Winchelsea Arts
11th Season
2026 - 2027
Winchelsea Arts organises concerts of the highest quality for the local area, supporting emerging young musicians and through doing so raising the profile of the historic church of St Thomas the Martyr both in the wider South East region and nationally.
The Ancient Town of Winchelsea, part of the Cinque Port Confederation, is an historical, architectural and environmental gem; set on a hill overlooking Romney Marsh and the English Channel, protected by its status as a conservation area, yet easily accessible by car and public transport. For some two centuries, the town has been a magnet for the arts, with noteable residents including Victorian actors Dame Ellen Terry and Henry Irving; as well as authors William Makepeace Thackeray and Ford Madox Ford. Central to these qualities and geographically central to the Town itself is the Church of St Thomas the Martyr, where comedian Spike Milligan is buried.
This Church, of which only the choir remains of a much more extensive early 14th century structure, contains magnificent monuments, a unique collection of stained glass windows by Douglas Strachan and features excellent acoustics. These attributes make the Church a perfect venue for concerts.
Our 2026/2027 programe is listed here:
- The Clarinet Goes to Town (Current Season)
- The London Handel Players
- Piers Lane - piano
- Rautio Piano Trio
- Christmas Oratorio
- Ensemble Reza
- HPO Ensemble
Saturday 9th May 2026 7.30pm
The Clarinet Goes to Town
Emma Johnson - clarinet
John Lenehan - piano
Paul Clarvis - drum kit
Emma Johnson is one of the few clarinettists to have established a career as a solo performer which has taken her to venues all over the world. Johnson has made 30 recordings to date. Her album English Fantasy has been streamed 5 million times on Spotify whilst Voyage and The Mozart Album both reached the top of the classical charts. Together with John Lenehan, piano and Paul Clarvis, drums, Emma explores the roots of jazz whilst paying tribute to some of the greatest clarinettists of all time - Sidney Bechet, Benny Goodman and Artie Shaw. ‘This is a fabulous experience, a trio par excellence – ebullient, reflective, historical and unquestionably uplifting. Quite brilliant.’ (Philip Dukes, Artistic Director, Marlborough Concert Series)
Saturday 4th July at 7.30pm
The London Handel Players
Adrian Butterfield - violin and director
Julia Doyle - soprano
G.P. Telemann - Concerto for Flute and Violin in E minor
G.F. Handel - Ombre piante from Rodelinda, HWV 19 and Sweet Bird from L’Allegro, il Penseroso ed il Moderato HWV 55
M. Locke - Suite from The Tempest
A. Vivaldi - Flute Concerto in D minor ll Gran Mogol, RV 431a
H. Purcell - Suite from The Fairy Queen
J.S. Bach - Cantata Non sa che sia dolore, BWV 209
The London Handel Players, celebrated for their expressive artistry and deep affinity with the Baroque repertoire, return to present a richly varied programme spanning the elegance, drama and colour of early eighteenthcentury music. Their performance brings together Telemann’s lyrical imagination, Handel’s glittering vocal writing, and Locke’s evocative contribution to Restoration theatre, in addition to Vivaldi’s virtuosic brilliance and Purcell’s unmistakable theatrical flair. The evening concludes with Bach’s secular cantata for voice and flute, featuring the luminous soprano Julia Doyle, praised by The Guardian for her radiant purity and effortless agility.
Sunday 6th September at 4.00pm
Piers Lane - piano
J.S. Bach - Toccata in C minor, BWV 911
C. Debussy - Suite Bergamasque
F. Chopin - Mazurka in C# minor, Op.50 No.3 and Ballade in G minor, Op.23
F. Schubert - Impromptu in Gb, D899 No.3 and Sonata in D major, D850
Piers Lane, the internationally renowned pianist praised by The Times for his impeccable refinement and unforced brilliance, will perform a programme that includes many well-known works of the piano repertoire, including Debussy’s Clair de Lune. Known for his assured command of virtuosic works and his stylistic breadth, Lane brings clarity, precision and expressive strength to each score. This recital promises an outstanding evening of distinguished pianism and deeply informed musicianship.
Saturday 10th October at 7.30pm
Rautio Piano Trio
Jane Gordon - violin, Victoria Simonsen - cello and Jan Rautio - piano
F.J. Haydn - Trio in E major, Hob XV:28
L. Beethoven - Trio in B-Flat, Op. 11 "Gassenhauer"
F. Schubert - Trio in E flat, D.929
The Rautio Trio, internationally recognised for their precision and stylistic insight, present a programme that demonstrates their authority in Classical and early Romantic chamber music. Praised by Gramophone for their fresh, alert and technically superb performances, the trio bring definition, balance and expressive finesse to works that include Beethoven’s “Gassenhauer” Trio, whose theme became widely familiar through its use in Guy Ritchie’s Sherlock Holmes (2009). This concert offers chamber music of distinction from three outstanding musicians.
Thursday 17th December at 7.30pm
Christmas Oratorio
Ensemble OrQuesta - directed by Marcio da Silva
J.S. Bach - Christmas Oratorio, BWV 248
Once again, the church will be specially decorated by Nigel Ashton for this candlelit performance of Bach’s Christmas Oratorio, first presented in Leipzig in 1734 across the festive season. At its première the work was performed over six separate services, each cantata marking a different moment in the Christmas story. Long cherished by audiences for its jubilant choruses and expressive arias, this performance promises an uplifting start to the Christmas celebrations.
Saturday 13th March at 7.30pm (2027)
Ensemble Reza
F. Schubert - String Quartet No. 14 in D minor, D 810 "Death and the Maiden"
M. Ravel - String Quartet in F Major
Ensemble Reza, praised by The Strad for their remarkable unity and expressive power, present a programme centred on one of the most celebrated works in the chamber repertoire: Schubert’s Death and the Maiden Quartet, whose dramatic intensity and unforgettable variations have made it a favourite with audiences worldwide. Paired with a cornerstone of Twentieth Century Impressionism, Ravel’s Quartet in F, this concert showcases the ensemble at their finest in an evening of compelling, superbly crafted musicmaking.
Saturday 8th May at 7.30pm (2027)
HPO Ensemble
Marcio da Silva - conductor
From Bohemia to Brazil
B. Martinů - Nonet No.2, H374
J. Rheinberger - Nonet, Op139
H. Villa-Lobos - Chôros No. 7, "Settimino"
The HPO Ensemble, consisting of musicians from the Hastings Philharmonic Orchestra and acclaimed for their refined ensemble playing, perform a vibrant programme tracing a musical path From Bohemia to Brazil. Martinu’s Nonet, written with his characteristic rhythmic energy, sits alongside Rheinberger’s richly crafted Nonet, a work admired for its warmth and balance. The concert concludes with Villa-Lobos’s striking Septet, bringing the colour and vitality of Brazilian modernism to the fore in an evening of superb musicianship.