Festival
“A wonderful music festival..” Classic FM
Music@Malling brings outstanding music to people’s doorsteps in concerts and outreach – live and online – from historic venues in and around West Malling, Kent. Music@Malling has a festival each September featuring the music of contemporary composers alongside classical music and jazz. Its dynamic and exhilarating programmes inspire and engage audiences from the local area, region and beyond, bringing new people into an area with a rich heritage and outstanding natural environment.
Founded in 2011, Music@Malling has engaged thousands of young people from across Kent in creative activities, providing direct access to leading arts practitioners and the opportunity to perform alongside outstanding professionals. Music@Malling collaborates with leading organisations in its outreach and works in partnership with Sound and Music, The National Trust and The Royal Academy of Music. Music@Malling has built its audiences from scratch and has a growing regional and national profile. Outreach runs throughout the year and is differentiated. Project include Let’s Get Creative – music workshops and concerts for pre-schoolers and their parents/carers; Revolting Rhymes – workshops and concerts in 24 primary schools; The Music@Malling Scratch Orchestra – monthly sessions for children, young people and families to create and perform music together; Side-by-Side with outstanding professional ensembles and Go Compose for young music creators.
Since 2011, Music@Malling has featured the music of contemporary composers. These have included Mark-Anthony Turnage CBE, Judith Bingham OBE, Huw Watkins, Judith Weir CBE, Brian Elias, Mark Simpson, Arvo Part, HK Gruber, David Horne, Huw Watkins, Eleanor Alberga OBE, Alexander Goehr, Paul Patterson, Ilan Eshkeri, Danny Elfman and Barrington Pheloung.
Music@Malling artists include James Pearson, Lizzie Ball, Fretwork, The Marian Consort, Tippett Quartet, Sacconi Quartet, Chamber Domaine, Charles Dance OBE, Claire Martin OBE, Matt Ford, Tenebrae, Stile Antico, Nicky Spence, Jeree Suh, Sholto Kynoch, Alessandro Fischer, Craig Ogden, Nick Daniel OBE, Tom Bowes, Richard Harwood, Huw Webb, Steven Devine, Classical Kicks, Callum Au, David Juritz, Milos Milivojevic, Morgan Szymanski, Daniel Grimwood, Mark Padmore CBE, Huw Watkins, Mark Simpson, Matthew Sharp and many others.
In 2020, Music@Malling was held online for the first time and reached a global audience with its concerts and outreach. In 2023, Brian Elias, Eleanor Alberga OBE, Judith Weir CBE, Deborah Pritchard and Gavin Bryars will be featured composers.
In 2022, Music@Malling commissioned six new works by Deborah Pritchard, Stevie Wishart, Brain Elias, Daniel Kidane, Joe Phibbs and Michael Price to be performed alongside the Brandenburg Concertos. These were premiered by Chamber Domaine in the iconic setting of Malling Abbey to outstanding critical acclaim.
Music@Malling was featured in the round up of top classical events of 2022 in The Guardian and The Artsdesk.
In 2023, projects included Earth, Water, Air and Fire – a series of immersive concerts featuring new music by Deborah Pritchard with art by Maggi Hambling CBE and Marc Chagall.
Highlights for 2024 include Bach + Contemporary in April; a series of events exploring the music of Arnold Schoenberg and new music by Gavin Bryars, Deborah Pritchard, George Benjamin, John Woolrich and Brian Elias.
Music@Malling is supported by Arts Council England, RVW Foundation, Henry Smith Charity, Cobtree Charitable Trust, Ambache Trust, Scops Foundation, Cole Charity Trust, Tory Foundation, Malling Memorial Trust, Kent Community Foundation, Whitehead Monckton Foundation, Kent Arts Development Fund, Wavendon Foundation and The Godinton Trust.