Wirral Chamber Music Festival returns for 2024

Wirral Chamber Music Festival returns next week with a programme of live performances at venues across the borough.

The festival, now in its fourth year, presents soloists and ensembles in different settings including halls, churches, galleries and schools.

Children go free, and £1 from every ticket sold will go towards Age UK Wirral.

This year’s event, which also celebrates Wirral’s year as Borough of Culture, opens on Saturday, June 22 with Wirral Youth Brass playing a free concert at Pacific Road Tram Shed.

The Leenhardt Trio, led by the Hallé principal harpist Marie Leenhardt, will appear at St Mary’s Church in Eastham on Friday, June 28.

Events on Saturday, June 29 include the Youth String Quartet Academy at the Williamson Art Gallery, while Liverpool-born opera star Jennifer Johnston narrates Stravinsky’s A Soldier’s Tale at Wallasey’s Jubliee Centre.

And on Sunday, June 30, festivalgoers can enjoy a Wirral Composers’ Showcase at Upton Hall School, with the festival being brought to a close with an appearance from award-winning multi-instrumentalists Kabantu at Heswall Hall.

Above: Harpist Marie Leenhardt. Top: Kabantu closes the festival at Heswall Hall.

Thelma Handy, leader of the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra and Artistic Director of the festival, says: “We’re so proud to present this wealth of musical talent here on our doorstep. We’re incredibly lucky to have the opera star Jennifer Johnston, self-styled Scouse Diva, to narrate Stravinsky’s A Soldier’s Tale in Wallasey, with seven musicians from the RLPO.

“The Hallé principal harpist Marie Leenhardt will bring her trio to perform a programme of exquisite French music in Eastham.

“For its Borough of Culture year, we also highlight the peninsula’s creative talent by celebrating local composers in our Wirral Composers' Showcase.

“And to close the festival in style, the award-winning global folk group Kabantu come to Heswall Hall - original and virtuosic, they are a must-see.”

Wirral Chamber Music Festival runs from June 22-30. Full details and booking HERE