Having celebrated its 300th anniversary in 2015, the Three Choirs Festival is thought to be the longest-running classical music festival of its kind anywhere in the world. Rotating annually between the beautiful cathedral cities of Worcester, Hereford and Gloucester, the festival is a week-long summer celebration of choral and orchestral concerts, recitals, chamber music, talks, family events, cathedral services, theatre, exhibitions and more.
The Three Choirs Festival returns to Worcester this summer, from Saturday 24 July to Sunday 1 August, with a busy and exciting programme. This year’s festival, which incorporates the themes of journeying, exploration and looking to the future, will be the first for Worcester Artistic Director, Samuel Hudson, who took up the post in September 2019 but missed out on hosting a festival last year, due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The full festival programme is now available at 3choirs.org/whats-on, featuring over a thousand performers across 77 events, and more tickets have recently been released. There is something for everyone to enjoy, from major choral and orchestral events in Worcester’s majestic cathedral, to chamber music, late night events, fun-filled family shows, sung cathedral services, fascinating talks and al fresco theatre, walks and excursions. A busy schedule of daytime events is augmented by a growing programme of community and outreach projects, taking place in the run-up to and during the festival. The Festival Village will be up and running, where audience members can relax in between events, soak up the festival atmosphere, grab delicious food and drink, and enjoy free, live entertainment on the community bandstand. At the heart of the headline concert series, a stellar line-up of soloists will join the festival’s own chorus, the three cathedral choirs of Worcester, Hereford and Gloucester, and orchestra-in-residence, the Philharmonia Orchestra.
Many well-known and prestigious names in the world of classical music have been associated with the Three Choirs Festival over its long history, with the likes of Edward Elgar, Ralph Vaughan Williams, Samuel Coleridge-Taylor, Herbert Howells and Gerald Finzi making regular festival appearances over the year
To fully soak in the whole musical celebration, why not stay in one of our many beautiful hotels or upscale accommodation. From the stunning former convent Stanbrook Abbey, the opulent Bank House Hotel, four star Abbey Hotel or the Elms Hotel nestled in the heart of the countryside. Not including our many cozy B&B’s and self-catering arrangements around the county.
Find out more information about what’s on at the Three Choirs Festival here.
Search fror a place to stay overnight across The Malverns here.
Image Credit: ©Michael Whitefoot
