Classical Music on the Edge of England

Ever since our first concert in the mid 1990s, Concerts for Craswall has been an important cornerstone of this rural area of south west Herefordshire.  Formed with the intention of bringing live chamber and choral music to this distant area of England, the concerts have brought great joy to local residents and visitors alike, as well as raising valuable funds to help preserve the local Grade II* listed church of St Mary’s.

History

A photo of Concerts for Craswall Founder Sue NorringtonConcerts for Craswall began in the 1990s when the threat of closure to the local church of St Mary’s, Craswall led classical music enthusiast Sue Norrington to organise a concert, raising funds to keep this important community building open. The hugely successful initial performance proved to be the start of a series of annual concerts.

Granted charitable status in 2002, Concerts for Craswall has two objects.  The primary object is to foster the appreciation, understanding and enjoyment of classical music to as wide as possible a cross-section of this rural community through live performances.  It is through doing this that we can fulfil what we see as an important secondary object of helping with the preservation of our local church of St Mary’s, Craswall.

Run by a small group of trustees, ably supported by an ecclectic group of local volunteer helpers, our success is such that we have increased our performances to four concerts each year. These run from March to October and feature many leading British and International soloists and ensembles, as well as outstanding young musicians just starting out on their professional careers.

A photo of classcal guitarist Hope Cramsie performing for at St Mary's Church, Craswall in August 2022

Like many organisations, Concerts for Craswall has expanded our work. We now undertake schools outreach concerts and have further plans to nurture the classical music audiences of the future. In 2021, and again in 2024, the trustees granted a small bursary to local classical guitar student Hope Cramsie enabling her to continue her Masters studies at the acclaimed Koninklijk Conservatorium Brussels.

Over 30 years later, Concerts for Craswall trustees are proud to continue the tradition of promoting exciting high class chamber music. Our concerts have brought a greater understanding and appreciation of music to this rural area of The Marches, and have substantially contributed to ensuring that our local church St Mary’s has remained open, continuing to welcome people of all walks.

Our Concerts

Guitarist Antigoni Goni and cellist Amy Norrington

Open to everyone, today our annual series promotes four concerts. Running from March to October, each performance is held in a local venue of historic note.

Over the years, Concerts for Craswall has played host to many distinguished British and International chamber musicians. Some as they were starting out on their careers, others at the height of their fame. Whilst grounded in the tradition of the string quartet, each season brings a varied programme of music for small ensemble or soloist, with or without piano, and voice.

Programmes range from the classic masters such as Beethoven, Brahms, Haydn and Mozart to the modern – Debussy, Janáček, and Ravel – and the contemporary Bogdan Bogdanovic, Rebecca Clarke, and David Maslanka. Recent performers include Alasdair Beatson, David Cohen, Antigoni Goni and Amy Norrington, Matthew Hunt, Wu Qian, Timothy Ridout, Roman and Milena Simovic, The Eusebius Quartet, The Laefer Quartet, The Pelleas Ensemble and The Marmen Quartet.

Another regular performer over the years has been one of the UK’s leading chamber choirs – The Elysian Singers. Under musical director Sam Laughton, this hghly attractive and hugely enjoyable choir are accompanied by some of the UK’s leading amateur orchestral musicians, many of whom have performed for Concerts for Craswall since the very beginning.RCM Duo Flutes and Frets

Whereas established performers form the mainstay of our concerts, we make a point of providing a platform for talented young musicians too, offering them an opportunity to demonstrate their musicianship and gain valuable performance experience in a welcoming environment.  Held in the beautiful Grade II* listed St Mary’s church, Craswall our audiences derive great pleasure from these performances and the concerts are invariably quick to sell-out.

Recent performers include Hope Cramsie, Connaught Brass, Flutes and Frets Duo, Ross Morris and The Hexad Singers.

For details of upcoming concerts, click here

 

St Mary’s Church, Craswall

In addition to the music, Concerts for Craswall donates to maintain, enhance and promote the culture and heritage of the Craswall community, and most particularly our local Grade II* listed church, St Mary’s.

While our primary object is to provide high-quality music in a part of the country that would otherwise be something of an artistic desert, it is through doing this that we can fulfil what we see as an important secondary charitable object of preserving the Church in our community.

Since 1995 Concerts for Craswall has raised substantial sums of money to keep this beautiful church open.  Alone since being granted charitable status in 2002, Concerts for Craswall has donated over £41,000 towards the maintenance and support of St Mary’s.

To learn more about Concerts for Craswall’s support for St Mary’s and the wider Craswall community, click here

 

How you can help us maintain the culture and heritage of this rural community

To help keep live performances of classical music alive locally, and in turn enable us to help maintain and support St Mary’s church and the wider Craswall community, you can support us in a number of ways: