Events at the Octagon

Unmeasured Chamber Concerts 2026

A monthly chamber series of internationally acclaimed musicians, curated by period-instrument specialists Matthew Wadsworth (lute) and Kate Bennett Wadsworth (cello/viol). Concerts are an hour long and take place in the beautiful acoustics of the Octagon Chapel, designed in 1753 by Thomas Ivory, on the first Friday of the month.

Ophelia’s Garden: English Lute Duets

Friday 3 April 2026 at 7pm

Early music superstars Nigel North and Michał Gondko are the special guest ensemble for this programme of lute duets from the English Renaissance, soon to be released as an album on the Deux-Elles label.

Tickets:
General admission £20.00 (+ £1.68 booking fee) Your ticket includes a glass of wine.
Under 18s £2.00 (+ £0.17 booking fee) Your ticket includes a glass/cup of juice.
Come With Us £80.00 (+ £6.72 booking fee) Admits 5. Come in a group of 5 and pay for only 4 tickets (you still get the free drink)
Buy tickets in advance here: https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/unmeasured

Rachael McShane & The Cartographers

Friday 27 March at 7.30pm

Following a highly successful album launch and an ecstatically received UK tour, Rachael McShane & The Cartographers return with a new run of dates celebrating Uncharted — a record that has quickly established itself as one of the standout folk releases of recent years.

Best known as a founding member of Bellowhead, Rachael McShane is a singer and instrumentalist of rare power and sensitivity. With The Cartographers — Ian Stephenson (guitar, double bass) and Julian Sutton (melodeon) — she brings traditional songs vividly into the present day, combining deep respect for the source material with inventive arrangements, warmth and sparkle.

Tickets £19.84 available from : https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/vintage-verse/rachael-mcshane-the-cartographers-uncharted/e-jzjyba

Hartwin Dhoore & Ross Grant

Monday 13 April at 7.30pm

Two of the finest innovators within their own country’s traditional music culture, turned a lockdown collaboration into an exciting duo who have toured Europe for the last three years.

Hartwin Dhoore is an accordionist who grew up and is based in Flanders, Belgium. For many years he has been roaming international stages as a professional musician. Inspired by traditional European music, Hartwin has crafted his own style. Performing across Europe, Canada, and the USA his original compositions have found their way to a wide audience.

Ross Grant is a violinist who grew up in the midlands, England. His playing is rooted in English traditional music, but sees him take influence from many genres across the globe. He is a composer, educator and has performed with some of the biggest names in folk music and has toured across Europe.

Tickets: £14 plus booking fee (£17 on door) https://www.tickettailor.com/events/norca/2058120

Norfolk & Norwich Festival

ASTATINE TRIO Monday 11 May 1.00pm
The award-winning Astatine Trio, BBC Radio 3 New Generation Artists for 2025-27, perform a programme of late Schubert and Takemitsu.

KLEIO QUARTET Monday 11 May 7.30pm
They perform classics by Mendelssohn and Schubert, alongside Kaija Saariaho’s Terra Memoria

ELIZAVETA IVANOVA & SANJA BIZAK Tuesday 12 May 1.00pm
Estonian flautist Elizaveta Ivanova makes her Norwich debut accompanied by Serbian pianist Sanja Bizjak. Together, they will perform two major sonatas by Poulenc and Reinecke alongside atmospheric miniatures by Debussy and Gaubert.

KLEIO QUARTET WITH ANDREW HAMILTON & BERNIYA HAMIE Tuesday 12 May 7.30pm
In their second appearance this year, Kleio Quartet are joined by two fellow BBC New Generation Artists: rising star baritone Andrew Hamilton and acclaimed pianist Berniya Hamie of the Astatine Trio. Song cycles by Vaughan Williams and Barber sit alongside the lesser-heard late romantic gems – Mahler’s Piano Quartet and Webern’s Langsamer Satz.

MAYA YOUSSEF: New Paths Through Old Worlds Wednesday 20 May 7.30pm
Maya shares new music from her forthcoming album, created with musicians from Ireland, England, and Scotland. The performance brings together traditions with deep roots, revealing how their melodic shapes and emotional landscapes speak to one another.

Octagon Concert Series: Music Sans Frontières

Sunday 7 June at 3pm

Music Sans Frontières presents an afternoon of uplifting music in support of MEDECINS SANS FRONTIERES / DOCTORS WITHOUT BORDERS

Telemann Concerto for 2 French Horns and Strings TWV 52:D2
Vivaldi Concerto in D minor for 2 Oboes and Strings RV 535
JC Bach Sinfonia in D Op.3 no.1 Strings, 2 horns and 2 Oboes

Tickets available on the door £8 (£7 concessions)

Sing the chapels with Brendan Taaffe & John Harrison

Saturday 15 August 10am – 5pm (Sunday event at Walpole Old Chapel, Suffolk)

Brendan & John will be teaching their own compositions and arrangements in a variety of styles inspired by the ‘American Vernacular’ (gospel, bluegrass, Appalachian and shape note songs) and beyond, in glorious 3- and 4-part harmony. The songs will be accessible even to inexperienced singers, and everything will be taught by ear. Click ‘WATCH VIDEO’ to see Brendan & John singing one of Brendan’s compositions with the Bright Wings chorus. See Brendan’s and John’s YouTube channels for many more examples of their songs and arrangements.

Tickets: £45 for the day workshop available here: https://snappytickets.co.uk/event/sing-the-chapels-with-brendan-and-john/