Music Diary
TRINITY 2026
Choral Evensong in Westminster Abbey
Thursday 23 April, 5pm
Sherborne Boys’ Chamber Choir and Sherborne Girls’ Madrigal Society combine to sing Choral Evensong in Westminster Abbey. The Joint Schools’ Choir will be singing music by Dyson, Elgar and Radcliffe as they contribute to the Abbey’s daily worship – a tradition stretching back over one thousand years.
Friday 24 April
PIANISTS, ORGANISTS AND SINGERS
1.45pm | Cheap Street Church, Sherborne
Come along to the Sherborne Boys’ first Lunchtime Recital of the new term to hear a varied programme.
FREE ADMISSION, ALL WELCOME
Friday 24 April
LUNCHTIME CONCERT
1.45pm | The Gransden Hall, Sherborne Girls
The first lunchtime concert of the new term, with performances from a variety of Sherborne Girls musicians with a broad range of repertoire.
FREE ADMISSION ALL WELCOME
BOOKING ADVISED
Saturday 25 April
JOINT SCHOOLS’ COURTSFEST
8pm | BSR, Sherborne Boys
Pupil rock bands and DJs from Sherborne Boys and Sherborne Girls perform to the Sixth Forms of both schools in the BSR, with a live link to a screen in the Courts, whilst enjoying an evening of street food.
NOT OPEN TO THE PUBLIC
Tuesday 28 April
LUNCHTIME CONCERT
1.45pm | Cheap Street Church, Sherborne
The first lunchtime concert of the term held in Cheap Street Church, with talented musicians from Sherborne Girls.
FREE ADMISSION
ALL WELCOME
BOOKING ADVISED
Friday 1 May
MUSIC
SCHOLARS’ CONCERT
7.30pm | The Gransden Hall, Sherborne Girls
This concert will feature a selection of our talented Music Scholars, performing varied repertoire to their peers, family and friends
FREE ADMISSION
ALL WELCOME
BOOKING ADVISED
For more information on events, tickets or any other general enquiries please get in touch hello@sherborneabbeyfestival.org
Friday 1 May
SHERBORNE BOYS CHAMBER MUSIC ENSEMBLES
1.30pm | Sherborne Abbey
Musicians from Sherborne Boys will perform a variety of chamber ensembles and solos.
FREE ADMISSION, ALL WELCOME
Friday 1 May
SHERBORNE BOYS SWING BAND
5pm | BSR, Sherborne Boys
The Swing Band’s ever popular annual concert returns for 2026! Prepare for nostalgic foot-tapping to Frank Sinatra, Chick Corea, Duke Ellington and more. Dan Marks – director.
FREE ADMISSION, ALL WELCOME
Saturday 2 May
SHERBORNE BOYS CHAMBER CHOIR/BARBERSHOP
11.00am | Sherborne Abbey
The Chamber Choir and Close Harmony group perform music by Anton Bruckner, Edward Grieg, Flanders & Swann, Tom Lehrer and more. Alexander Eadon – director
FREE ADMISSION, ALL WELCOME
Saturday 2 May
RUTH ROGERS AND SIMON CALLAGHAN
3.30pm | The Gransden Hall, Sherborne Girls
Ruth Rogers and Simon Callaghan present an enchanting selection of sonatas for violin and piano, from Beethoven’s first essay in the genre through Fauré’s exquisite Romanticism, to Elgar’s deeply moving late masterpieces. The programme also features Fauré’s exquisite song Les Berceaux, transcribed for violin and piano, and concludes with Saint-Saëns’ dazzling showpiece Introduction and Rondo Capriccioso.
Tickets: £20 | Under 18s £10
Sunday 3 May
SENSE AND MUSICALITY
3.30pm | The Gransden Hall, Sherborne Girls
West-country based voice and piano duo
Penelope Appleyard and Jonathan Delbridge curate and perform creative and entertaining recital programmes celebrating domestic music of the Regency period. Frequently to be found in period costume, chauffeuring 209-year-old Lady Catherine (a Broadwood square piano) around the UK in a Skoda estate, Penelope and Jonathan began performing together in the year of the Jane Austen’s 250th anniversary. The duo have already given sold-out performances at Newbury Spring Festival and Jane Austen’s House, as well as many other series throughout the UK. The recital includes Ode to Pity – a rare musical setting of one of Austen’s poems commissioned especially for this programme.
Tickets: £20 | Under 18s £10
Violin Ruth Rogers Piano Simon Callaghan
Soprano: Penelope Appleyard Piano: Jonathan Delbridge
Tuesday 5 May
SHERBORNE GIRLS
MADRIGAL SOCIETY
1.30pm | Sherborne Abbey
Sherborne Girls Madrigal Society is the school’s premier choir, founded 58 years ago by Augusta Miller, former Director of Music. The ensemble gives regular concerts in the region in support of a wide range of charities, as well as performing
Evensong services at Winchester, Salisbury and Exeter, among others, and working with adult choirs such as Bournemouth Sinfonietta Choir and Sherborne Festival Chorus.
