelin are among more than 300 pieces of music memorabilia being auctioned from the collection of industry veteran Lindsay Brown.

A remarkable collection chronicling both Ewell’s place in British rock history and one man’s five-decade career in the music industry is to be sold at auction next month.

More than 300 posters, records, autographs, backstage passes and other pieces assembled by Lindsay Brown will go under the hammer at Omega Auctions in Merseyside on Tuesday 15th September.

Mr Brown began his music industry career in 1969 as social secretary at Ewell Technical College – now part of Nescot – where he helped bring emerging and established performers to the college.

The venue hosted concerts by artists including Deep Purple, Black Sabbath, Caravan, Taste, Genesis, Nick Drake and Atomic Rooster. Other celebrated acts associated with the college’s musical heyday included Led Zeppelin, King Crimson and Queen.

“It was a thrilling time to be involved in music,” Mr Brown told the Epsom and Ewell Times. “The great artists of the day were available for all to see. Hendrix, The Doors and Led Zeppelin, to name but a few.

“New artists were emerging all the time, some of which were booked to support at Ewell – Genesis, Black Sabbath, King Crimson, Queen and the now legendary Nick Drake.”

Mr Brown said the college became an important stop on the national concert circuit because successive social secretaries and entertainment committee members were adept both at securing major performers and identifying artists with the potential to become stars.

The college was also well placed near venues including the Toby Jug in Tolworth and the Fox Club in Croydon, with London’s music clubs within easy reach.

“Many managers and agents would offer their talent and new signings for support slots at Ewell,” he recalled.

Among the most valuable lots is an exceptionally rare poster advertising an Ewell Technical College concert by Atomic Rooster, Genesis and Nick Drake on 24th January 1970. It is expected to sell for more than £5,000.

Posters featuring Drake are particularly scarce because of his reluctance to perform live. The auction house believes the Ewell poster may be the first example of its kind to reach the open market.

Another lot is a small poster advertising what is described as the final public concert of Drake’s career, held at Ewell Technical College on 25th June 1970. It has an estimated value of more than £2,000.

A red-and-gold poster by artist David Arnott, produced for a college performance by Black Sabbath supporting Caravan, is expected to fetch more than £1,000. An Arnott poster for Deep Purple’s appearance at Ewell Tech on 18th April 1970 is being offered together with a ticket from the concert.

A framed 1968 Ewell Technical College poster originally advertising The Yardbirds is also expected to attract considerable interest. Following changes to the group, the concert instead featured an early incarnation of Led Zeppelin before a reported audience of just 150 people. The poster is estimated to sell for more than £2,000.

Mr Brown retains especially fond memories of concerts by Led Zeppelin, Deep Purple and Taste, although he said Caravan – which appeared at Ewell on several occasions – was the venue’s most successful act.

“Seeing a very early King Crimson concert was a real privilege,” he added.

After leaving Ewell Tech, Mr Brown went on to hold senior positions at Red Bus, MAM, Rock Exchange, Polydor and Eagle Rock Entertainment. As managing director of Eagle Rock, he signed The Rolling Stones for visual rights.

Across his career he worked with artists including Kate Bush, Elvis Costello, Barclay James Harvest, Dr Feelgood, 10cc, The Cure, Van Morrison, Björk, Alice Cooper, Queen, Jeff Beck and Simple Minds.

The wider collection reflects those associations. It includes authenticated Beatles autographs expected to fetch more than £3,000; a Fender Telecaster signed by Keith Richards; Rolling Stones autographs including that of Brian Jones; a 1969 Woodstock ticket; and Kate Bush tour posters, clothing, passes and merchandise.

A Queen collection relating to the band’s 1976 Hyde Park concert includes autographs, a framed show flyer and a map of the band’s route formerly owned by their driver. It is valued at more than £3,000.

Also for sale is a three-foot-high poster for the New York Dolls’ first UK performance at the Rainbow Room at Biba in November 1973 – a concert attended by figures who would later help shape British punk.

A 1969 flyer for the Toby Jug Blues Club in Tolworth features Led Zeppelin’s name misspelt and is valued at more than £500.

Although Mr Brown is parting with most of the collection, he has retained six particularly personal pieces. These include a poster from his farewell Caravan show at Ewell in 1970, a set of Rolling Stones autographs, a Kate Bush tour poster, a Barclay James Harvest gold disc and sales plaque, and a poster personally dedicated to him by Jeff Beck.

“It’s sad to see the collection go, but I am thrilled by the continued worldwide interest in Ewell Tech’s heritage, told through its posters, many of which were designed by the Redhill artist David Arnott,” he said.

“Knowing these posters are going to good homes is very gratifying and lets the story continue to survive.”

He believes collectors have an important role in protecting evidence of performances and events which could otherwise disappear from public memory.

