Budleigh Music Festival returns

Welcome return for Budleigh Music Festival

Mary Youlden
Authored by Mary Youlden
Posted Sunday, May 9, 2021 - 11:26pm

Save the date for Budleigh Music Festival: 9-17 July 2021

Budleigh Music Festival makes a welcome return this year from 9 - 17 July with a week-long programme of live music to be held in the town.   

A jam-packed programme of events is planned for July, with extraordinary saxophonist, Jess Gillam, headlining with her own ensemble band.  Since her previous appearance at Budleigh Festival in 2018, Jess has achieved international recognition, performing at Last Night of the Proms and with global tour plans for 2021. 

2021 will also see the Festival introduce for the first time Colourscape – an interactive walk-through labyrinth of colour, light and music.  Held on The Green, this family-friendly experience brings a new element to the Festival, offering visitors the chance to walk into a new world of radiating colour filled with music and dance.

Jason Thornton, artistic director for the Festival, says: “2021 is a really important and special time for Budleigh and the Festival as we celebrate the return of live music, smiles, laughter and shared experiences. I’m so proud of everybody who is working so hard to produce this year’s Festival, particularly during some very unsure and challenging times. After all the gloom we are incredibly excited to create a Festival in magical technicolour with a unique selection of events that I hope will make audiences smile, laugh, cry, and reflect on everything we have collectively been through.”

“I’m delighted to welcome the amazing Colourscape - Budleigh Music Festival’s first outdoor event on The Green. I really recommend a wander through their unique magical structures to experience an effervescent spectrum of colour accompanied by amazing music.”

New performers for 2021 include superstar violinist in the making, Coco Tomita, and international pianist, Peter Donohoe. Rising star Coco Tomita, 18, is already recognised as one of Britain’s finest young musicians making an impact on audiences throughout the UK and abroad. Expect high octane virtuosity combined with a wonderfully natural musical understanding way beyond Coco’s years.

Playing at Budleigh Music Festival for the first time is Peter Donohoe CBE.  Following a career that spans 40 years, Peter is recognised as one of the UK’s greatest pianists, playing with highly respected orchestras and conductors including at The Proms, the Berlin Philharmonie with the Berlin Philharmonic, and the London Symphony Orchestra. 

Closing the Festival will be the legendary Sir Willard White, one of the world’s greatest living baritones. His extraordinary voice is acclaimed globally for its richness of timbre and expression, and with his famous stage presence, his concerts are unforgettable. From working throughout the world in the greatest opera houses and concert halls with many of the greatest musicians of the modern era, the Festival will be welcoming Sir Willard to Budleigh Music Festival for the first time for two intimate recitals of international merit. Sir Willard will perform arias from his greatest roles alongside songs from the shows and a few surprises. This unique opportunity to hear this legendary voice live is not to be missed.

For 2021, careful consideration has been given to COVID secure measures and will be in line with the current advice and guidance as is applicable at the time of the Festival in July.  Concerts will be limited in capacity this year, meaning audiences will enjoy the live performances in more intimate setting than ever before with sittings at 5pm and 8pm each day. Full details of the Festival’s COVID policy are available on the website.

General tickets for the Budleigh Music Festival will be on sale from 1 June and can be purchased from the website. For more information or to become a Friend of Budleigh Music Festival for early ticket access on 17 May, visit: https://www.budleighmusicfestival.co.uk/

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