Wharfedale Chamber Ensemble set for Burley Summer Festival return with local soloist
Local violinist Rachel Dow joins the Wharfedale Chamber Ensemble for a flagship classical showcase at the Burley Summer Festival this August
Following a triumphant, capacity-crowd appearance in 2024, the Wharfedale Chamber Ensemble is heading back to the Burley Summer Festival next month for a showcase performance celebrating both regional classical talent and beloved string repertoire.
Taking place at Burley Methodist Church, the concert stands as one of the flagship musical highlights of this year’s festival calendar.
The ensemble will perform under the direction of conductor John Lyon, a familiar and influential fixture across West Yorkshire’s classical music landscape who regularly takes the podium for both the Leeds Symphony Orchestra and the West Yorkshire Symphony Orchestra.
The evening’s central spotlight falls on young violinist Rachel Dow, a resident of Burley in Wharfedale and student at Ilkley Grammar School.
Taking on the role of guest soloist, Dow will perform Haydn’s Violin Concerto in G Major. This lively, elegant work offers the promising young musician a significant platform to showcase her technical precision and musicality before a hometown crowd.
Beyond the Haydn centrepiece, Lyon has assembled a popular, highly accessible programme designed to highlight the rich, warm acoustics of the Methodist Church venue.
The repertoire features Frank Bridge’s expressive Suite for String Orchestra, alongside the dramatic intensity of Mendelssohn’s early Symphony No. 10 in B minor.
Bringing a touch of quintessentially British warmth to the evening, the orchestra will also tackle Sir Edward Elgar’s cherished companion pieces, Chanson de Matin and Chanson de Nuit.
Closing out the performance is Edvard Grieg’s iconic Holberg Suite - a staple of the string orchestra canon renowned for its spirited, baroque-inspired dance movements and soaring lyricism.
When are the Wharfedale Chamber Ensemble performing at Burley Methodist Church?
The Wharfedale Chamber Ensemble will be performing at Burley Methodist Church on August 22 7.30pm.
Tickets are priced at £16 in advance online, £17 on the door, and £6 for under-19s.
Online booking and further event details are available via the official festival website.