“Without people keeping what might seem at the time inconsequential – tickets, stubs, flyers and so on – many of these shows would be completely forgotten in future years.”

The collection, entitled “Time Has Told Me – 50 Years in Music”, will be auctioned by Omega Auctions on Tuesday 15th September, with a public preview on Monday 14th September. The catalogue and bidding details are available from www.omegaauctions.co.uk.

1968 – 1971 Ewell Tech. Gig List – click here

Julie Kapsalis, CEO of NESCOT, responded to this story and told the Epsom and Ewell Times: “Music continues to be an important part of Nescot. The Entitled Sons played a gig at the college last year and Bazil Meade ran a masterclass on gospel music. Our music department also trains young people to enter the sector and this year they showcased their talents on the community stage at The Epsom Derby Festival. We now have a DJ club and college bands who regularly perform at college and external venues.”

Lionel Blackman

Epsom and Ewell acknowledges with thanks the main contributions and research undertaken by Faye Blaylock of www.jvpublicity.com for this article

Photo: The band Barclay James Harvest with Lindsay Brown: Left to right: Wooly Wolstenholme, John Lees, Lindsay Brown, Les Holroyd, Mel Pritchard

Related report:

When the Rolling Stones rolled into Epsom — twice

Looking for a summer holiday family day out? Discover the magic of Ukraine in Epsom

Families looking for something different to do this summer holiday are invited to Epsom Picturehouse on Monday 24 August for an afternoon of Ukrainian music, crafts and film, marking Ukrainian Independence Day.

From 4.30pm, visitors can enjoy live Ukrainian music and meet Ukrainian craft makers displaying their work at the cinema, before a short introduction and a 5pm screening of Mavka: The Forest Song. Every culture has stories that bring families together. Inspired by Ukrainian mythology and folklore, Mavka: The Forest Song brings one of those stories to the big screen through a colourful animated adventure. Rooted in Ukrainian culture, its themes of love, belonging, courage and protecting the natural world have helped the film connect with audiences far beyond Ukraine.

With the event falling during the school summer holidays, it’s a great day out for families looking for something a little different. Children’s tickets at Epsom Picturehouse are just £3 throughout the summer, with adult tickets from £9.99, while the music and crafts before the screening add even more to the afternoon.

The film will be shown in English, making it as inclusive as possible and giving families from across the community the chance to enjoy the story and discover Ukrainian culture together.

Joe Stroud, Marketing Manager at Epsom Picturehouse, said:

“Every culture has stories that bring families together, and Mavka is a brilliant example of that. It’s rooted in Ukrainian folklore, but its themes of love, belonging, courage and protecting the natural world are universal. It’s colourful, funny and visually spectacular too, so you don’t need to know anything about Ukrainian folklore to fall in love with it. That makes it a perfect film for celebrating Ukrainian culture while bringing the whole community together.”

Organised with Surrey Stands with Ukraine, with support from Epsom & Ewell Refugee Network, the event is open to everyone and will bring together Epsom’s Ukrainian and wider local community for a colourful, family-friendly celebration.

The celebration takes place at Epsom Picturehouse, Derby Square, Epsom, on Monday 24 August 2026, with Ukrainian music and crafts from 4.30pm and Mavka: The Forest Song at 5pm.

Opera will be coming to Surrey this summer as the touring company Wild Arts presents Mozart’s The Marriage of Figaro in Guildford and at Titsey Place.

The production visits the Yvonne Arnaud Theatre in Guildford on Friday 7 August before returning to the county for a performance at Titsey Place, near Oxted, on Sunday 6 September.

Titsey Place will also host An Evening of Opera on Saturday 5 September, combining well-known operatic arias with songs from classic musicals.

Founded in 2022, Wild Arts takes opera and classical music to theatres, country houses, gardens and other distinctive venues around the UK. Its productions favour intimate staging, imaginative costumes and close engagement between performers and audiences rather than large sets and heavy touring equipment.

The company also supports singers, musicians and theatre practitioners at the beginning of their professional careers through its Emerging Artist Programme.

Its new production of The Marriage of Figaro marks the directorial debut of international opera singer Danielle de Niese. Orlando Jopling conducts the ten-player Wild Arts Ensemble, with the opera performed in English in a new translation by de Niese and Jopling.

Mozart’s comedy follows Figaro and Susanna on the morning of their wedding, when they discover that their employer, Count Almaviva, has designs on the bride-to-be.

A day of disguises, misunderstandings and plotting follows as servants attempt to outwit their master and ensure that the wedding goes ahead. Among the opera’s best-known musical moments are its fizzing overture, the Countess’s aria “Dove sono” and the jubilant finale.

