The West Wycombe Chamber Music Festival was established thirteen years ago by the internationally acclaimed viola player Lawrence Power. Lawrence was born and brought up in High Wycombe and is now recognised as a performer of the very highest calibre in the music world.
Each September Lawrence returns to the area to direct and perform in this three-day not-for-profit music festival which offers audiences five attractively programmed concerts. He attracts an array of top flight musicians who join him to take part in this exclusive series of concerts.
The Festival has firmly established its place as one of the key musical events in our locality.
In 2020 the festival was paused as there was no possibility of performance to a live audience. However, Lawrence took the opportunity of collaborating with film-maker Jessie Rodger in making two festival films, Fermata 1 and Fermata 2. The beautiful recordings with superb music from some of the world’s finest artists are a fine representation of the Festival. The short introductory Fermata film is a splendid ‘taster’
The Guardian newspaper, hailing the 2021 Festival as “One of the top ten classical music events of 2021” added: “There’s a small breed of elite international musicians who, away from the main-stage limelight, pour their energies into nurturing young artists, promoting contemporary works, staging bold, experimental festivals, often unnoticed by the wider world.”
This will be the second year that we present our festival at the Church of St Mary the Virgin in the exquisite village of Hambleden. Although we are once again unable to be in West Wycombe this year due to our traditional ‘home’ (the Church of St Lawrence) still being closed, we are excited to welcome you once more to this most special venue.
Do consider taking the opportunity to join the thriving Friends’ group which gives the opportunity for priority booking until August 1st when tickets will be on sale to the public generally. Friends membership also includes an invitation to a reception after one of the evening concerts and a chance to meet Lawrence and the other artists. For details of how to join please contact Deborah Behrman at westwycombefestival@gmail.com.
