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.

Bach Obligato Sonatas

Friday 5 June 2026 at 7pm

We are delighted to welcome violist John Crockatt and harpsichordist Tom Foster as our special guest duo for a programme of J.S. Bach’s obligato sonatas reimagined for the viola, a favourite instrument of Bach’s.

Programme:
Sonata in D BWV 1028 (originally for viola da gamba and harpsichord)
Sonata in G BWV 1027 (originally for viola da gamba and harpsichord)
Sonata in C BWV 529 (originally for organ)

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

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)

Paul Cross Memorial Concert

Norfolk & Norwich Novi Sad Association
Saturday 13 June at 7pm

A Flute-Piano Celebration
Romance, sonatas and sonatines by Bon Di Venezia, Dutilleux, Saint-Saens and Libermann plus a Serbian “Sing for the Flute” (Pesma za flautu) by Ljubica Maric.

Iain Clarke, piano
Leila Hooton, flute

Tickets £20 adult, £17 members, £5 children available from https://www.eventbrite.com/e/paul-cross-memorial-concert-2026-tickets-1985675484828
Tickets also available on the door

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/