Chetham's School of Music

Generously supported by The Haworth Charitable Trust

The Manchester Song Festival is back, with a full day of live online performances and a music masterclass from some of the region’s finest musical talent – presented by Artistic Director Marcus Farnsworth. 

After a year in lockdown, the festival creates an opportunity for musicians to come together, explore new collaborations and share their music with audiences around the world!  

Watch live throughout the day as we bring the music to you!

7.30pm – 8.10pm Lauren Kinsella & Kit Downes 

We finish the day with two spectacular concerts! Performing live from The Stoller Hall, vocalist and composer Lauren Kinsella will begin the evening alongside pianist Kit Downes. The duo will perform the music of drummer Paul Motian, with lyrics specially written by Lauren. Motian’s beautifully crafted folk-like miniature masterpieces provide the perfect springboard for two artists interested in risk, improvisation, lyricism and communication. Kit performs solo pipe organ and solo piano concerts – and also plays with the band ‘ENEMY’. He teaches at the Royal Academy of Music in London, where he himself studied and now holds a Fellowship. Lauren is an Irish vocalist based in London. Her work as a composer, improviser, collaborator and performer has been described as ‘truly captivating’ (For Folk’s Sake), ‘stunning’ (BBC Radio 3) and with ‘inventive curiosity and imagination’ (Irish Examiner). 

8.10pm – 9pm Katherine Broderick & Friends 

The festival will finish with a recital from soprano Katherine Broderick, pianist Kathryn Stott and violist Ruth Gibson who will transport us from the UK to Europe through music and composers, including Bridge, Brahms and Strauss. The last twelve months have created new opportunities for the musicians to collaborate locally and look back on their personal and collective experiences through music. This will be one of the musicians’ first concerts together after lockdown and promises to be a poignant and uplifting performance!

Please note: Tickets are available for the full day or separately for the evening recital only. You can book here for the full day of events.