Mark Cracknell – director
FREE ADMISSION, ALL WELCOME
BOOKING ADVISED
Tuesday 5 May
SHERBORNE GIRLS
CHAMBER ENSEMBLES
4.30pm | The Gransden Hall, Sherborne Girls
Sherborne Girls’ beautiful concert hall is the perfect place to experience the school’s exceptional young musicians performing in a range of chamber music genres.
Mark Cracknell – director
FREE ADMISSION, ALL WELCOME
BOOKING ADVISED
SHERBORNE SCHOOLS GROUP
Friday 8 May
LUNCHTIME CONCERT
1.45pm | The Gransden Hall, Sherborne Girls
Sherborne Girls performances from a variety of musicians with a broad range of repertoire.
FREE ADMISSION, ALL WELCOME
Friday 8 May
STRINGS
1.45pm | Cheap Street Church, Sherborne
Strings players will delight the audience with repertoire ranging from the Baroque to the present day.
FREE ADMISSION, ALL WELCOME
Saturday 9 May
OS DAY
12 noon | The Upper, Sherborne Boys
Swing Band traditionals and favourites to the sound of bat and ball.
NOT OPEN TO THE PUBLIC
Tuesday 12 May
JOINT SCHOOLS’ PREP SCHOOLS’ CHORAL DAY
10am
The Gransden Hall, Sherborne Girls | The Music School, Sherborne Boys
Prep school pupils from across the South of England attend fun workshops and rehearsals at Sherborne Boys and Sherborne Girls, culminating in a concert in the Gransden Hall in Sherborne Girls’ Merritt Centre.
NOT OPEN TO THE PUBLIC
SHERBORNE
Thursday 14 May
IAN LIU IN CONCERT
7pm | St Andrew’s Church, Trent, Dorset, DT9 4SL with drinks in the Rectory Garden from 6.00pm
Don’t miss this opportunity to hear the fantastic talent of Lower Sixth pianist and Music Scholar Ian Liu ATCL LTCL as he performs in his very own concert, raising funds for St Andrew’s Church, Trent.
Tickets £15 - Contact Alistair Morgan on 01935 851105 or email alistairmorgan51@gmail.com
Friday 15 May
LUNCHTIME CONCERT
1.45pm | The Gransden Hall, Sherborne Girls
A chance to hear talented young musicians from Sherborne Girls perform a wide range of solo and chamber music in a relaxed lunchtime concert setting.
FREE ADMISSION ALL WELCOME
BOOKING ADVISED
Friday 15 May
WOODWIND AND BRASS
1.45pm | Cheap Street Church, Sherborne
Come along to hear some of Sherborne Boys finest woodwind and brass musicians as they perform in their own Lunchtime Recital.
FREE ADMISSION, ALL WELCOME
Tuesday 19 May
LUNCHTIME CONCERT
1.45pm | Cheap Street Church, Sherborne
The Cheap Street Church lunchtime concerts continue, with more talented musicians from Sherborne Girls performing a wide range of repertoire.
FREE ADMISSION
ALL WELCOME
BOOKING ADVISED
Wednesday 20 May
UNPLUGGED
8pm | Queenies, Sherborne Girls
This session of Unplugged provides a platform for pupils to perform to their peers.
NOT OPEN TO THE PUBLIC
Friday 22 May
INSTRUMENTAL AND VOCAL SOLOISTS
1.45pm | Cheap Street Church, Sherborne
Come to hear a selection of Sherborne Boys pupil soloists and instrumentalists as they perform in their own Lunchtime Recital.
FREE ADMISSION, ALL WELCOME
Friday 5 June
THIRD FORM CONCERT
1.45pm | Cheap Street Church, Sherborne
Join us to hear younger musicians from Sherborne Boys as they shine in their own Lunchtime Recital.
FREE ADMISSION ALL WELCOME
Monday 8 and Tuesday 9 June
FOURTH FORM SCHOLARS TRIP TO LONDON
Fourth Form Music Scholars will see a show in the West End as part of an exciting musicfocused trip to London.
Tuesday 9 June
LUNCHTIME CONCERT
1.45pm | Cheap Street Church, Sherborne
The last lunchtime concert of the term held in Cheap Street Church, with talented musicians from Sherborne Girls.
FREE ADMISSION ALL WELCOME
BOOKING ADVISED
Friday 12 June
LUNCHTIME CONCERT
1.45pm | The Gransden Hall, Sherborne Girls
Performances continue from a variety of Sherborne Girls musicians with a broad range of repertoire.
