2026 Concert Season
Howdenshire Music's 2026 concert season will begin on Thursday 23 April 2026 at 1pm in Howden Minster with a performance by pianist Emanuil Ivanov, winner of the Busoni International Piano Competition. We look forward to welcoming you back after the winter break!
All concerts are free to attend, with retiring donations in aid of the concert series hugely appreciated.
Booking for lunchtime concerts is optional but recommended. Booking for gala events is strongly recommended to secure your place, as these events often reach capacity. Booking for the 2026 season will open in early 2026.
You can also join our email mailing list to receive regular updates and information about all upcoming Howdenshire Music concerts.
UPCOMING EVENTS
Thursday 23 April 2026, 1pm
Lunchtime Concert: Emanuil Ivanov (piano)
Winner of the Busoni International Piano Competition
Bulgarian pianist Emanuil Ivanov attracted international attention after winning First Prize at the 2019 Busoni International Piano Competition – following in the footsteps of legendary pianists such as Martha Argerich, Maurizio Pollini and Krystian Zimerman. This achievement was followed by critically acclaimed performances and tours in Japan, France, Italy, Germany, Austria, Bulgaria, Cyprus, South Africa, the USA, the UK and Poland, with debuts at venues including London's Wigmore Hall, New York's Carnegie Hall and Munich’s Herkulessaal.
Emanuil's performances have been featured on BBC Radio 3, Italy’s Rai Radio 3 and Japan’s NHK Radio. In 2025 his debut album, featuring Scarlatti sonatas, was released on the Naxos label.
Mozart Sonata in C major, K.330
Debussy Préludes Book 1, Nos. 8-12
La fille aux cheveux de lin (The girl with the flaxen hair)
La sérénade interrompue (Interrupted serenade)
La cathédrale engloutie (The submerged cathedral)
La danse de Puck (Puck's dance)
Minstrels
Gershwin Three Preludes
Kapustin Preludes Op. 53 Nos. 20-24
Thursday 21 May 2026, 1pm
Lunchtime Concert: Hannah Lewis (cello) & Neil Crossland (piano)
Hannah Lewis is a graduate of the Royal Academy of Music. She performs extensively in recital throughout the UK, both as soloist and in ensemble. Hannah has always had a special passion for chamber music and is a member of the Cygnus Trio, with whom she has performed throughout Europe and received coaching from esteemed musicians including Raphael Wallfisch and Alfred Brendel.
Neil Crossland studied at the Royal College of Music, where he earned top prizes in piano and composition. He has performed at many of the UK's leading venues such as the Barbican, Queen Elizabeth Hall, and Wigmore Hall. As a composer, Neil is known for his original but accessible style. In addition to Schubert's much-loved "Arpeggione" Sonata, the duo will also perform Neil's second Cello Sonata, written especially for Hannah. The work explores the cello’s lyrical and dramatic ranges, with moments of virtuosity and intimacy for both instruments.
Schubert Sonata in A minor, D. 821 "Arpeggione"
Neil Crossland Cello Sonata No. 2, Op. 68
Saturday 6 June 2026, 7.30pm
Gala Evening Concert: Martin Roscoe (piano)
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During his illustrious career, Martin Roscoe has become one of the UK’s most loved and respected pianists. With his extensive repertoire, consummate musicianship and immediate connection with audiences, he is in great demand as a concerto soloist, chamber musician and recitalist.
Martin appears regularly at Wigmore Hall and has long-standing associations with many of the UK’s leading orchestras such as the BBC Philharmonic and BBC Scottish Symphony. A prolific recording artist, Martin has a distinguished discography and is one of the most broadcast pianists on BBC radio.
