The Hexham and District Music Society’s new 2024/25 concert season has been announced.

Opening in October with the North-East’s very own Royal Northern Sinfonia and closing next April with one of the most exciting quartets in the UK, the Heath Quartet, the six-concert season highlights once again the society’s ability to attract top musical talent to Hexham.

The season begins on October 1 with the Royal Northern Sinfonia playing Schubert’s gloriously melodic Octet, which was written 200 years ago this year.

Lumas WindsLumas Winds (Image: Supplied)

Joan Peugniez, chair of the society, said: "We can’t wait to welcome everyone to our brand new season. There’s so much to look forward to. Six concerts, six wonderful opportunities to experience the joy of live chamber music.”

The RNS first played for the society 60 years ago in 1964, when the orchestra was six years old and the society was 12!

Heath QuartetHeath Quartet (Image: Kaupo Kikkas)

October 22 brings a recital by the supremely talented young accordionist, Ryan Corbett, who played for King Charles III at his coronation service in Edinburgh last year.

Ryan is followed on November 26 by Laura van der Heijden – praised by The Times as ‘a superstar cellist’ – and the ‘outstanding’ (BBC Music Magazine) pianist, Jâms Coleman, playing music by Fauré, Debussy and Britten.

February 2, 2025 sees the arrival of a trio of stellar soloists – Ben Goldscheider, Benjamin Baker and Huw Watkins, playing Brahms’s great Horn Trio as well as music by Mozart, Ligeti and Huw Watkins himself.

The exciting young wind ensemble, Lumas Winds, will play on March 18. Praising the ‘beautiful music-making’ of their recent recording, BBC Radio 3 hailed the ensemble as ‘one to watch’.

Goldscheider Horn trioGoldscheider Horn trio (Image: Kaupo Kikkas)

The Heath Quartet, return to Hexham on April 25 in a programme of string quartets by Haydn, Britten and Dvořák. Praised for the ‘delicate perfection’ of their sound by The Telegraph and as ‘miraculous’ by the Guardian, the quartet are firm local favourites and the perfect ensemble to bring this concert season to a close.

Full details of the whole series and money-saving subscriptions can be found on the society’s website at www.hexhammusic.net.