Winchester Chamber Music Festival Festival 2023

A vibrant and eagerly anticipated event on Hampshire’s cultural calendar, Winchester Chamber Music Festival is brought to you by the renowned cellist, Kate Gould as Artistic Director, alongside her international chamber music colleagues. Since its foundation in 2007 the Festival has grown and become more ambitious in its programming whilst staying true to bringing top quality chamber music to as wide an audience as possible.

A thank you message from Artistic Director, Kate Gould

It was devastating not to see you all and experience what has become the absolute highlight of my calendar each year…. but what fine compensation it was to hear that the festival was such a triumph with superb concerts and events, all expertly run by the dream team that we have at Winchester Chamber Music Festival. By all accounts, the musicians were superbly flexible and all of those helping out threw themselves into their various jobs to ensure an exceptional and thoroughly enjoyable weekend. To read the concert reviews written by many audience members, please click here.

I wish to thank you all for your enthusiasm and hard work which will inspire me now as I embark on planning the next festival and doing it all over again. I was also grateful to receive so many kind emails wishing me well and keeping me up to speed.

I would like to add a special ‘Thank you’ to Lucy Bending, our Festival Manager, whose resilience and resourcefulness I had already witnessed when the 2020 festival was cancelled, followed by the 2021 festival transforming into a mixed in-person and online affair. This year there she was again, dealing with all the last minute changes with her usual positive attitude and tireless commitment.

My family and I are in the process of moving to Winchester this summer (coming home really, for me) and I’m looking forward to forging new relationships as well as strengthening our existing ones to ensure the future of this very special festival.

Apart from packing and unpacking boxes, I am now in full swing creating the next festival for you. I have many wonderful players lined up and a sense of excitement at the thought of you hearing them. If anyone is interested in supporting a particular player or concert in 2023, please do get in touch. More news on the full line up will be available in the autumn.

Final dates for the next festival: Friday 28 April to Monday 1 May 2023

There have been complications with the dates for 2023, and I do apologise for the change, but we had a clash with another important local classical event. We have agreed that from now on we will always use the Early May Bank Holiday weekend and also that we will revert to using Friday to Monday. So you can block off that weekend for many years to come!

With best wishes and hopes for a COVID-free 2023.

Kate Gould