Brinkburn Music Festival

classical music at

Brinkburn Priory Northumberland

The Festival

Your festival experience

Brinkburn Music festival takes place over two weekends in July at Brinkburn Priory in the heart of Northumberland. The priory, nestling in quiet solitude in a bend of the meandering river Coquet, is a 12th century Augustine priory which has been beautifully restored after falling into 'ruinous decay' several hundred years ago.

For the two weekends of the festival the priory resounds with great classical music. The empty priory is transformed for the event: with carpeting to protect the floor; staging so you can see the action; and upholstered seating brought in for the occasion.

We are a relaxed festival and the dress code is very informal (unless you're a musician). High heels are out and Barbours (they're made here after all!) and warm jumpers outnumber little black dresses and pashminas. It has been known to rain so don't be surprised to see umbrellas and wellies around. It can be cold too after the sun disappears behind the trees, so make sure you have something warm to put around your shoulders.

There is wheelchair access. The site creates a few difficulties but we do what we can to overcome them. Look here for more information.

The music

The musical programme can be summed up as 'classical' but varies widely under that umbrella, extending from early music to contempory, with musicians ranging from soloists to chamber orchestras. The 2010 programme includes Programme includes Mark Padmore, Carducci Quartet, Nicholas Daniel, Gabrieli Consort, Gabrieli Playes, Pieter Wispelwey, Mahan Esfahani .

Between performances

You can bring your own picnic to enjoy in the grounds or a meal in the marquee, where sandwiches, cakes, tea, coffee, and soft drinks are also available. A bar selling a variety of wines, Pimms, and champagne will be available.

If you want to sit out on the grass a rug would be an asset - we do make sure that there are extra chairs but can't guarantee there will be enough to go round. Do bring an umbrella if it looks like rain. In between the performances the priory may be in use for rehearsals and will be closed.

Parking

There is plenty of parking - on grass - and our stewards will be on hand to direct you to your space. The pleasant tree lined walk from the car park down the lane to the priory takes around ten minutes - do allow plenty of time to enjoy the stroll.

The lane is unmetalled and can be uneven in places: it is not a difficult walk but high heels are not recommended. If it is raining there may be wet or muddy patches, which can be avoided with care. Some of our regular festival-goers bring wellies just in case, with shoes to change into after the walk down.

Vehicles can only be driven down to the priory by prior agreement: space at the priory is extremely limited and is reserved for disabled drivers and a small number of essential staff or service vehicles. If you require access because of a disability please look here for further information.

The parking stewards are in attendance throughout the festival but please do not leave valuables in the car as we cannot guarantee their safety.

Young children

We find that the music is best enjoyed by children over around eight years old - unless the concert is aimed at a family audience, when everyone will appreciate and enjoy the boisterous contributions of the younger members of the audience to the musical entertainment!

During family concerts - which will be advertised as such - baby changing facilities will be available.

Pets

Pets are best left at home: they shouldn't be left in the car and we do not have the facilities for them at the priory.

Assistance dogs are, of course, welcome.

The Festival - beginnings

Paul McCreesh, the festival's artistsic director, stumbled across secluded Brinkburn Priory while on honeymoon in 1982 with his wife, the soprano Susan Hemington Jones. Its magical setting on the banks of the river and its superb acoustics impressed Paul enough to want to use it as the venue for the Gabrieli Consort's first recording - A Venetian Coronation. The recording won several awards and, along with the closely following Venetian Vespers, was a huge success for Paul and the Gabrielis.

That success stimulated interest in using the priory for music events and the first Brinkburn Summer Music Festival took place in 1994 over one weekend at the beginning of July. The weather was magnificent, and it was a sell-out.

The festival has gone from strength to strength and has also extended its remit to encompas a wide educational programme aimed at musicians of all ages from across the region.

Finance

Events like this are not possible without the support of so many individuals, local trusts and foundations, English Heritage (who manage Brinkburn Priory) and of our principal donor, the Northern Rock Foundation.

Most people are surprised to learn how little public money is available to support Brinkburn Music. Equally surprising is the relatively small proportion of festival income that comes from ticket sales: a pattern that is common to music festivals nationwide. In 2007only 25% of our expenditure was covered by ticket sales.

Our vibrant local support is therefore the lifeblood of every Brinkburn MusicFestival and provides us with by far our best form of financial security.

If you would like to help us by becoming a donor please contact us.

Find out about the benefits of being a donor here.

back to top of page