09-04-2025
Lake District festival to celebrate 40th anniversary
The Lake District Music Summer Festival is set to celebrate its 40th anniversary.
The festival, taking place in the Lake District's UNESCO World Heritage Site from August 1 to August 10, will feature uplifting performances in various venues, including Holker Hall, Cartmel Priory, Brantwood, and Grizedale Forest.
Lake District Music is one of the UK's flagship annual summer music festivals founded in 1985 by Renna Kellaway MBE.
The festival was founded in 1985 (Image: Lake District Music Summer Festival) They give local audiences and tourists to Cumbria a rare chance to experience exceptional concerts by international artists.
They encourage artists to try new things & premiere cross-artform work to appeal to new audiences, presenting classical music in accessible ways alongside jazz, dance, poetry, art & literature.
A core part of their DNA, they also support exceptional young professionals, giving them showcase concerts and masterclasses in both the summer festival, and their new monthly spring concert series.
Steven Osborne OBE, the new festival president (Image: The Lake District Music Summer Festival) The festival will kick off with a performance by local saxophone sensation Jess Gillam and her ensemble, promising an eclectic mix of classical, jazz, and pop.
Other notable performances include Paul Lewis, who will perform all of Beethoven's five piano concertos, and the Baroque super-group Red Priest, who will perform at Cartmel Priory.
The festival will also pay tribute to Renna Kellaway MBE, the late visionary founder of the festival, celebrating her life and achievements.
Renna Kellaway MBE (Image: Lake District Music Summer Festival) Steven Osborne OBE, the new festival president and Kellaway's protégé, will honour her lasting legacy.
Emerging resident artists will have the opportunity to launch their careers alongside some of the world's finest musicians.
Beethoven's Symphony No. 9 will conclude the festival, performed by the Northern Chamber Orchestra, international soloists, and a chorus of 100 local singers from across Cumbria.
The festival promises a vibrant mix of performances, ensuring something for everyone.
The stunning landscape of the Lake District will enhance every performance, adding to the festival's charm.
