John Frederick Hudson

What a weekend! 🎉 Honoured to attend the 100th Birthday Dinner of Rhyl Rotary Club as an honorary member, with a brilliant after-dinner talk from my great friend Dr Grahame Davies — fascinating, witty, and hugely entertaining. Then off to London for a whirlwind visit with my great friends Paul, Carol and John, planning what’s shaping up to be an epic event for 2028… 👀 Watch this space — more news very soon!

the 2026 JAM festival programme is now LIVE. medieval churches on the english channel, with a french influence and a scent of jazz infused in classical music. as artistic director, what a privilege to welcome our 2026 artists. festival debuts start with the roaring twenties with alexander armstrong with claire booth and andrew matthews-owen at the piano, the black dyke band, pianist cyrill ibrahim, violinist fenella humphries, ryan corbett leading the composer residency, national theatre live and stunning visual artists. as a performer, i cannot wait to perform mussorgsky’s epic pictures at an exhibition for four hand piano with the brilliant thomas kelly, alongside a newly composed piece of mine. other musical highlights include ravel’s piano concerto in G, debussy’s la mer and paul mealor’s fantasia on a theme of henry purcell. all curated by edward armitage BEM in his second and final year as festival curator. a programme i would urge you to come and hear. be part of the magic! link in bio. #JAMFestival2026 #classicalmusic #alexanderarmstrong #blackdykeband #art

Three composers. Three new works. One week on the Kent coast. We’re thrilled to announce the JAM Composer Residency 2026: a fully-funded residential programme for UK composers writing for accordion with the extraordinary Ryan Corbett, and led by internationally acclaimed composer Paul Mealor LVO. New works. Real collaboration. A world premiere in July and a London performance in November, all professionally recorded and filmed. Applications are open. Link in bio. #ComposerResidency #NewMusic #JAM #Accordion

incredibly honoured that @jamonthemarsh_uk was nominated in the series and events category at this year’s @royalphilsoc awards, held at the @southbankcentre in london. as artistic director of JAM, it was a privilege to be there celebrating so much remarkable music and the many people who make it possible: artists, composers, performers and organisations across the uk. JAM was built on a simple belief: that world-class music belongs in communities far beyond the major cities. each summer on a small stretch of coastline in kent, musicians, composers and audiences come together in medieval churches, proving that when world-class art meets local passion, extraordinary things can happen. very grateful to the artists and musicians, supporters and funders, volunteers and audiences who make the festival possible. congratulations to all the nominees and winners.

H I G H L I G H T S o f 2 0 2 5 feeling deeply grateful for a year of extraordinary opportunities to compose, perform, conduct and build partnerships with remarkable musicians and organisations. • ‘i felt a funeral, in my brain’ commissioned by @paul.d.head and the @de_choral_scholars for the @iccc_marktoberdorf (germany) winner of the special prize for best world premiere • ‘penumbra’ commissioned by pianist @cyrillibrahim for his artist-in-residence at the @worldheartbeat (london) • ‘verdigris motion’ commissioned by @edwardarmitage and @sarahjarmitage55 @patrickarmi_07 (bass trombone), richard saxel (piano) winner of the helen wareham recital competition • conducting debut with @brittensinfonia1 with @imogen_trumpet (trumpet) and zoë beyers (leader), featuring works by @profbgb and jonathan dove • an american songbook at the @nwimfestival @queenofthebain (soprano), john frederick hudson (piano) • cabaret: britten, berlin & broadway at the @jamonthemarsh_uk festival @mrs.afonwy (mezzo-soprano), john frederick hudson (piano) • honours of scotland service concert, balmoral castle broadcast on @classicfm to 12 million listeners, in the presence of their majesties king charles III and queen camilla featuring the scottish chamber orchestra and @mezzocargill (mezzo-soprano), singing my ‘all in an april’s evening’ • first year as artistic director of john armitage memorial trust @jamonthemarsh_uk featuring @bbc_singers @kingssingers @brittensinfonia1 JAM sinfonia with @igoryuzefovich @selwyn1882 @sarahelizabetharwen @onyxbrass @thomaskellypiano with world premieres by @danihoward @profbgb @marissecatomusic @steverichermusic @jamesaburn • first appearance on @bbcradio3 , in tune, with petroc trelawny, talking music, festivals and new works • director, composer residency at JAM artists-in-residence: @beibeiwangpercussion and @thomaskellypiano premiering three new works by @sophiahurstmusic @its_zsolt_here @nchin6699 • transitioned fully to @dorico following the closure of finale • learned @webflow , designing custom, responsive websites with code-driven flexibility

• • • • • one night great friends wanderlust stories laughter that lingers late six craft cocktails with soul music that makes time slow down some nights feel like a greatest-hits album of the things you love most. this was exactly that: winter temptations 2025. 📸 @theexiledbrit

Applause fades, but the feeling stays. Harmonie du Soir — 26 September. A night that still resonates. Thank you to @WorldHeartBeat , @Simona_mihai_stage , and composers @tkdcomposer and @johnfrederickhudson for a truly wonderful evening. Many thanks to @brioni_official for dressing me. #HarmonieDuSoir #WorldHeartBeat #ConcertSeries #MusicThatStays #CyrillIbrahim #ImmersiveExperience #ModernClassic #LondonConcerts

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I’ve asked my friend and composer @JohnFrederickHudson to write a new piece for me — and I’m so excited to share that this will be its London premiere on 26th September at @WorldHeartBeat . In this video, you can hear us talk about the process of writing and shaping a piece together. Collaborating with living composers has always been something I love — it keeps music alive, evolving, and full of discovery. I’d love for you to come and hear it in person on the 26th!

🎭JAM VIRTUAL: ‘Life is a Cabaret’ (Britten, Berlin and Broadway) ✨We could not help by sharing this spectacular excerpt from ‘Cabaret: Britten, Berlin and Broadway’! Not only does this excerpt musically introduce the concerts title, but you get to hear yet another brilliant performance by @mrs.afonwy (mezzo) and @johnfrederickhudson (piano). 🎶Spanning from the late 1930s to 1966, this magical concert is a treasure trove of hidden gems and classics — a true journey through the heart of cabaret. So, sit back, relax, and let yourself be transported into the world of music and Cabaret. Watch the full concert next week on JAM Virtual! Video by 🎥: @grthk Sound by 🎙️: @edwardarmitage #JAMVirtual #LifeIsACabaret #RebeccaAfonwyJones #JohnFrederickHudson #Cabaret #MusicPerformance #VocalMusic #MusicalTheatre #CabaretStyle

MUSIC MONDAY! 💙🩵 // Relive the opening song from the set that won DCS gold and made them three-time champions! “I Sing the Body Electric” was composed by John Frederick Hudson for DCS to be premiered at the World Choir Games this year. // Piece: I Sing the Body Electric Composer: John Frederick Hudson Conductor: Paul D. Head Pianists: Lori Geckle and John Frederick Hudson