‘Anyone who stops learning is old, whether at twenty or eighty, anyone who keeps learning is young’ Henry Ford

At Hatfield House Music Festival, Learning & Participation has always been at the heart of the Festival.

Over the years we have presented Schools concerts, Family concerts, workshops, Young Musicians Platforms and Pre-concert talks.

This year we are expanding our engagement with in-school workshops leading to a performance at St Etheldreda’s Church.

School Project – ‘Inspired by Dowland’

Building on the success of the 2025 composition project, the 2026 Schools Project will expand to work with 4 classes in a project that covers music and history, taking inspiration from composer, John Dowland. The children create their own compositions, inspired by the music of John Dowland in the year marking the 400^th anniversary of his death.

The children will visit Hatfield House for half a day in June / July with an introduction to the Old Palace, a special exhibition of music and a Dowland manuscript from the Hatfield House Archives, as well as a visit to St Etheldreda’s Church and the House with a personalised tour.

This will be followed by three half day song writing workshops in September / October led by Pete Letanka, our Music Project Leader and acclaimed jazz pianist and composer, to create the music for the Schools Concert on 8 October. This event will feature 120 young performers from local schools, accompanied by Purcell School students with 200 young audience members.

Click here, to view the 2025 Hatfield House Music Festival Schools Project

Side by Side – Thursday 8 October 7.30pm
Three young musicians supported by the J & A Beare Cultural Trust will perform Shostakovich’s Octet Op. 11 alongside the RBO Artists.

Come & Sing – Saturday 10 October 11am – 1pm – St Etheldreda’s Church
Supported by Scops Arts Trust

Once again led by Harry Bradford our Come & Sing will take place in the Church. Taking inspiration from the repertoire of the main Festival, the works will span several centuries from Dowland onwards.

Relaxed Concert – 1500 – 1600 – 10 October – St Etheldreda’s Church
Supported by Scops Arts Trust

Guy Johnston and Julian Bliss will perform alongside musicians from the Purcell School to perform well known works suitable for an audience of mixed ages with a particular welcome to those with additional needs such as dementia, Parkinson’s, Autism and ADHD. Hosted by the Festival’s Learning & Participation Manager, Maria Thomas, the concert will involve the audience in activities such as singing and conducting.

Young Musicians’ Platform Sunday 11 October 1.30pm – 2.30pm – Coach House Restaurant
Two chamber ensembles of young musicians will perform at the Coach House Restaurant during Sunday lunch for the Young Musicians’ Platform.

In addition to these activities, Stephen Johnson will once again share his knowledge and insight during the concerts and in the programme notes. And our work in the community will also include a workshop with participants with dementia.

Maria Thomas, Learning & Participation Manager