Mozart Fantasy in D minor K. 397
Schumann Novelette in F sharp minor, Op.21 No. 8
Beethoven Sonata in A flat Op. 110
Interval
Chopin Barcarolle Op. 60
John Ireland An Island Spell
Ireland Amberley Wild Brooks
Debussy Reflets dans l'eau
Liszt La lugubre gondola, No. 2
Liszt Legend No. 2 "St. Francis of Paola Walking On The Waters"
Thursday 18 June 2026, 1pm
Lunchtime Concert: Rob Burton (saxophone) & Mark Rogers (piano)
Rob Burton was a 2018 BBC Young Musician of the Year finalist and is a Classic FM "Star of Tomorrow"
British saxophonist Rob Burton won the Woodwind Final of BBC Young Musician 2018 and went on to secure a place in the Grand Final, where he performed as concerto soloist with the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra. Highlights since then include appearances with some of the UK’s leading orchestras including Britten Sinfonia and the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra. Featured as one of Classic FM’s “Stars of Tomorrow”, he has performed at many prestigious venues such as Wigmore Hall, St. John’s Smith Square, Buckingham Palace and Windsor Castle.
American pianist Mark Rogers studied at the Royal Academy of Music, where he was awarded the first prize in Art Song accompaniment, and at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland. A former Young Artist at Leeds Lieder Festival and the Ludlow English Song Weekend, Mark has also performed at the Scottish Parliament, the Malmö Radhuset, and given a series of recitals at Atelier Ferrandou in the south of France with cellist Kristian Chojecki.
Ravel Sonatine (arranged for saxophone & piano)
Poulenc Oboe Sonata (arranged for saxophone & piano)
Gershwin Three Preludes (arranged for saxophone & piano)
Thursday 16 July 2026, 1pm
Lunchtime Concert: Katy Smith (violin), Amy Butler (piano) & Graziana Presicce (piano)
Celebrating the 75th Anniversary of the Elgar Society
This special concert will feature works performed with Elgar's own violin bow
Violinist Katy Smith is a graduate of the Royal College of Music, and the Royal Academy of Music, and was a strings finalist in the BBC Young Musician of the Year. Katy has a deep passion for the development of the violin bow and its impact on her interpretation of different repertoire. In 2024, Katy gave a performance of Elgar’s Violin Concerto with the Hertfordshire Philharmonia Orchestra, using Elgar’s own bow, which she will also be using for this concert.
Pianist Amy Butler studied with British concert pianist Martin Roscoe and gained a first class Master's degree from the University of Oxford. A keen chamber musician, she regularly performs in duo across the UK and abroad with various artists, including violinist Katy Smith and pianist Graziana Presicce.
Pianist Graziana Presicce holds a PhD in Music Performance from the University of Hull. Recent performance highlights include an appearance as soloist with the Hull Philharmonic Orchestra, and the recorded premiere of works by the Hull-born composer Ethel Leginska, alongside baritone Lee Tsang, featured on BBC Radio 3.
Elgar Sonata for Violin and Piano in E minor, Op. 82
Elgar Serenade for Strings, Op. 20 (arranged for piano duet by the composer)
Elgar La capricieuse
Elgar Salut d'amour
Thursday 20 August 2026, 1pm
Lunchtime Concert: Arie Dakesian (classical guitar)
Born in Lebanon to an Armenian family, Arie Dakesian grew up performing a wide variety of classical repertoire as well as much Armenian and Eastern folk music.
In 2020 Arie began studying at the Royal College of Music in London, supported by the Julian Bream Trust. Arie is also a grant holder of the Royal Philharmonic Society, the International Guitar Foundation, the Kathleen Trust and the Wolfson Foundation. He has worked with leading classical guitarists such as Xuefei Yang, Laura Snowden and Sean Shibe and performed at venues including the Royal Albert Hall, Kings Place and Wigmore Hall.
Astor Piazzolla Four Seasons of Buenos Aires
Arie Dakesian Mediterrations
Francisco Tarrega Variaciones sobre “El Carnaval de Venecia” de Paganini
Emilio Pujol Tonadilla y Guajira
Thursday 17 September 2026, 1pm
Lunchtime Concert: The Bubblyjock Collective – Rosie Lavery (mezzo soprano), Neil Sutcliffe (accordion) & Anna Michels (piano)
A magical combination of instruments and voice, and a fascinating journey through Scottish music and culture...
