Menuhin Hall’s Summer Festival Returns for Three Weeks of Music and Community
The Menuhin Hall, one of Surrey’s premier venues for classical music, will once again host its annual Summer Festival from Friday 13 June to Friday 4 July 2025. Set within the tranquil grounds of the Yehudi Menuhin School near Cobham, the festival will feature an exciting line-up of performances by the school’s talented pupils, returning alumni and acclaimed guest artists.
Across three weeks, audiences can look forward to a programme ranging from family-friendly events and solo recitals to orchestral and choral works of significant scale and emotional depth. Visitors are invited to bring picnics and enjoy the setting before performances, with generous intervals designed to enhance the relaxed and celebratory atmosphere.
Programme of Events
Summer Solos
Friday 13 June and Friday 20 June – Grounds open 5.30pm, Concert at 6.30pm
Sunday 15 June and Sunday 22 June – Grounds open 1.30pm, Concert at 2.30pm
This four-part series highlights the individual talents and musical progress of the Yehudi Menuhin School pupils. Audiences will hear a broad repertoire including Brahms’s Hungarian Dances, Tchaikovsky’s Valse Scherzo, Lutosławski’s Subito, and Chen Gang’s Sunshine Over Tashkurgan. There will be a 60-minute interval for refreshments and picnicking in the beautiful school grounds.
Seven Sayings: Triumph
Saturday 28 June – Grounds open 4pm, Concert at 5pm
An inspiring evening featuring Beethoven’s Symphony No. 5, described by E.T.A. Hoffmann as “one of the most important works of the time”, performed alongside Korngold’s Suite for Left Hand Piano and Strings Op. 23.
Family Day: Pictures at an Exhibition
Sunday 29 June – Activities and food from 1pm, Family Concert at 3pm
Family Day offers a chance for children and their families to explore music in a playful and accessible way. The afternoon includes outdoor games, arts and crafts, and refreshments. A special interactive performance of Mussorgsky’s Pictures at an Exhibition, led by broadcaster and pianist Keelan Carew and ten young pianists, will take the audience on a journey through whimsical musical scenes, from enchanted castles to Baba Yaga’s forest hut. The concert is particularly suitable for children aged 3 to 9, though all are welcome.
Spotlight Concert: Piano Gala
Tuesday 1 July – Concert at 7.30pm
The final Spotlight event of the year showcases the school’s finest young pianists performing a programme of Chopin, Debussy, Ravel, Berg and Schubert. Highlights include Debussy’s Suite Bergamasque, Ravel’s Sonatine, and Chopin’s ballades, recently featured in the Oscar-nominated film A Real Pain.
Leavers’ Picnic
Wednesday 2 July – Grounds open 5pm, Concert at 6.30pm
This special occasion marks the final performance by the school’s leavers. Works by Ravel, Schumann, Liszt and Kodály will be performed, with a symbolic presentation of musical scores to those moving on. The evening includes a 60-minute interval for refreshments.
Seven Sayings: Reunion – The Festival Finale
Friday 4 July – Grounds open 5pm, Concert at 6.30pm
The festival concludes with an emotionally powerful programme featuring James MacMillan’s Seven Last Words from the Cross, performed by the Senior Orchestra, Chamber Choir, conductor Jonathan Bloxham, and the award-winning vocal collective SANSARA. The second half includes Arvo Pärt’s Fratres and Tchaikovsky’s Serenade for Strings, performed by current pupils and alumni.
Ticket Information
Tickets range from £10 to £28.50, with half-price concessions for under-30s.
To book, visit www.menuhinhall.co.uk or contact the Box Office on 01932 559400 / boxoffice@menuhinschool.co.uk.
About The Menuhin Hall
The Menuhin Hall is an award-winning concert venue located on the grounds of the Yehudi Menuhin School. It is both a professional resource for the school’s pupils and a valued part of the local cultural scene, hosting concerts by visiting artists and community ensembles. The hall has been recognised by RIBA and the Civic Trust, among others, for its architectural excellence.
About The Yehudi Menuhin School
Founded in 1963 by renowned violinist Yehudi Menuhin, the school provides an exceptional music education for gifted children aged 9 to 19, regardless of financial background. Alumni include Nicola Benedetti, Nigel Kennedy, Alina Ibragimova and Tasmin Little. Located near Cobham, the school offers a holistic education, with pupils dividing their time between academic and musical studies, and regular opportunities to perform both in the Menuhin Hall and throughout the local community.
For more information, visit www.menuhinschool.co.uk.
