An enormous pleasure to visit Newry Cathedral earlier this week - it’s the stunning venue for the first of two performances of Handel’s Messiah this November, given annually by The Ulster Consort & Players (on period instruments) and a superb line up of soloists.
Tickets are already available, and early booking is advised: /e/messiah-tickets-1975576488458
We’re delighted to be returning to Fisherwick Presbyterian Church in Belfast for the second performance: /e/messiah-tickets-1975577971895
Both venues are toasty warm and very welcoming - do join us if you can!
Spring into Summer with The Ulster Consort & Players, and fabulous soloists, in a concert of MOZART of Philip Wilby at The Portico of Ards on Saturday 20 June, 7.30pm.
The programme features two works: Mozart’s utterly beguiling Concerto for Flute and Harp - in a delightful chamber version - with the Ulster Orchestra’s Jennifer Sturgeon (flute), Gráinne Meyer (Harp), and Tristan Russcher (piano), followed by a major world premiere, in the presence of the composer: Spring Requiem, by Philip Wilby. This major new work features soloists Charlotte O’Hare (soprano) and Jonathan Brown (baritone).
Join us, if you can, in beautiful Portaferry, for this magical evening. Tickets are available at the door or via this link: /ticketbooth/shows/1173677913
#mozart #spring #flute #harp #northernireland
This is beautiful St Colmcilles Parish, Belfast, where - later this month - The Ulster Consort, Tristan Russcher, and I will fill its stunningly reverberant acoustic with gorgeous music by J.S. Bach. The concert will include the utterly delightful Concerto for two harpsichords, playing on this post. Do join us if you can, on Thursday 28 May, from 6-7pm; details and booking below!
/e/singet-dem-herrn-tickets-1975572683076
@ulsterconsort@stcolmcillesballyhack@tristanrusscher
CHILDREN’S SUMMER SINGING SCHOOL ALERT!
The Ulster Consort Foundation and I are hugely looking forward to the much-loved annual Children’s Summer Singing School, this year featuring Andrew Lloyd Webber’s fabulous and fun musical, ‘JOSEPH AND THE AMAZING TECHNICOLOR DREAMCOAT’ from Monday 27 - Friday 31 July, 9am-4pm each day.
India Chapman Webb returns to run the Songbirds Course, and I’ll have the pleasure of running the Junior Course.
The Summer Singing School takes place in the beautiful surroundings of Strathearn Prep - with its superb facilities, lots of outdoor space, and easy parking for parents!
All details are on the flyer below or via the link.
Places are already going so early booking is advised: /e/summer-music-school-tickets-1975573952874
#josephandtheamazingtechnicolordreamcoat
#andrewlloydwebber #childrenschoir #summerschool #musicals Education EducationForAll
Glorious music by J.S. Bach will be performed by The Ulster Consort, Tristan Russcher, and me at 6pm on Thursday 28 May at St Colmcilles Parish (Belfast BT4 3JB), part of the group’s “60 minutes at Six” series. Included in the programme are three of his finest motets, the beautiful aria ‘Bist du bei mir’ (sung by Lynda Barrett), and a concerto for not one but *two* harpsichords!
Do join us for this stunning and life-enhancing music, all written “Soli Deo Gloria” (to the Glory of God alone), performed by my fellow Northern Ireland musicians in an historically-informed, intimate, and invigorating way, in one of the most beautiful churches in Belfast.
Tickets are available in advance via /e/singet-dem-herrn-tickets-1975572683076 and, on the evening, at the door.
@ulsterconsort@tristanrusscher@lvb27@stcolmcillesballyhack
A wonderful end to my two year ‘residency’ as Conductor of the Cumbria Singers: a concert in beautiful Carlisle Cathedral, featuring music by Haydn and Mozart (including the utterly glorious ‘Great Mass in C minor’, possibly Mozart’s finest work) with the British Sinfonietta, Ed Taylor (organ), and wonderful soloists Susan Shepherd, Ali Darragh, Michael Bell, and Ryan Garnham - all of whom sing with The Ulster Consort.
Congratulations to all the performers and, especially, to the members of the Cumbria Singers who rose magnificently to the considerable challenges of all the choral works - great job, everyone!
It’s been lovely to work with the choir over the last couple of years; my thanks to them all for the music-making and fun along the way, and to those who work, tirelessly, behind the scenes. I wish them all the very best for the future.
It was lovely to see Ian Hare (distinguished musician and former Chorus Master of the Cumbrian Rural Choirs) and an old friend, Pete Gunstone - from my days at the Royal Northern College of Music - who is now Precentor of Carlisle; a lovely evening!
Thank you to all those who came last night to St Colmcille’s Parish, Holywood, to hear our @ulsterconsort all-Vivaldi programme with Julia Bishop (Baroque violin soloist - of @redpriestbaroque fame - in The Four Seasons) and @lamphylaura (mezzo soprano in the Stabat Mater), as part of the @creative_holywood Festival. There was a huge audience of well over 400, which filled the large, beautiful church - and the super feedback at the end was much appreciated!
Our next concert is an all-Bach programme on Thursday 28 May in (a different) St Colmcilles Parish, Ballyhackamore, East Belfast.
Tickets and details available here: /e/singet-dem-herrn-tickets-1975572683076
I’m looking forward to working again with @lamphylaura , our soloist for Vivaldi’s Stabat Mater (part of our VIVALDI FOUR SEASONS concert with The Ulster Consort) on Saturday 28 March at 8pm, in St. Colmcille’s Parish, Holywood as part of the Creative Holywood Festival.