FREE ADMISSION
ALL WELCOME
BOOKING ADVISED
Friday 12 June
THE CHORAL SCHOLARS
1.45pm | Cheap Street Church, Sherborne
Don’t miss the final Sherborne Boys’ Lunchtime Recital of the academic year as our gap-year Organ and Choral Scholars perform in their own concert before they leave Sherborne to begin their university careers.
FREE ADMISSION, ALL WELCOME
Friday 19 June
LUNCHTIME CONCERT
1.45pm | The Gransden Hall, Sherborne Girls
The final performances for the term from a variety of musicians with a wide range of vocal and instrumental repertoire.
FREE ADMISSION
ALL WELCOME
BOOKING ADVISED
Thursday 19 June
SHERBORNE GIRLS ABRSM EXAM DAY
NOT OPEN TO THE PUBLIC
Friday 19 June
SONGWRITERS’ SHOWCASE
7.30pm
The Gransden Hall, Sherborne Girls Pupils who have been working on their own compositions have the opportunity to perform their works in concert.
FREE ADMISSION ALL WELCOME
BOOKING ADVISED
Monday 22 June
SHERBORNE BOYS ABRSM EXAM DAY NOT OPEN TO THE PUBLIC
Tuesday 23 June
TRINITY COLLEGE EXAM DAY
NOT OPEN TO THE PUBLIC
Sunday 21 June
PATRICK SHELLEY MUSIC COMPETITION FOR ADVANCED INSTRUMENTALISTS AND SINGERS
10.30am | Tindall Recital Hall, Sherborne Boys
Patrick Shelley was Director of Music at Sherborne Boys from 1981, having taught woodwind here since 1966. This competition, for the School’s advanced instrumentalists and singers, is dedicated to Patrick Shelley’s memory and has taken place annually since 2007.
Adjudicator: Susie Stranders (Conductor and Collaborative Pianist)
FREE ADMISSION, ALL WELCOME
BOOKING ADVISED
To book scan the QR code
Sunday 21 June
EARLY EVENING JAZZ
5.45pm
Music School Amphitheatre, Sherborne Boys
Join us for an evening of music from the Swing Band and Jazz Ensemble in an open-air concert outside the Music School.
BOOKING ESSENTIAL
Tickets £22.50 to include hot food and a FREE drink
To book scan the QR code
Sunday 21 June
CONCERTO AND COMMEMORATION CONCERT
7pm | The Gransden Hall, Sherborne Girls
Showcasing the breadth of music at Sherborne girls, including solo concertos performed with a professional orchestra.
FREE ADMISSION
ALL WELCOME
BOOKING ADVISED
Tuesday 23 June
PERFORMING ARTS DINNER
7pm | The Gransden Hall, Sherborne Girls
An occasion for invited Music and Drama pupils to be recognised for their performances throughout the year.
NOT OPEN TO THE PUBLIC
Wednesday 24 June
BATTLE OF THE ORGANS FEATURING THE SHERBORNE BOYS CHAMBER CHOIR
7.30pm | Sherborne Boys Chapel
The Chamber Choir is joined by pupil organists in a ‘Battle of the Organs’ featuring the School’s two instruments.
FREE ADMISSION, ALL WELCOME
Thursday 25 June
LEAVERS’ GALA CONCERT
6.30pm
The Gransden Hall, Sherborne Girls
A farewell concert for musical girls leaving Sherborne Girls to perform one last time to friends and family.
NOT OPEN TO THE PUBLIC
Thursday 25 June
LEAVERS’ CONCERT
7.30pm
Tindall Recital Hall, Sherborne Boys
The Sherborne Boys’ leavers of 2026 present a final evening of wonderful solo and ensemble performances.
FREE ADMISSION, ALL WELCOME BOOKING ADVISED
To book scan the QR code
Thursday 25 June
LEAVERS’ SERVICE
3.30pm | Sherborne Abbey
NOT OPEN TO THE PUBLIC
Friday 26 June
COMMEMORATION SERVICE –SHERBORNE
GIRLS
11am Sherborne Abbey
NOT OPEN TO THE PUBLIC
SHERBORNE SCHOOLS GROUP MUSIC
Friday 26 June
GALA CONCERT
7.30pm | BSR, Sherborne Boys
Concert Orchestra, Wind Band, Chamber Choir, Symphonic Strings, Close Harmony, chamber ensembles.
Alexander Eadon, Clare Jackson, Benjamin Davey, Lucy-Anne Allen, Robert Costin – directors.
FREE ADMISSION, ALL WELCOME
BOOKING ESSENTIAL
To book scan the QR code
Saturday 27 June COMMEMORATION SERVICE
SHERBORNE BOYS
10.30am
Sherborne Abbey
NOT OPEN TO THE PUBLIC
SHERBORNE SCHOOLS GROUP MUSIC
For more information on any of the events in this diary, or to check if there have been any changes to an event before you travel, please contact either:
SHERBORNE BOYS tickets@sherborneboys.group or
SHERBORNE GIRLS events@sherbornegirls.group
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