2025 Music Festival
The 2026 Festival will take place from 18-21 August
2025 Concerts
Sunday 10 August
3pm Rectory Gardens
Tea Party and live music
6.30pm St Mary’s Church
Festival Evensong
Monday 11 August
11.30am St Mary’s Church
Castaway with Miloš Milivojević
7pm St Mary’s Church
Jaywalkers folk group
Tuesday 12 August
11.30am St Mary’s Church
Lunchtime Concert
7pm St Mary’s Church
Jazz Evening
9.45pm St Mary’s Church
Late Night Recital
Wednesday 13 August
7pm St Mary’s Church
Chamber Concert
9.45pm St Mary’s Church
Late Night Recital
Thursday 14 August
11.30am St Mary’s Church
Lunchtime Concert
7pm St Mary’s Church
Film and Television music
9.45pm St Mary’s Church
Late Night Recital
Friday 15 August
7pm St Mary’s Church
Gala Concert
Occasionally programmes can be subject to change.
Sunday 10 August
3pm Rectory Gardens
Tea Party
Tea is served! Enjoy a relaxing afternoon in the lovely Rectory Gardens accompanied by live music.
Free Entry.
Tea and cakes available.
Sponsored by
Alan, Maureen, Bernie & Edita
6.30pm St Mary's Church
Festival Evensong
The service will be led by Reverend Andrew Rawding. The organist is Paul Cheater with the choir from Litton Cheney.
Monday 11 August
11.30am St Mary's Church
Castaway with Miloš Milivojević
Artistic Director David Juritz talks to accordion virtuoso Miloš Milivojević about the music that has played an important part in his life.
Tickets on sale now
Sponsored by A supporter of the Festival
7pm St Mary's Church
Jaywalkers
Mike Giverin guitar/mandolin
Jay Bradberry vocals/fiddle
Lucille Williams vocals/fiddle/slap bass
Stunning three-part harmonies, soaring fiddles and fearless mandolins… a powerhouse of Americana who can cook up a storm without the need to plug themselves into any cumbersome amplification’
Country Music Magazine
A Jaywalkers show is an exhilarating experience. Three outstanding musicians who have won fans on both sides of the Atlantic with their virtuosic fusion of Americana, bluegrass, country and folk. Since they were BBC Young Folk Awards finalists back in 2008, the Jaywalkers have toured regularly across the UK and Europe, developing a tight bond with their arrangements full of humour, heartbreak and bluegrass philosophy, along with originals dealing with modern-day issues such as saving the planet, life as a touring band (mostly stuck on the M6!) or being stranded halfway up a mountain.
Their new album, Move On, released in spring 2025, received rave reviews as well as multiple plays on BBC Radio 6 Music’s Cerys Matthews show. Expect powerhouse bass, flame- fingered mandolin, blistering fiddle and fiery three-part harmony as they bounce ideas around the stage.
Tickets on sale 30 June
Sponsored by Cook & The Taj Mahal Restaurant, Bridport
Tuesday 12 August
11.30am St Mary's Church
Lunchtime Concert
The Zhislin family
W. A. Mozart (1756-1791)
Violin Sonata in E minor K.304
1. Allegro, 2. Tempo di Menuetto
Anya Zhislin piano, Natalia Lomeiko violin
J. S. Bach (1685-1750)
Two Part Inventions (a selection)
Natalia Lomeiko violin, Yuri Zhislin viola
Frédéric Chopin (1810-1849)
Waltz in C sharp minor
Edvard Grieg (1843-1907)
Kobold from Lyric Pieces Op. 71
Anya Zhislin piano
Johan Halvorsen (1864-1935)
(after Handel)
Passacaglia
Natalia Lomeiko violin, Yuri Zhislin viola
Musical talent is often passed down through families, and the Zhislins are no different. Anya Zhislin joins her acclaimed parents, Natalia Lomeiko and Yuri Zhislin, for a programme of Bach, Mozart, Ravel and Grieg.
To include a picnic platter and a glass of wine in the rectory gardens.
