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The 2024 Summer Festival is here!

The 2024 Summer Festival brings the very finest world-class musicians for you to experience in our many atmospheric venues. We passionately believe that music is for everyone, everywhere, which is why we are always searching for exciting new spaces across Cumbria to enjoy music. New this year, we are pleased to share performances at the beautiful Holker Hall and Cartmel Priory, intimate Crosthwaite Church and the picturesque Grizedale Forest. From Baroque and Jazz to Gospel and Chamber Music, the 2024 Festival offers newcomers, families and lifelong devotees the chance to be immersed in these outstanding performances and we can’t wait to see you there!

EXPLORE THE FESTIVAL

Latest News

Pianist Steven Osborne OBE becomes President

Pianist Steven Osborne OBE becomes President

‘In a class of his own’ described a performance of the then 17-year-old pianist Steven Osborne at one of Lake District Music’s first annual summer...

Vacancies: Marketing & Development Manager

Vacancies: Marketing & Development Manager

After 4 years of growth, building and engaging with new audiences across Cumbria, we are looking to recruit a creative and enthusiastic Marketing...

Heath Quartet return to the Lake District

Heath Quartet return to the Lake District

Take the opportunity to welcome back the Heath String Quartet during their long overdue and welcome return to Cumbria. The multi-award winning...

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Moss Force Autumn

Please help us support talented young musicians and classical music in Cumbria.

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Witty and sophisticated, Cole Porter’s music and

Witty and sophisticated, Cole Porter’s music and his glittering songs epitomise the ‘American Songbook’ with hit after Broadway hit. Creative tour de force, pianist and Ronnie Scott’s Artistic Director James Pearson appears with his celebrated trio and ‘bold’ collaborator Polly Gibbons to conjure a golden era of Broadway. Saturday night is party night!
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COLE PORTER CELEBRATION:
JAMES PEARSON JAZZ TRIO & POLLY GIBBONS
Kendal Town Hall | Sat 3 August, 7.30pm
TICKETS: https://tinyurl.com/4p9h68cu

Dramatic, tender, jubilant, devasted and everythin

Dramatic, tender, jubilant, devasted and everything in between. The human voice really is an amazing instrument able to transport us not just to another world and conjure up all kinds of emotions, but involve us in the story behind the words and reveal the inner most thoughts of their characters.

What kind of singing are you going to see this summer? Baroque with soprano Ruby Hughes and Fretwork, gospel with The London Adventist Chorale, family opera with @operanorth or jazz with Polly Gibbons & Pearson Jazz Trio
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26 July - London Adventist Chorale @ The Coro
30 July - @jessdandycontralto
1 August - Fretwork & Ruby Hughes @ Cartmel Priory
2 August - Opera North's 'Mini Vixen' @ Barrow Library and Archives
3 August - Polly Gibbons & Pearson Jazz Trio @ Kendal Town Hall
4 August - Festival Chorus in Holst's The Planets @ Kendal Leisure Centre
TICKETS: https://tickets.ldsm.org.uk/sales/

It is with great sadness that we announce that our

It is with great sadness that we announce that our Founder and lifelong Artistic Director, Renna Manduell MBE (nee Kellaway), has passed away.

A student of Johannes Röntgen in Amsterdam and Franz Osborn in London, South African-born Renna enjoyed a glittering musical career as a pianist and chamber musician, performing, broadcasting and teaching widely across the UK, Europe, USA, East Asia, Australasia and South Africa.

It was during her honeymoon with husband Sir John Manduell CBE that she first fell under the spell of the stunning landscape of the Lake District; an experience which was to prove a major turning point in her life.

So it was in 1985 that Renna founded Lake District Summer Music (as it was formerly known), bringing world class performances to Cumbria combined with training for talented young musicians.

Under her guidance the festival quickly became well-established on the national and international calendar, attracting students from across the globe including the likes of violinist Nicola Benedetti, pianist Steven Osborne and many more.

While Lake District Music approaches its 40th anniversary in 2025 sadly without our much-loved Founder and Honorary President, we look to the future guided by Renna’s innate belief in the power of music to change lives and her drive to nurture and inspire the next generation of young musicians.

“A young and exciting voice in the world of cham

“A young and exciting voice in the world of chamber music”

See the amazing London Central Brass Quintet at Ambleside Parish Church on Thursday 23 May at 1pm.

Reimagined classics from Jevtic, Susato and Ravel. Tickets in biog.

We welcome exciting talents @londoncentralbrass to

We welcome exciting talents @londoncentralbrass to #Ambleside Parish Church on Thursday 23 May at 1pm. Their repertoire includes Jevtic, Susato, and Ravel. Tickets in biog.

Lake District Music’s Summer Festival returns th

Lake District Music’s Summer Festival returns this summer and we are looking for artist managers, event managers and event assistants to join us. This is a fantastic opportunity to play your part in a major classical music festival set across the Lake District. Go to our website for more details.