Three Choirs Festival announces Hereford 2025 programme

The Three Choirs Festival is set to come to the English city of Hereford this summer, with a programme of choral concerts, chamber recitals, late-night performances and more. Running from 26 July to 2 August the 2025 festival promises a programme of choral favourites plus new commissions and visiting musical talent from across the UK in the 297^th edition of the festival.

This year’s festival marks the 150^th anniversary of Samuel Coleridge-Taylor with a revival of his cantata The Atonement, which was first performed at the Hereford festival in 1903, while further large-scale choral works in the programme include Mendelssohn’s Elijah, Fauré’s Requiem, and Herbert Howells’ Hymnus Paradisi. Not forgetting new music, the upcoming programme will also include world premieres of works by Richard Blackford and Bob Chilcott.

Three Choirs chief executive David Francis said: ‘I am in no doubt that the 2025 Three Choirs Festival in Herefordshire is going to be a powerful and inspirational experience for everyone. The 2025 Three Choirs Festival demonstrates our commitment to great choral repertoire, commissioning and premiering new works as well as revisiting festival commissions. For over 300 years the festival has brought together a community of musicians and singers to deliver a world-renowned festival – and 2025 will be no exception. We are looking forward to welcoming everyone to the festival this summer, where together we will share exceptional musical experiences.’

Visiting talent on the 2025 programme is set to include vocal ensembles the King’s Singers and Stile Antico, plus baritone Roderick Williams, mezzo soprano Sarah Connolly and clarinettist Emma Johnson, plus string ensemble the Carducci Quartet. Performances will also feature the Philharmonia Orchestra alongside the Festival Chorus, Voices and Youth Choir, made up of passionate local singers from in and around Gloucester, Hereford and Worcester. Full programme details can be found here. Booking for the 2025 Three Choirs Festival opens from 31 March, and those keen to get involved can find out how here.

Artistic director Geraint Bowen said: ‘It’s wonderful to be able to share with our audience the programme for the 2025 Three Choirs Festival in Hereford. There’s a huge variety of music and other events on offer, mixing much-loved favourites with exciting new commissions, and we look forward very much to welcoming our visitors to Hereford later in the summer.’