Sponsored by Nantes Solicitors, Bridport
7pm St Mary's Church
Jazz Evening
Euan Stevenson piano
Adam King upright bass
Joe Dessauer drums
Pete Horsfall trumpet/vocals
Yuri Zhislin Violin
From Ellington to Evans
A prolific composer, arranger and pianist whose music spans classical, jazz and film, Euan Stevenson has hand-picked a swinging rhythm section from the cream of the London jazz scene: Adam King (upright bass) and Joe Dessauer (drums). His trio will be joined by award-winning trumpeter and vocalist Pete Horsfall for a tribute to jazz legends including Oscar Peterson, who would have celebrated his 100th birthday on 15 August. The quartet will also be joined by special guest violinist Yuri Zhislin.
Sponsored by C G Fry & Sons and Porter Dodson Solicitors, Commercial & Private Law
‘In performance, it’s all about class and quality: Stevenson has a beautiful touch, caressing the keys Bill Evans-style but rhythmically perfect too’ Jazzwise Magazine
9.45pm St Mary's Church
Late Night Concert
Craig Ogden guitar
David Juritz violin
Pärt and Bach
Arvo Pärt Fratres
Atanas Ourkousounov Sonatina Bulgarica
Erik Satie Gnossiennes No. 1 and No. 5
J S Bach Prelude, Fugue and Allegro BWV.998
Bar open at 9.15pm in the village hall with pre-concert snacks
Sponsored by Gillian Collins in memory of loved ones
Wednesday 13 August
7pm St Mary's Church
Chamber Evening
Japheth Law flute
Natalia Lomeiko, Anja Petkovic,
Fiona McCapra, David Juritz violins
Yuri Zhislin viola
Adrian Bradbury cello
Miloš Milivojević accordion
Craig Ogden guitar
Richard Wagner Vorspiel und Liebestod from Tristan and Isolde arr. Max Knigge for accordion and string quartet
Ludwig von Beethoven Serenade in D major Op. 8
Erik Satie Gymnopédie No. 1 Lent et douloureux
Maurice Ravel String Quartet in F major M.35
The opening bars of Richard Wagner’s Tristan and Isolde changed music forever. Lyrical and full of chromaticism, they capture perfectly the passion and ambiguity in the legend of a Cornish king and Irish princess. Beethoven’s Serenade is heard in an arrangement for flute, viola and guitar by his contemporary and fellow Vienna resident, Wenzel Matiegka. Inspired by an ancient Greek dance performed naked, Erik Satie’s Gymnopédies have an almost hypnotic beauty, although our musicians will be contractually obliged to remain fully clothed for the entire performance! Ravel’s String Quartet received a lukewarm response from critics in Paris and London on its debut. Despite that, it rapidly became a core work of the chamber music repertoire.
Tickets on sale now
Sponsored by Friends in Shipton Gorge
and The Lord Nelson Pub and guest rooms, Bridport
9.45pm St Mary's Church
Late Night Concert
Anja Petkovic violin
Miloš Milivojević accordion
David Gordon piano
Sergei Rachmaninoff Vocalise
César Franck Prélude, Fugue and Variation
Camille Saint-Saëns Introduction and Rondo Cappricioso
Boki Milošević An ordinary Balkan day
An evening of romance
Husband and wife, Miloš and Anja, are joined by David Gordon. Originally written for the voice, Rachmaninoff’s song without words proved irresistible to violinists. Franck dedicated his Prelude, Fugue and Variation to Saint-Saëns who, in turn, wrote his dazzling showpieces for the great Spanish violinist, Pablo de Sarasate.