The cast includes Jack Sandison as Figaro for the Guildford performance, Ellie Neate as Susanna, Timothy Nelson as Count Almaviva and Elinor Rolfe Johnson as Countess Almaviva. Matt Siveter takes over the role of Figaro for the September performances.

They are joined by Abbie Ward as Cherubino, Olivia Ray as Marcellina, Timothy Dawkins as Bartolo and Antonio, William Searle as Don Basilio and Don Curzio, and Eleanor O’Driscoll as Barbarina.

Wild Arts describes the production as an evening of “sparkling tunes, tangled romances and razor-sharp wit”, staged with bold costumes, inventive props and an emphasis on pace and storytelling.

The company’s second Surrey offering, An Evening of Opera, is intended to provide an accessible introduction to the art form as well as an entertaining programme for established opera enthusiasts.

Devised and directed by Guido Martin-Brandis, the semi-staged production follows four singers through a 75-minute story of intrigue, jealousy, comedy and love, accompanied by a string quintet.

The programme brings together music by Handel, Mozart, Puccini, Rossini and other leading opera composers alongside songs by Irving Berlin, Leonard Bernstein, Rodgers and Hammerstein and Noël Coward.

Selections include the Flower Duet from Delibes’ Lakmé, the overture to Rossini’s William Tell, “Anything You Can Do” from Annie Get Your Gun, “On the Street Where You Live” from My Fair Lady and “Make Our Garden Grow” from Candide.

The Surrey performances are:

The Marriage of Figaro
Friday 7 August – Yvonne Arnaud Theatre, Millbrook, Guildford GU1 3UX

An Evening of Opera
Saturday 5 September – Titsey Place, Oxted, Surrey

The Marriage of Figaro
Sunday 6 September – Titsey Place, Oxted, Surrey

Further information and booking links are available from the Wild Arts website and its dedicated Marriage of Figaro page. Tickets for the Guildford performance are available through the Yvonne Arnaud Theatre.

Lionel Blackman Photo: Marriage of Figaro scene courtesy Wild Arts

Epsom Choral Society concert – June 20th 2026

The Four Seasons is surely one of the world’s best loved and most widely played pieces of classical music. Written by the great eighteenth century Italian composer and violin virtuoso Antonio Vivaldi, this set of four violin concertos is a purely instrumental piece, so its appearance in Epsom Choral Society’s summer concert, performed to an attentive and enthusiastic audience, merits a little explanation.

What we heard on this warm summer’s evening in Cheam was a new choral re-imagining of Vivaldi’s masterpiece, published last year to coincide with the 300th anniversary of its publication in 1725. Entitled A Season to Sing, it is the work of composer and singer Joanna Forbes L’Estrange and has already been performed over seventy times.

Under the skilled leadership of their conductor, Julian Collings, and accompanied by a terrific quartet of professional string players, Epsom Choral Society sang the piece’s familiar melodies with confidence and spirit. And when required they brought the same confidence and spirit to whistling, whispering, clicking and stamping – which also requires a bit of explanation.

As the name suggests, each of the pieces that comprise The Four Seasons represents a different season and unusually Vivaldi provided for each one a short descriptive poem, possibly of his own creation. The poems are full of vivid imagery appropriate to each time year – buzzing flies, barking dogs, sudden downpours, chattering teeth and so on – which Vivaldi represents faithfully, and brilliantly, in his music. When you add to these instantly recognisable details a string of charming melodies and Vivaldi’s sparkling violin writing it’s easy to see why the piece retains its popularity.

To create A Season to Sing, Joanna Forbes L’Estrange had to graft voice parts on to Vivaldi’s original, along with appropriate texts, and unsurprisingly some sections of the work lend themselves more readily to this approach than others. But as a past Musical Director of the famous Swingle Singers, she knows something about how voices can be used to recreate instrumental music and clearly relished the challenge of translating Vivaldi’s special effects into vocal sounds. The choir certainly gave a committed and full-bodied performance of this interesting new addition to the choral repertoire. 

This was all after the interval. The first half of the concert consisted of two works by the Norwegian-American composer Ola Gjeilo – Dark Night of The Soul and its companion piece Luminous Night of The Soul – along with Morten Lauridsen’s contemporary classic Sure on This Shining Night.

These three pieces suited the choir perfectly, highlighting its precise and powerful singing, and at the same time showcased the skills of their accomplished musical professionals. Julian Collings, a genial and energetic presence on the podium, had put together a programme which would challenge any choral society, but the clarity and sensitivity of his conducting brought out the very best in his singers. The sinuous melodic lines and shimmering harmoniesof Sure on This Shining Night glowed brightly and provided a welcome moment of calm after the driving rhythms of Dark Night.

