Lake District Music

23/06/2026

This Tuesday, our venue focus moves to Hawkshead Parish Church, a beautiful historic church standing above the village and its surrounding fells. Built in around 1300, the church has been at the heart of the local community for centuries, witnessing generations of village life.

Its hill-top position, rubble stone exterior and historic character within makes it one of the area’s most distinctive places to visit. The spacious interior and resonant acoustics create an ideal setting for live music, allowing audiences to enjoy performances in a space shaped by centuries of history and tradition.

We are delighted to bring our Emerging Artists, the Nadejda and Nasia String Quartets, as well as the acclaimed Aquarelle Guitar Quartet to this remarkable venue. Set within the heart of Hawkshead and surrounded by the beauty of the Lake District, this church will provide a memorable backdrop for a summer music experience! Book your tickets now at: www.ldsm.org.uk

22/06/2026

This spring, we embarked on a project in partnership with Voces8 Foundation taking singing into schools across Barrow-in-Furness and the Cartmel Peninsula. The programme was designed to inspire and actively engage young people in singing collaboratively with workshops focusing on the positive impact that collective singing can have on wellbeing, confidence, and school community.

Read more about our Finding Your Voice project at https://www.ldsm.org.uk/2026/06/finding-their-voice-lake-district-music-and-voces8-inspire-500-young-singers/

19/06/2026

Dvořák's Serenade for strings is like a warm embrace of pure musical delight. He wrote it in twelve days in May 1875 at possibly the happiest stretch of his life: newly married, a young son at home, and growing recognition at last. This happiness shines through every bar of what is one of the most enjoyable works in the entire string repertoire. Its lyrical generosity, eloquent fluency, and memorable melodies make the Serenade impossible not to love.

https://youtu.be/CRcbDMg56yg?si=clSDQ4AuY9B_9Uil

Hear it for yourself, performed by our emerging artists during Czech In on Sat 1 Aug at 2pm. Book tickets at https://tickets.ldsm.org.uk/sales/events/2025-2026-season/summer-2026/czech-in

Recorded live at the Concertgebouw, Amsterdam, November 27 2016.N...

18/06/2026

Each year we open the door to audiences to catch a glimpse behind the scenes at our masterclasses. The 2026 Emerging Artists will take part in masterclasses with Trio Bohemo (Sun 2 Aug) and the Wihan Quartet (Tue 4 Aug) offering you the rare opportunity to witness the next generation of artists refine their craft and find their unique voice.

They also offer the chance for those in the audience to deepen their musical insight (and for the budding musicians listening in maybe even pick up a tip or two).

https://tickets.ldsm.org.uk/sales/

17/06/2026

Introducing the Nadejda Quartet

Formed in 2025 at the Royal College of Music in London, the group enjoys working on a diverse range of repertoire from early baroque to contemporary compositions and performs regularly throughout London, most recently at the final of the 74th Royal Overseas League Competition.

Selected as one of our 2026 Emerging Artists they are involved in a number of performances and masterclasses during this year's summer festival, including a concert at Cartmel Priory featuring music by Schubert and Ravel.

https://tickets.ldsm.org.uk/sales/events/2025-2026-season/summer-2026/nadejda-string-quartet

16/06/2026

This Tuesday, we centre our venue focus around Kendal Town Hall, a long-standing centre for community life in the South Lakes. Located in the heart of Kendal, the Town Hall has welcomed many generations of visitors and continues to host a wide variety of events.

Our performances take place within the Assembly Room, an elegant space with character and acoustics perfectly suited to live music - the room's intimate atmosphere and natural brightness brings performances to life!

We are excited to bring four exceptional performances to Kendal Town Hall this summer. Audiences can enjoy the vibrant energy of the Agogo String Quartet, the internationally acclaimed Wihan Quartet, the expressive brilliance of pianist Isata Kanneh-Mason, and the ever-entertaining Stringfever. Book your tickets now at: https://www.ldsm.org.uk/

15/06/2026

The brilliant Nasia Quartet will be joining us this summer as part of our 2026 Emerging Artists programme. They were shortlisted during our Emerging Artists auditions and have fortunately stepped in to replace the Resol Quartet who have had to withdraw for health reasons.

The name Nasia comes from Greek origins meaning “immortal” – a concept that reflects the timeless nature of chamber music. Like the string quartet tradition itself enduring across centuries while constantly renewed through new voices and interpretations, the Nasia Quartet embraces both tradition and new discoveries. Hear them in masterclasses, performances alongside Trio Bohémo, the Wihan Quartet and Nadejda Quartet and in their own concert on Fri 7 Aug at Victoria Hall in Grange-over-Sands.

12/06/2026

From our Friends:

Sedbergh Music Festival begins this weekend. With a whole host of events during the two week festival make sure you check out their programme at https://www.sedberghmusicfestival.com/ #

Our website gives you the programme the 2026 Sedbergh Music Festival and the links to book tickets. Also included are details on venues, places to stay and the programmes of past festivals

10/06/2026

"Hughes’s pure tone and sensitivity shine out, her voice at times almost ethereal." Fiona Maddocks, The Guardian

"The cycle as a whole is deeply personal obviously because of the chosen text but even more so due to Hughes’ storytelling capabilities: she possesses the rare ability to make listeners feel like they are the only ones in the room." Azusa Ueno, The Classic Review

Just a couple of the amazing reviews Ruby Hughes and Huw Watkins have received for the song cycle, Echo.

Hear this setting of Rosetti’s poem alongside music by Purcell, Bach, Britten and Master of the King's Music, Errollyn Wallen on Fri 7 Aug at Ambleside Parish Church.

World-class classical music in the heart of the Lake District.