Latest news from the Festival

The SouthDowns Camerata with dancers from Petersfield Academy of Dance

Petersfield Musical Festival17-25 March 2023 700 performers2,000 audience members10 days of concerts1 brass band5 choirs4 orchestras11 schools9 conductors2 chamber groups9 guest soloists Download the latest newsletter with reviews and articles about all the concerts.

The Festival of Young Composers competition 2023-24 is open for entries

The Festival of Young Composers is a celebration of the creative work of young musicians, and a competition for cash prizes to support their musical development. Three age groups: 14 and under, 17 and under, and 19 and under. Enter with live or digital performance in any musical style. Live performance limit: up to 12 … Read more

Our festival is over! Some statistics

700 performers and 2,000 people attended our events over 10 days. 1 brass band, 4 local choirs, 4 orchestras, 9 conductors, 2 chamber groups, 9 professional instrumental and vocal soloists, choirs from 11 schools and instrumental groups from local schools. 2 choral and orchestral concerts, a concert with Liss Band and the Petersfield Community choir, … Read more

Alexander Bower-Brown, baritone – a profile

Alexander will be singing the role of Zebul in Handel’s oratorio Jephtha at this year’s Festival alongside soloists from London’s top conservatoires and backed by local choral societies. The concert, conducted by Paul Spicer and accompanied by Southern Pro Musica, takes place on 18th March at 7.30pm. What are you looking most forward to when … Read more

Magnus Walker, tenor – a profile

Magnus will be singing the role of Jephtha in Handel’s oratorio Jephtha at this year’s Festival alongside soloists from London’s top conservatoires and backed by local choral societies. The concert, conducted by Paul Spicer and accompanied by Southern Pro Musica, takes place on 18th March at 7.30pm. What are you looking most forward to when … Read more

Clara Orif, soprano – a profile

Clara will be singing the role of Iphis in Handel’s oratorio Jephtha at this year’s Festival alongside soloists from London’s top conservatoires and backed by local choral societies. The concert, conducted by Paul Spicer and accompanied by Southern Pro Musica, takes place on 18th March at 7.30pm in Petersfield Festival Hall. What are you looking … Read more

Ed Ballard, baritone – a profile

Ed will be singing in Stanford’s Songs of the Fleet and Puccini’s Messa di Gloria at this year’s Festival, backed by local choral societies. Paul Spicer and Stephen Scotchmer will conduct the singers alongside the Basingstoke Symphony Orchestra on 25th March at 7.30pm at Petersfield Festival Hall. What are you looking most forward to when … Read more

Handel’s last oratorio and Puccini in his teens

Festival conductor Paul Spicer looks forward to leading the choirs and orchestras at the Saturday choral concerts. This year’s festival presents two really varied and exciting choral concerts for us all to enjoy. I have long been a fan of Handel’s ‘Sacred Dramas’ which, for me, underline further the question of why the Messiah is … Read more

Read our latest newsletter

Click here to download/read our newsletter. Read about what you may expect from us this year, as well as background articles. Click here to subscribe and to view past issues.

Samuel Stopford, tenor – a profile

Samuel will be singing in Stanford’s Songs of the Fleet and Puccini’s Messa di Gloria at this year’s Festival, backed by local choral societies. Paul Spicer will conduct the singers alongside the Basingstoke Symphony Orchestra on 25th March at 7.30pm at Petersfield Festival Hall. What are you looking most forward to when performing at the Petersfield Musical Festival this … Read more