At times in both Dark and Luminous NightGjeilo relegates the choir to an accompanying role and thrusts the piano onto centre stage. It needs a really good pianist to bring this off and in the choir’s regular pianist Peter Jaekel we had an outstanding one. His fluent, controlled playing made light work of Gjeilo’s tricky piano writing. Those members of the audience unfamiliar with Gjeilo’s music will certainly have had their interest sparked by Epsom Choral Society’s stirring, robust performances of these two works; one lady I spoke to told me she had never heard any of Gjeilo’s music before but intended to search out some recordings as soon as she got home. I’m sure she wasn’t the only audience member to be attracted to this increasingly popular composer’s sound-world.

Thanks are due to Epsom Choral Society for a concert of interesting repertoire and strong performances, with a beautifully designed, informative programme booklet and a free glass of wine in the interval. A delightful way to spend a fine summer evening.

Review by Ian Assersohn

A major new poetry festival is coming to Surrey this summer, as the Surrey Poet Laureateship launches its first annual poetry festival.

Surrey’s Big Poetry Weekend ’26 will take place on Saturday 1 and Sunday 2 August 2026 at the Egham Literary Institute.

The festival has been created by the Surrey Poet Laureateship CIC, a self-funded, volunteer-led organisation founded in 2024. In its first two years, the Laureateship says it has delivered eight free Poetry Hubs across the county, created more than 5,000 engagements with poetry, established more than 20 partnerships and welcomed more than 200 open mic performers to the stage.

Organisers say the new weekend festival will celebrate Surrey’s poets while also bringing nationally recognised contemporary UK poets to the county.

Adam Gary, President of the Surrey Poet Laureateship, said: “When we launched the Surrey Poet Laureateship, people told us poetry was struggling. What we’ve found is the opposite. People are hungry for connection, creativity, and spaces where they can express themselves and be heard.

“Everything we’ve built has been powered by volunteers, belief, and an extraordinary community. Surrey’s Big Poetry Weekend is our biggest leap yet.

“We’re bringing together nationally recognised poets, celebrated Surrey voices, and complete newcomers under one roof because we believe poetry should belong to everyone. We want people to leave inspired, connected, and excited about what poetry can do.”

The weekend programme will include headline performances, talks, panel discussions, workshops and community meet-ups.

Poets appearing at the festival include Len Pennie, Bradley Taylor and Dakota Warren, alongside Surrey poets and emerging voices.

Talks will explore poetry, creativity and literary life, with speakers including Adam Gary, Nia Broomhall and Katie Griffiths. Panel discussions will bring together poets, performers, educators and creatives to consider poetry’s place in modern life.

Topics include Finding Your Voice: Poetry, Wellbeing and Empowerment, looking at how poetry can support wellbeing, self-expression, confidence and resilience.

Another panel, Poetry Without Borders: How Different Voices Shape the Art, will consider how poetry can bridge communities, preserve heritage and create understanding across different backgrounds and lived experiences.

The programme will also include Poetry in the Digital Age: Social Media and the Modern Poet. Guest panellists are expected to include Len Pennie, Bradley Taylor, Adam Gary, Shaniqua Benjamin and others.

Workshops will cover writing, performance, creativity and spoken word. These include a performance workshop led by Bradley Taylor and a poetry for beginners workshop led by Surrey Poet Laureate Adam Gary.

A key feature of Surrey’s Big Poetry Weekend will be its Community Meet-Ups initiative, allowing festivalgoers to help shape the festival experience themselves.

Organisers are inviting attendees to arrange their own gatherings across the weekend, whether focused on Victorian poetry, spoken word, performance technique, niche poetry movements or simply meeting other creative people.

Tori Monks, Vice President of the Surrey Poet Laureateship, said: “One of the things that makes the Laureateship so special is that it welcomes everyone, regardless of their experience with poetry.

“As someone who is new to the poetry world myself, I know how important that sense of openness can be. Our inaugural programme is packed with an incredible line-up of events, performances and voices, offering something to inspire, entertain and engage adults of all ages and backgrounds. We can’t wait to welcome everyone and celebrate poetry together.”

The Surrey Poet Laureateship says the festival is the next stage in two years of community-building, volunteer effort and work to make poetry more accessible.

Despite operating without regular funding, the organisation says it has created free creative opportunities for thousands of people across the county through workshops, outreach projects, open mics, competitions and community partnerships.

Organisers hope Surrey’s Big Poetry Weekend will become an annual fixture in the county’s cultural calendar, attracting nationally recognised poets while continuing to nurture local voices and emerging talent.

Early Bird weekend passes have already sold out. General release day passes are now available.

For more information, visit www.surreypoetlaureateship.org.

The Surrey Poet Laureateship is based at The Literary Institute, 51 High Street, Egham, Surrey, TW20 9EW.

.

.

.

.