Max Baillie, violinist, musicologist and entrepreneur, has been touring with his outstanding and unusual Lodestar Trio, who many of you will have heard when they played for the first time at Christchurch St Leonards in 2024. Folk Odyssey (with works by Bartok and Grieg) was recently recorded live for German national radio and broadcast at the Schleswig-Holstein Music Festival, where the trio has appeared several times. The project was also recorded live for Belgian national radio last year, and there are plans for an album in November.

Other of Baillie’s concerts have included playing with celebrated cellist Laura van der Heijden at the Ryedale Festival, another programme seen first in St Leonards. He also played his first concert at the Hamburg Elbphilharmonie with star saxophonist Jess Gillam, in front of 2,600 people.

Upcoming concerts in St Leonards are on 20 October 24 November: two great programmes with fabulous guests. October will see piano quintets by Vaughan Williams along with Schubert’s Trout, featuring Simon Crawford Phillips and other special guests. The November concert at St John’s Church will be the majestic and complex Goldberg Variations, with acclaimed cellist Laura van der Heijden and internationally-recognized violist Hélène Clément. Not to be missed.

HASTINGS PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA AND CHOIR

Meanwhile Hastings Philharmonic Orchestra previewed their new season with a performance of Mozart’s Magic Flute on 22 August. Coming up they have a trio performing works by three notable female composers – Fanny Mendelssohn, Clara Schumann, and Lily Boulanger. They have a program of John Williams’ film theme music at the White Rock in October, and in early November the Hastings Philharmonic Choir and Orchestra perform fabulous works by Saint-Saёns, Schubert, and Debussy, plus Aaron Copland’s glorious clarinet concerto. Full details on their website. 

Tickets and details: St Leonards Concerts: stlconcerts.co.uk/events, Hastings Philharmonic hastingsphilharmonic.com/2026-2027-season


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