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.

Phantasticus! Weird and wonderful music from the Alps

Friday 3 July 2026 at 7pm

Exuberantly fantastical music from the 17th century, with sonatas by Castello, Schmelzer, Bertali, and more.

Jim O’Toole, violin
Sarah Ridy, triple harp
Kate Bennett Wadsworth, viola da gamba
Matthew Wadsworth, theorbo

Tickets:
General admission £20.00 (+ £1.68 booking fee) Your ticket includes a glass of wine.
Under 18s FREE (Your ticket includes a glass of apple 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

A Musical Illiad

Thursday 18 June at 7pm

Award-winning storyteller Clare Goodall and historical musician Lizzie Gutteridge (aulos, lyre) combine forces to bring you an epic tale of love, tragedy and loss in an energetic and punchy adaptation, where the characters come to life, even if that life then ends brutally in bloodshed…

“A unique, powerful and compelling piece of time travel.”

Tickets £15/£10, under 18s free https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/a-musical-illiad-tickets-1987518563526

Horizon chamber concert

Sunday 28 June at 6.30pm

Suzannah Self, mezzo
Michael Christie, cello
Anna Hopkins, flute
Alex Wells, piano

Ravel’s Chanson Madecasses

Tickets: £15 on the door

The Victoria String Quartet and Students of Norwich School

Tuesday 30 June at 6pm

The Victoria String Quartet formed in 2017 and rapidly established itself as one of the UK’s most sought-after chamber ensembles, regularly performing at venues and festivals including the Buxton International Festival.

During the concert, they will be joined by Norwich School’s own string quartet, the Almary Quartet, formed of pupils Min Ting Deng, Min Ying Deng, Isaac Schaad and Tommy Cahir.

Mozart Horn Quintet
Mozart Flute Quartet in D
Shostakovich Quartet no 8 in C minor op 110
Gliere String Octet op 5

The evening’s programme will also include performances by former pupils, Adam Possener (viola) and Millie Clark (flute), and current pupil Melissa Hawkins (horn), who have all participated in the school’s Making Musicians initiative.

Tickets: £25 available from https://musicintheburnhams.com/whats-coming-up/the-victoria-string-quartet-and-students-of-norwich-school/

Music in the Burnham’s supports Norfolk and Waveney Mind, as it aims to raise £20,000 this year to support wellbeing projects for young people. Ticket sales from the concert will be donated to the charity.

Aluca Trio

Saturday 4 July
Workshop 3.30pm – 6.30pm and Concert 7.30pm – 9.00pm

Aluca Trio hail from Catalonía and the Balearics, and teach and sing polyphonic songs rooted in the traditions and vocal and sound aesthetic of the Northwest Mediterranean, with a particular emphasis on traditional Catalan polyphony. Their approach is to tell stories through song, connecting listeners to the past through living traditions that speak also to the present day – songs of lament, celebration, and play, together with sacred songs, lullabies, and original compositions. Always they seek to present the songs with context and expression that ensures they resonate with the lived experiences of both singers and listeners.

Tickets for workshop and concert are available here: https://www.tickettailor.com/events/pitchblend/2172882

Norwich History Festival

Tuesday 14 to Friday 24 July
An exciting programme of 34 talks, 30 walks and other events across the city, all with the theme of ‘why history matters’.

Events at The Octagon Chapel

Tuesday 14 July 5pm – Regina: A New History of Women in Power – Kate Williams

Wednesday 15 July 5pm – History’s Most Epic Fibs and Fails with Athena Kugblenu
Wednesday 15 July 6.30pm – Boudicca’s Daughter with Elodie Harper

Thursday 16 July 5pm – What did the Romans do for Norfolk? with William Bowden
Thursday 16 July 7pm – Historic Footpaths with Nicholas Crane

Friday 17 July 1pm – Bloody, Brilliant Tudors with Elizabeth Goff
Friday 17 July 3pm – This Little World – In conversation with Nandini Das
Friday 17 July 8pm – Why Silent Cinema Should Be Remembered with Neil Brand

Saturday 18 July 7pm & 9.30pm – The Voice Project: Diving Dream

Monday 20 July 1pm – Why History Matters Debate

Friday 24 July 2pm – Two Englishmen Abroad: John Dowland and Thomas Simpson with Peter Holman

More information and tickets available from: https://norwichhistoryfestival.co.uk/

Dowland 400 Festival

Thursday 23 – Sunday 26 July

This four day Festival aims to celebrate all things Dowland. It will include amazing concerts and masterclasses by some of the world’s leading lutenists, lectures and talks about Dowland’s life, and so much more – even a chance for a lesson with a leading player, or to have a first go on a lute.

For more details and tickets https://www.dowland400.co.uk/programme-of-events

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/