Support the sixth Summer Music in City Churches

The sixth SUMMER MUSIC IN CITY CHURCHES festival takes place 6th - 15th June 2024 on the theme LOVE'S LABOURS: a festival celebrating themes of love, romance and Shakespeare. All concerts take place this year in St Giles Cripplegate, the very place where William Shakespeare himself is thought to have worshipped and a mere stone’s throw from where his First Folio was printed 400 years ago.

Founded in 2018, SUMMER MUSIC IN CITY CHURCHES presents beautiful music to engage, divert and inspire, in ancient and architecturally stunning churches in London's Square Mile: oases of history, beauty and peace in the midst of 21st century City life. Following the pandemic, the festival ran against the odds in 2021, presenting intimate and uplifting concerts to socially distanced audiences, whose reactions more than justified the complications of going ahead.

This year's fabulous artists include the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, the City of London Choir, piano soloists Elizabeth Sombart and Mark Bebbington, The Curve Ensemble with David Juritz, string quartet Brother Tree Sound, virtuoso pianist Iain Farrington and his brilliant Art Deco Trio.

Box office receipts can never cover the costs of staging these concerts and the festival is therefore dependent on the generosity of sponsors and donors. The organisers are determined to keep the festival viable for future years and are therefore appealing for donations. We have received generous offers of matched funding and therefore will be able to double whatever we can raise by crowd-funding. All contributions, however modest, help us maximise those pledges and are very gratefully received.

What some of our audience members said in 2022:

I was impressed with the smooth organisation and polite and friendly disposition of the staff members. The musicians were exceptional for any age but for such accomplishments in those so young is so very impressive. I felt privileged to listen.

It left me with a whole new perspective on Chopin and memories of seeing a real virtuoso and communicator doing something that means so much to him and engaging brilliantly with the audience. Many thanks to the “Summer Music in City Churches” festival for a magical lunchtime in the impressive church of St Giles Cripplegate. *****

Beautiful music in a breathtaking venue.

The Royal Philharmonic Brass concert was more than brilliant, such a talented quintet who more than complemented the beautiful and acoustically perfect venue of St Stephen Walbrook church. *****

Lovely hosts, fabulous musicians in a great setting. This festival deserves to do well.

This was a beautiful setting for some emotionally powerful music. Fabulous venue and wonderfully expressive musicians.

I really enjoyed the opportunity to hear one of my favourite pieces being performed live for the first time. I am also very grateful to the organisers for accommodating my seating request due to my physical disability. *****

A beautifully uplifting concert: part of the annual "Summer music in the city churches" festival. This was the first time I have visited the historic St Giles Cripplegate church, which provided an excellent venue. A big thank you too for the friendly and welcoming staff. I very much enjoyed the pieces by Finzi and John Ireland, all of which were new to me. All the musicians from the RPO were magnificent. A great performance from violinist Duncan Riddell and pianist Mark Bebbington. Lovely to hear "The Lark Ascending” live in such a beautiful church. This was the first time I've heard the rarely performed RVW Piano quintet, which was very moving. Altogether a lovely summers evening's music making. *****

An accomplished and often moving recital by two rising stars, consisting of music by Vaughan Williams and his contemporaries. Female composers were prominent in the programme…The mostly Norman St Bartholomew the Great provided a splendid performance space with fine acoustics. *****

Perhaps the most spiritual venue in London for some uplifting English music *****

What a wonderful idea for a series of summer concerts in city churches. St Giles, Cripplegate provided the perfect venue and sound quality as the backdrop to this finale with the English Chamber Orchestra concert. The playing was full and faultless and so tight with a crystal clear sound. A great programme… *****

What a fantastic concert by the English Chamber Orchestra who were superb throughout. Renowned soloist Emma Johnson joined them for Finzi’s clarinet concerto and gave a stunning and captivating performance. It was a fitting finale to the “Summer Music in

City Churches” festival which, fingers crossed, will return next year and is something not to be missed. The organisation and setting were perfect making for a very relaxed and enjoyable evening and a marvellous showcase for the musicians and the music. *****

I thought I'd died and gone to heaven. What more can I say? *****

Wonderful end to the festival. Will be retired next year so looking forward to attending as many as possible. *****