There are less than five Chamber Music Festivals in the United Kingdom. Islay is proud to host one of them. This year’s festival will take place from Sunday July 4th until Friday July 9th opening with a piano recital at the Columba Centre and ending with a fun music programme at the Bruichladdich Distillery.

The Cantilena Festival is unique for its educational initiative. Advanced students play alongside the regular Cantilena professionals, whose artistic directors are Angus Ramsay and Adrian Shepherd MBE. Angus tells us: “This year we will have five students instead of the four that have joined us in recent years. It will be a particular pleasure to welcome back Barbara Misciewicz, whose cello playing so thrilled us last year.” Barbara’s picture graces the new Cantilena Festival poster which advertises the different concerts at the various venues.

A new venture is planned for Wednesday 7 July when a string quintet will visit the Outback Art Gallery in the furthest northwest of the island at Sanaigmore and will play from what’s known in the profession as “music from the pad” – a selection of light classical, opera, plus others – for one hour. This is not part of the main Festival and a price of £5 is payable. Please check with the Art Gallery for further information.

There are six concerts for which single and season tickets are available. The single tickets at £12 and £10, season tickets at £60 and £50 and are available from C E Roy, Bowmore. For reserving tickets for collection at the door contact Jenny Laidlaw by email. For more information, the full programme and the venues visit www.cantilenafestival.co.uk

Tag: cantilena music festival event