ABOUT US
Chipping Campden Music Festival was founded in 2002 by Charlie Bennett. Since that time it has grown into one of the UK’s most prestigious festivals featuring some of the world’s most acclaimed musicians, who all love performing in the wonderful setting of St James’ church, described by Alfred Brendel as “One of the finest acoustics I encountered in my 60 year career”
Artistic Director, Thomas Hull and Co-Director, Jessica May, who stepped into Charlie's shoes in 2024, both share Charlie’s devotion to excellence and his philosophy that 'The music is paramount'.
Thomas Hull, Artistic Director
"Charlie’s dedication to musical excellence has fuelled the success of the Chipping Campden Music Festival and established itself in the eyes of both concert goers and performers as one of the loveliest in the British summer musical calendar."
Jessica May, Co Director
Since its inception in 2002, the Chipping Campden Music Festival has grown in stature every year and is now one of the most exciting events in the UK’s musical calendar. As in previous years 2026 sees a world class line up of musicians arriving in this most beautiful of Cotswold towns to perform a wonderful range of music in the magnificent setting and superb acoustic of St James’ Church.
As always the Chipping Campden Festival Academy Orchestra will be in residence for the second week and will give us three thrilling concerts under the baton of Thomas Hull. This orchestra nurtures talented musicians at the outset of their careers and epitomises the values that have always been promoted by the festival. Regulars know how special this Festival is and those visiting for the first time are in for a very exciting experience.
We all look forward to welcoming you here next May.
Paul Lewis, Festival President
As the Festival’s Education Patron, I know the importance that Campden Music Festival attaches to training the musicians of the future and our fundamental belief that ALL children should have access to music regardless of background or family income.
The generosity of Roger and Jean Grenville Jones has enabled the Festival to launch a wide reaching and practical education programme that aims to improve the musical environment for local children and develop musicians of the future. So far, over 750 children have
benefitted from their donation, which has been spent on free instrument lessons and scholarships for over 100 children, as well as inspiring workshop performances of must-hear classics and ambitious side by side playing opportunities for young orchestral players. I am
especially thrilled that the 2025 commission was offered to the local young composer, Mark Avery, for the final concert of the 2025 Festival.
This Education programme should be part of our community for years to come. We are already seeing young local musical talent starting to come through but they will need money and time to nurture and develop. I hope that the Grenville-Jones’ generosity will inspire others to donate and accelerate the musical momentum that has already begun.
Julian Lloyd Webber, Patron of Education
HOW TO BUILD AN ORCHESTRA
The trailer for a documentary on how The Festival Academy Orchestra comes together and performs each year. The full version of this video can be viewed on our Education and Orchestra page.
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The Chipping Campden Music Festival brings worldclass artists – and also young musicians starting their professional journeys – to a wonderful venue. After a long lifetime as a performer, having the chance to be part of the audience and to hear concerts of outstanding quality in such a setting is the purest joy.
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I only discovered the joys of Chipping Campden late in my performing career but still relished the opportunity to play in the glorious acoustics of St James’ Church. Since retiring from the concert platform I have returned a number of times to lecture at the music festival and can’t think of many places that rival this most picturesque Cotswold town in late spring.
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The Festival is in my view, and that of all musicians I know, one of the loveliest in the British summer musical calendar. The audience is knowledgeable, attentive and extremely warm and there is always a sense of occasion. A beautiful piano completes a nigh perfect venue , the whole fuelled by the passionate enthusiasm of Charlie Bennett, whose devotion to quality at all costs is only too rare, and to be treasured.
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The Chipping Campden Music Festival is a jewel in the crown of British music making. Without compromising on either the choice of musicians or their programmes, Charlie Bennett has created one of the ‘hottest tickets’ in classical music.
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