High Barnet Chamber Music Festival 2024

What do we do?

Inspired by the cultural deprivation of the pandemic, in 2021 we launched the High Barnet Chamber Music Festival. Since then we've run a wide-ranging programme of concerts each year, from orchestral spectacles to intimate solo recitals, commissioned new music, and worked with educational groups across the borough. Now we're back with a fourth exciting season!

Through HBCMF we aim to inspire a love of classical music in Barnet and provide a platform for the most talented early-career professional musicians. The festival is rapidly becoming a significant part of Barnet’s cultural landscape, and we're increasing our educational activity, with masterclasses and a volunteering scheme.

What's happening this year?

29th June, 7.30pm | St John the Baptist Church

The Mithras Trio return after an outstanding recital in our debut season three years ago.

Camille Saint-Saëns: Piano Trio No. 1 in F Major, Op. 18

Germaine Tailleferre: Piano Trio

Ludwig van Beethoven: Piano Trio No. 7 in Bb Major, Op. 97

5th July, 8pm | St John the Baptist Church

Mad Song bring a recital of music from the last fifty years, all inspired by other artistic masterworks from Monet's paintings to the music of Purcell.

Anna Clyne: Just As They Are​

A Purcell Garland:

Henry Purcell, arr. Oliver Knussen: ... upon one note

Henry Purcell, arr. George Benjamin: Fantasia VII

Henry Purcell, arr. Colin Matthews: Fantazia 13

Christian Mason: I wandered for a while...

Helen Grime: Three Whistler Miniatures

​Tristan Murail: Treize Couleurs du soleil couchant

14th July, 3pm | The Friends' Recital Hall at Queen Elizabeth's School

Cellist Nina Kiva & harpist Milo Harper conclude the festival with a gorgeous Sunday matinée.

Heitor Villa-Lobos: Song of the Black Swan

Clara Schumann: Liebst du um Schönheit;

Warum willst du and're fragen

Lili Boulanger: Nocturne

Claude Debussy: Claire de Lune, L. 75

Francis Poulenc: Souvenirs

Hindemith: Sonata for Harp

Claude Debussy: Cello Sonata, L. 135

How can you help?

Supporting us does several things:

1) You help keep tickets at an affordable level so everybody can experience this amazing music.

2) You allow us to attract the best musicians to give fantastic concerts.

3) You ensure that we can pay our artists fairly.

To become a Friend of HBCMF, donate at least £50. All our Friends are listed in our concert programmes and receive priority booking for our concerts. If you feel able to give more, please see our website for details of our other packages, which come with further perks and benefits.

Thank you so much for your help & support. The festival simply would not exist without the generosity and goodwill of donors like you.

Joshua Ballance, Artistic Director

You can watch Mahler's Lieder eines fahrenden Gesellen from our inaugural festival: