Roman River Festival 2012 - bigger and better than ever 

55 top class musicians, 14 concerts, 32 composers and a world première

8 intimate medieval churches, a Georgian townhouse and idyllic villages along the Roman River and Stour valleys. 

Online and postal booking is now open for our 2012 festival, 29th September - 7th October 

Roman River Festival has built an enviable reputation for world-class performances, introduced by approachable and engaging musicians, in intimate venues where performers and audiences mix sociably.  

The annual Roman River Festival returns for the 13th year to bring international soloists to stunning settings in venues along the course of the ancient Roman River and the neighbouring Stour valley. As summer sun wanes and the evenings draw in, medieval churches in villages including Abberton, Dedham and Stoke by Nayland will welcome international musicians to perform well known chamber repertoire by candlelight. These musicians are not only well known as soloists in Europe and beyond, but regard Roman River festival as an opportunity to enjoy chamber music performance in relaxed and intimate settings, with performers all personally invited by artistic director Orlando Jopling, himself a leading cellist and conductor. 2012 will see the debut performance of the Roman River Festival Choir, singing Mozart's Requiem, alongside four young soloists embarking on stellar careers and a top professional orchestra. 

Since its inception the festival has run a schools programme which continues to expand, including work in six primary schools, family concerts and a large-scale performance by over 150 schoolchildren as part of the festival - all under the inspired leadership of Dominic Harlan. In 2012, the festival is thrilled to have received funding from the Arts Council of England, allowing the festival to flourish in its aims to bring world class classical music performance to those growing up, living, working and learning in the Colchester area. 

We present our first orchestral concert, family concerts and the world-class vocal ensemble the Philharmonia Voices, and as always great chamber musicians, including Simon Blendis, James Boyd, Maggie Cole, Sebastian Comberti, Keri Fuge, Julia Gooding, Katharine Gowers, Stephanie Gonley, Caryl Hughes, Orlando Jopling,  Julia Gooding, Richard Lester, John McMunn, Roger Montgomery, Tom Poster, Matthew Sharp and Callum Thorpe. 

Going to a Roman River Festival concert is extremely affordable, and most of the concerts sell out well before the event, so we advise early booking to ensure your seat. Tickets are from £2.50 to £22.50, and we offer amazing concessions to everyone aged 25 and under (every concert for either £2.50 or £7.50). Even at the large scale concerts, almost half the tickets are priced at £12.50. You can buy a festival pass to all the concerts at a £10 discount, and we also offer generous discounts to groups - email us for more details. For those coming to the festival for a weekend, we can offer tailor-made packages of our world-class concerts, other interesting events, wonderful food and special places to stay. 

Our website has biographies of all the performers, information on the venues including maps, our own suggestions on where to stay and eat, and a printable booking form as well as online booking via paypal.

For further information and Box office 01206 729 356

www.romanriverfestival2012.blogspot.com

The brochure gives details of all the concerts. 

Roman River Music is able to exist thanks to our benefactors, supporters and friends, and our funders. This year's schools project and festival has been supported by Arts Council England, the Fowler, Smith & Jones Charitable Trust, the Ralph Vaughan Williams Trust, the Tanner Trust, the Pimlott Foundation, three anonymous benefactors, the Holst Foundation and Adnams. Localgiving.com have matched some of the donations.