York Chamber Music Festival (2026)

Welcome to York Chamber Music Festival! The festival aims to bring some of the UK’s best chamber musicians to York with the specific aim of involving York’s young musicians and giving them an opportunity not only to hear these players but to talk and work with them in masterclasses. As part of the festival a national competition will bring aspiring chamber music groups to York from the national co

nservatoires, music colleges and university music departments. All these events are open for everyone to enjoy. The cost of entrance has been kept down thanks to generous donations from local sponsors keen to see York’s young people engage with ‘new generation’ chamber musicians. We are basing our programme around core repertoire but have included some lesser known works because, whether young or older, we want to stimulate peoples’ curiosity and imagination. I do hope you will support this new initiative in the musical life of York and enjoy what we have to offer.

05/09/2025

Two Weeks to go! 19 - 21 September.
Tickets still available for all events.
Click below for everything you need to know about the programme, informative posts, the players and the gateway to buying tickets.
https://www.ycmf.co.uk/2025-programme

18/08/2025

The quartet we are playing in the Festival (Event Two) is the last but one of Haydn’s quartets (Op. 76 No. 5). He was in his mid-60s and brought to the Op. 76 quartets all his long, mature understanding of the inner life of the string quartet, played by virtuoso professional musicians and a heightened sense of musical emotion. These quartets defined the future of the string quartet for years to come and are the pinnacle of Haydn's lifetime’s output of 68 string quartets. Even the super-confident Beethoven held back (not for long) from writing string quartets respectful of Haydn’s gift.

Explore the unfolding genius of Joseph Haydn through his transformative string quartets—from groundbreaking Op. 20 innovations to the emotional depths of the Op. 76 “Largo.” Discover how Haydn shaped the future of chamber music in forty-five years of genius, as featured in the York Chamber Mus...

25/07/2025

York Chamber Music Festival is marking the fiftieth anniversary of the death of one of the truly great twentieth century composers by playing two of Shostakovich’s iconic chamber music masterpieces; his Eighth String Quartet and his Viola Sonata which was the last piece he wrote, finishing only a few weeks before... read more > https://www.ycmf.co.uk/post/shostakovich-in-york

music

York Chamber Music Festival is marking the fiftieth anniversary of the death of one of the truly great twentieth century composers by playing two of Shostakovich’s iconic chamber music masterpieces; his Eighth String Quartet and his Viola Sonata which was the last piece he wrote, finishing only a ...

09/05/2025

TRANSFIGURED NIGHT
Verklärte Nacht was inspired by a poem of the same name by Richard Dehmel – a progressive German poet. Schoenberg’s composition tracks the poem’s story. This unusual combination of chamber music READ MORE https://www.ycmf.co.uk/post/transfigured-night
What's Occurring York Ripon ConcertsYork Chamber Music Festival

Arnold Schoenberg and the late chamber music of BrahmsVerklärte Nacht was inspired by a poem of the same name by Richard Dehmel – a progressive German poet. Schoenberg’s composition tracks the poem’s story. This unusual combination of chamber music with programmatic content was intended by Sc...

14/01/2025

York Chamber Music Festival 2025 will be launched at this event by Tim Lowe, Artistic Director of YCMF and John Lenehan, who open this year’s festival with a ‘taster’ READ MORE >

National Centre for Early Music, St Margaret’s Church, Walmgate Wednesday 12 March 2025 7:30pmTickets £20 (18 and under free)TIM LOWEJOHN LENEHANBeethoven Cello Sonata in D major, Op. 102 No.2Bloch Three Pieces from Jewish Life IntervalRachmaninov Sonata for Cello and Piano in G minor, Op. 19York...

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