Bar open at 9.15pm in the village hall with pre-concert snacks
Sponsored by A J Wakely & Sons, Funeral Directors & The Anchor, Burton Bradstock
Thursday 14 August
11.30am St Mary's Church
Lunchtime Concert
Anna Hashimoto clarinet
Philip Haworth oboe
Japheth Law flute
Ashley Myall bassoon
Chris Beagles horn
David Gordon piano
Camille Saint-Saëns (1835-1921) Danse macabre, arr. Lisa Portus
Henry Wood (1869-1944) Fantasia on British Sea Songs, arr. Lisa Portus
Karl Goepfart (1859-1942) Wind Quartet
1. Allegro risoluto, 2. Vivace, 3. Allegro vivo con bravura
Paul Dukas (1865-1935) Sorcerer’s Apprentice, arr. Iain Farrington
The Atéa Quintet with David Gordon
The acclaimed Atéa Quintet and David Gordon play three light-hearted but brilliant pieces of programme music. Skeletons dance the night away before an apprentice magician’s experiments go badly wrong, while Henry Wood’s sea shanties are a mainstay of the Last Night of the Proms, but only in excerpts – this is a rare opportunity to hear the whole collection!
Tickets on sale now
Sponsored by Carpet World, Bridport & Dream Cottages
7pm St Mary's Church
Film and television music
Festival Orchestra including:
Japheth Law flute
Philip Haworth oboe
Anna Hashimoto clarinet
Ashley Myall bassoon
Christopher Beagles horn
Craig Ogden guitar
Miloš Milivojević accordion
David Juritz, Natalia Lomeiko, Fiona McCapra, Bridget Pearse, Anja Petkovic violins
Yuri Zhislin, Rachel Byrt viola
Adrian Bradbury, Chris Terepin cello
Richard Pryce bass
Jordan Juritz bass guitar
Nadine Andre, David Gordon piano
Paul Cavaciuti percussion
Sponsored by Friends of the Festival
James Bond comes to Burton for film night. He’ll be joined by Harry Potter and Dr Who in a programme of music for the screen stretching back to the first original film music, the score Camille Saint-Saëns composed in 1908 for the film L’Assassinat du duc de Guise. It’s a programme of iconic screen music, but we’re expecting Craig Ogden to steal the show with music from Notting Hill and The Deer Hunter.
9.45pm St Mary's Church
Late Night Concert
David Gordon piano
Paul Cavaciuti drums, percussion
Richard Pryce bass
With the Festival Players
UnRavel
Maurice Ravel was deeply influenced by jazz, incorporating the idiom in his later compositions. David Gordon and friends explore his music in improvisation and with, perhaps,a little disSatiefaction as well.
Bar open at 9.15pm in the village hall with pre-concert snacks
Sponsored by The Seaside Boarding House & Frampton’s Bridport
Friday 15 August
7pm St Mary's Church
Gala concert
Festival Orchestra including:
Japheth Law flute
Philip Haworth oboe
Anna Hashimoto clarinet
Ashley Myall bassoon
Christopher Beagles horn
Craig Ogden guitar
Miloš Milivojević accordion
David Juritz, Natalia Lomeiko, Fiona McCapra, Bridget Pearse, Anja Petkovic, Anya Zhislin violin
Yuri Zhislin, Rachel Byrt viola
Adrian Bradbury, Chris Terepin cello
Richard Pryce bass
Nadine Andre, David Gordon piano
Paul Cavaciuti percussion
W A Mozart Overture to The Marriage of Figaro
Louise Farrenc Nonet In Eb major, Op. 38 Adagio – allegro
Georges Bizet arr. Julian Milone
Fantasy from Carmen for four violins and bass
Antonio Vivaldi Concerto for two violins in A minor
Oscar Peterson Body and Soul
Maurice Ravel Tombeau de Couperin
The Festival draws to a joyous close with an overture that fizzes with excitement, followed by the first movement of a brilliant nonet by Louise Farrenc – a female piano virtuoso who is finally being re-evaluated 150 years after her death.
Bizet’s Carmen has been the inspiration for many showpieces – we’re playing one which is completely different! There’s a little celebration of Oscar Peterson and, finally, a light-hearted and affectionate memorial to François Couperin by Ravel.
Sponsored by Alan Williams
44th FESTIVAL
15-23 AUGUST 2026
Classical, jazz, folk and world music with internationally acclaimed performers and a nine-day exhibition featuring some of the finest art and ceramics in the South West