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.
John Dowland: songs without words
Friday 1 May 2026 at 7pm
Marking the anniversary year of the death of John Dowland (c.1563-1626), Matthew Wadsworth (lute) and Kate Bennett Wadsworth (viol) present a feast of Dowland’s most delicious lute songs. The concept of a song without words is borrowed from Felix Mendelssohn, who found music to be an even more precise mode of expression than words, and, given the fluidity of melodies between sung and instrumental forms in Dowland’s time, we think that Dowland himself just might have agreed
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
Honey & The Bear
Saturday 25 April Doors at 7.30pm, Music from 8.00pm
Honey and the Bear return to the Octagon Chapel in Norwich on the Saturday 25th April (rescheduled date) where they will be joined by their incredible band. They will be performing repertoire from their new album as part of their release tour.
Seated event with unallocated seating. Bring your own drinks.
Tickets from: https://honeyandthebear.co.uk/product/honey-the-bear-at-octagon-chapel-norwich-sat-25-apr-2026-ticket/
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/
Octagon Unitarian Chapel 