The Bubblyjock Collective are an exciting new ensemble which champions the richness of classical and contemporary music written in Scotland, with a particular focus on music relating to Scottish place, history and culture. All three members of the ensemble are graduates of the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland.
The group's current project, QUINES (a Scots word meaning 'young women') celebrates music by Scottish female composers. At the heart of the project is a brilliant new song cycle which sets texts from Scottish writer Gerda Stevenson's celebrated poetry collection Quines. The composer, Lisa Robertson, hails from the West Highlands of Scotland – a rising star in the classical world, her music has been performed by the Royal Scottish National Orchestra and featured on BBC Radio 3.
Lisa Robertson Quines
Works by Helen Hopekirk, Isobel Dunlop, Marie Dare and Claire Liddell
Saturday 10 October 2026, 3pm
Gala Afternoon Concert: The Brodsky Quartet (string quartet)
"They are one of a handful of string quartets that have come to represent an elite in redefining the nature and function of a string quartet ensemble." – The Scottish Herald
"…the players gave unstintingly of their passion and energies, playing with a spirit so transformational you felt they were actually improving the world." – The Strad
Since its formation in 1972 the Brodsky Quartet has performed over 3000 concerts on the major stages of the world and released more than 60 recordings. A natural curiosity and insatiable desire to explore has propelled the group in many artistic directions and continues to ensure them not only a place at the very forefront of the international chamber music scene but also a rich and varied musical existence. Their energy and craftsmanship have attracted numerous awards and accolades worldwide.
Karen Tanaka At the grave of Beethoven
Beethoven String Quartet in D major, Op. 18 No. 3
Interval
Dvořák String Quartet No. 12 in F major, Op. 96 "American"
Thursday 22 October 2026, 1pm
Lunchtime Concert: Daniel Lebhardt (piano)
"Power, poetry and formidable technique" – The New York Times
Award-winning Hungarian pianist Daniel Lebhardt performs across the world. He has recently released a Schubert album on NAXOS and recorded music by Bartók for Decca.
Daniel recently performed Liszt’s Totentanz with Konzerthausorchester Berlin and Mozart's Concerto in C K.467 at the Royal Festival Hall with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. He has also performed Beethoven with the Hallé Orchestra, Rachmaninov's Third Piano Concerto with the National Philharmonic of Ukraine, and debuted at Barbican Hall and Birmingham Symphony Hall as soloist.
Tchaikovsky Autumn Song - October (from The Seasons)
Beethoven Sonata No. 17 in D minor "Tempest"
Liszt Nuages gris
Liszt Two Legends
Saturday 19 November 2026, 1pm
Lunchtime Concert: Sarah Williamson (clarinet) & Sam Haywood (piano)
"A superb player" – The Independent on Sarah Williamson
"Passionate flair and sparkling clarity" – New York Times on Sam Haywood
Sarah Williamson is renowned as a virtuoso clarinettist, achieving international fame after her success in the BBC Young Musician Competition 2002, first as Woodwind Division winner, then as Concerto Finalist. Sarah has performed at New York's Carnegie Hall, the Royal Albert Hall, Wigmore Hall, the Berlin Concerthaus and NHK Hall, Japan. As well as frequent recital appearances, she has performed and toured extensively with orchestras including the Academy of St Martin-in-the-Fields, the BBC Concert Orchestra and the Royal Philharmonic.
Sam Haywood has performed in many of the world’s major concert halls, including Carnegie Hall, the Kennedy Center, the Tonhalle in Zürich. Private audiences have included Princess Diana, David Attenborough and the then Vice-Presidents Biden and Xi. Sam embraces a wide spectrum of the piano repertoire and is equally at home as soloist and chamber musician. His highly acclaimed duo with violinist Joshua Bell toured all over the world for over a decade and he has also performed on many occasions with cellist Steven Isserlis.
Finzi Five Bagatelles
Weber Grand Duo Concertante
Brahms Sonata in F minor for Clarinet & Piano, Op. 120 No. 1
Gershwin I Got Rhythm