Winchester Festival is a 10 day multi-arts festival taking place in the first half of July, presenting concerts, talks, events for young people and days when people of all abilities can take part in singing or drama workshops. We also work with local primary and secondary schools in Winchester and the surrounding area. In recent years our performers have included the Philharmonia Orchestra, Alison Balsom, Steven Isserlis, Tasmin Little, Michael Portillo, Germaine Greer, Brian Sewell and Sir Roy Strong, David Starkey, Chris Packham and Dan Snow. In addition we have a strong programme given by locally-based performers - including a very successful series of recitals by young performers with a connection to Winchester - so we are able to present the best local performers alongside professionals with national and international reputations. We raise our funding from individual patrons, corporate supporters and the local authority, endeavouring to keep the ticket prices as affordable as possible and giving people the opportunity to experience performances of the highest quality.
For 2016 the programme will include 8 or 9 evening talks by speakers over a range of topics including history, politics, current affairs, the environment and the media and also including novelists. The concerts currently programmed include a performance of Britten's Noyes Fludde, an opening concert including Brahms Requiem, the final of the concerto competition from the Winchester Symphony Orchestra, a folk concert and a performance by a newly formed chamber choir from Hampshire. There will be five lunchtime recitals by conservatoire students with a current or past connection with Winchester. Other events will be added in to the programme as we move towards the end of the year.