2025 Season Booking now open
VOCES8 credit Andy Staples
Booking is now open for the May 2025 concert season. Tickets are available here. Please note that some additional seats have been released for the previously sold-out VOCES8 concert on 10th May 2025.
To see full details of the season programme, read it online here or download it here.
Join us for our Miles for Music in March 2025 Challenge, a sponsored walk in which participants are asked to walk or run 100 miles in March!
Walk a few miles every day of the month or plan longer walks to reach the 100-mile goal. With sponsorship from friends, colleagues, family, or local businesses, you will help us reach our target of £5,000.
The money you raise in 2025 will ensure live classical music is available for you and the rising generations of music lovers in years to come. Your help means we can plan three years ahead, engage the most talented musicians from around the world, run all the other charitable projects like the String Scheme and the Surrey Hills Young Composer Competition, and provide vital performance platforms for gifted young artists.
If you would like to register to take part, please click here. You will then be asked to set up a JustGiving page (we will provide full instructions). If you need more information or have any questions, please visit our dedicated FAQs page here.
The first 20 people to register will receive a free Miles for Music T-shirt, after which they will be available to buy.
Please join our Facebook event here and post about your progress or add some photos from your walk. We’re keen to hear how you are getting on!
But if this challenge isn’t for you then please do consider donating to the cause, either sponsoring one of your friends who is walking or simply click on the donate button below and you will be taken to the campaign page on JustGiving where you will see a Give Now button. Any contribution you make will be very gratefully received. Thank you!
2025 Quiz Night sold out
Our first-ever Quiz Night and Supper to support the Surrey Hills International Music Festival on Friday, 28 February 2025, has proved very popular, and all tables have now been sold.
Time: 6.45pm for 7.00pm Venue: Effingham Golf Club, Guildford Road, Effingham, Surrey, KT24 5PZ
All proceeds from the event will go directly to the Festival, ensuring that it can continue to invite top musicians from around the world and support the provision of music lessons to local state primary pupils through the String Scheme. Details of an online auction of exciting items on which everyone can bid will be announced shortly.
New Festival Patron
We’re delighted to announce that His Grace the Duke of Northumberland has become a Patron of the Surrey Hills International Music Festival.
As owner of Albury Park, The Duke supports our mission to bring world-class artists to perform here in venues across the Surrey Hills.
Julia Pearson, Festival Chair, said: “We are honoured that His Grace the Duke of Northumberland has accepted the role of Patron of Surrey Hills International Music Festival. His Grace has long been a champion for the Surrey Hills National Landscape and an advocate for creativity in our beautiful countryside. We greatly look forward to welcoming His Grace and his wife Jane to the May 25 season and thank him for his kind support as Patron of this Festival.”
Concert Partner announced for 2025
RBC Brewin Dolphin, one of the largest British wealth management firms providing investment management and financial planning services to individuals, companies, intermediaries and charities, has reconfimed its support of the Festival in 2025 as the Concert Partner for ‘VOCES8: Twenty! ‘ on 10 May at Holy Trinity Guildford.
We are very grateful for this support from RBC Brewin Dolphin, which build on their concert sponsorship in 2023 and 2024.
Stunning 2024 Season concludes
The 2024 season reached a marvellous climax on 18 May after a wonderful series of concerts with a stunning Finale performed by Dame Sarah Connolly with the English Concert in Holy Trinity Church Guildford.
The Piano Extravaganza concert at the Menuhin Hall, which featured two pianos and four pianists, is illustrated by the following excepts from the Rachmaninov Suite No. 2, performed by Wu Qian and Juho Pohjonen and Ravel’s La Valse, performed by Katya Apekisheva and Wu Qian
2024 Performers
What our audience said about the 2024 Festival
‘I thought that Sarah Connolly was on top form this evening and was brilliantly supported by The English Concert. Thursday night’s piano extravaganza was simply mind-blowing!’
‘How wonderful to be able to observe a group of musicians at the absolute top of their game at such close quarters.
‘Thank you so much for a wonderful guided walk in the sunshine, and then you had gathered together a delightful group to give us a beautiful hour of music and history.’
‘The festival clearly gives much pleasure to all who attend….’
Reflections on the 2024 Verbier Music Festival
SHIMF Chair Julia Pearson gives a personal view of the 2024 Verbier Music Festival.
2024 Young Composer Competition results announced
The results of the 2024 Surrey Hills Young Composer Competition are announced here.
Surrey Hills International Music Festival is a Registered Charity No. 1171264