Laura was born in Belfast and is based in Denmark. She enjoys a busy concert schedule in Europe, as well as touring further afield. She began her professional singing life in the choir of Christ Church Cathedral, Dublin, subsequently performing with a variety of ensembles including Arcangelo, the Dunedin Consort, Siglo de Oro, Polyphony, and the Gabrieli Consort. Laura performs regularly with the Irish Baroque Orchestra and Sestina, and is a regular member of Ars Nova Copenhagen, and Theatre of Voices.
Recent solo performances have included Handel Messiah, Bach Christmas Oratorio, and Bach St Matthew Passion with Peter Whelan and the Irish Baroque Orchestra; a festive recital with pianist Miles Lallemant, in Denmark; Arvo Pärt Passio and Stabat Mater with the Theatre of Voices and Paul Hillier; a recording and performance of Graupner cantatas with Camerata Øresund and Fieri Consort; and Handel Messiah with the Ulster Consort.
Laura’s recent ensemble work has included a visit to Carnegie Hall and King’s Place for a programme of Julia Wolfe, Michael Gordon, and John Luther Adams with Theatre of Voices, Handel Alexander’s Feast at the BBC Proms, Bach Mass in B minor in Dublin (with the Irish Baroque Orchestra), and a tour to the Edinburgh Festival with Ars Nova Copenhagen.
This is Laura’s second performance with the Ulster Consort, and she will be returning to sing Messiah in November 2026.
Come and hear Laura Lamph, alongside baroque violinist, Julia Bishop (in Vivaldi’s Four Seasons) and The Ulster Consort Players, on period instruments.
Tickets are available in advance via: /e/the-four-seasons-tickets-1975569746292 and at the door
@creative_holywood@ulsterconsort
#Vivaldi #fourseasons #northernireland #baroque #StabatMater
I’m looking forward to working with star baroque violinist, Julia Bishop of Red Priest, described by the Daily Telegraph as “deliciously dangerous” in The Ulster Consort’s performance of Vivaldi’s FOUR SEASONS this coming Saturday, 28 March in St Colmcille’s Parish, Holywood (details below).
Julia discovered her love of early music during her studies at the Royal College of Music. 30 years later, Julia is recognised as one of the leading Baroque violinists of her generation, touring the world extensively and making numerous recordings with the period instrument orchestras of the UK including the London Classical Players, the Hanover Band, the English Concert, with which she was a member for 6 years, and as leader and soloist with the Gabrieli Consort and Players and Florilegium.
In 1997 Julia co-founded the ensemble Red Priest with recorder player Piers Adams enjoying huge success touring Europe, the Far East and America, and also making 6 highly acclaimed CDs.
She has become increasingly popular for her fun and informative teaching on Baroque workshops and courses around the UK and abroad. Since 2014 she has developed the Early Music department of the University of Chichester Conservatoire, and has also been guest Baroque violin teacher at the Royal Academy of Music and the University of York.
Come and hear Julia, alongside Laura Lamph (mezzo soprano, in Vivaldi’s Stabat Mater) and The Ulster Consort Players, on period instruments in this glorious music.
Tickets available in advance via: /e/the-four-seasons-tickets-1975569746292 and at the door
Creative Holywood Festival
#Vivaldi #fourseasons #northernireland #baroque #StabatMater #baroquemusic #vivaldifourseasons #sacredmusic #earlymusic
Tickets are selling very quickly for a stunning programme of music by the famed Italian Baroque composer, Antonio Vivaldi, including his best-known work, The Four Seasons, very rarely performed in Northern Ireland with period instruments.
The Ulster Consort and I are extremely excited to present this concert involving with solo violinist extraordinaire, Julia Bishop (of Red Priest), and some of the finest early instrument specialists in Europe, as we recreate this highly original and evocative exploration of Spring, Summer, Autumn, and Winter.
This is contrasted, on the eve of the holiest week in the church’s year, with Vivaldi’s moving setting of the Stabat Mater – a 13th century, sorrowful meditation which focuses on the suffering of Mary during the crucifixion of Christ. This will be sung by Laura Lamph, who made her debut with the Consort in our performances of Messiah last November.
The concert forms part of the Creative Holywood Festival and we are delighted to be performing in St Colmcilles Parish for the very first time.
Tickets will be available at the door but advanced booking is advised and available via: /e/the-four-seasons-tickets-1975569746292
We look forward to seeing you there!
#Vivaldi #vivaldifourseasons #baroque #baroquemusic #StabatMater #northernireland #music #sacredmusic
The first concert of The Ulster Consort’s Season 2026 is nearly upon us - join the female voices of the Consort, Gráinne Meyer (harp), and me on Saturday 17 January (7-8pm) for a delightful programme featuring Benjamin Britten's 'A Ceremony of Carols' - one of the finest works ever written for female voices (as it was originally intended). There are also gems by Rubbra, Hadley, Poston, and Skempton, alongside two world premieres - one by American composer, Gary Davison, and the other by me!
Tickets, for this concert in St Colmcilles Parish in East Belfast, are available at the door and in advance via Eventbrite: /e/this-little-babe-tickets-1975544900979
@ulsterconsort@grainne.meyer
Short of a special Christmas present? Click on the following link to give the gift of music - one of the Ulster Consort’s Season 2026 concerts. We have a glorious mix of music from the timeless beauty of Palestrina through to period instrument performances of Bach, Handel, and Vivaldi - including a rare performance (in Northern Ireland) of The Four Seasons. There are no fewer than 14 world premieres by some of the major composers of our time, a Children’s Summer Singing School, and a day workshop for adults - something for everyone.
Please join us if you can!
/en/document/view/70886222/ulster-consort-season-2026
