About

Berwick Music Series

Berwick Music Series was formed in 2019 by the Berwick Educational Association with the aim of celebrating classical and contemporary music played by soloists and small ensembles, performed by nationally and internationally known performers. The Series also aims to support and showcase work by composers from the North East of England.

As well as concerts, we also have a full educational programme for schools, supported by the performers, sound installations, and series of talks on topics related to the theme of the year.

The 2022 Berwick Music Series International Composition Competition received around 100 entries from 20 countries worldwide. Congratulations to the winners, Eden Lonsdale and Elisabet Dijkstra! The 2023 competition will follow the same outline as 2022, with the same prizes. This year the judges are requesting an original competition for viola. The winners will receive cash prizes and a performance of the winning piece. 

So far, we have run programmes in 2019, 2021 and 2022 (2020 was cancelled due to COVID). Artists who have performed include:

  • Quatuor Bozzini
  • Frankland String Quartet
  • Stephen Upshaw (viola)
  • Dulcinea String Quartet
  • Darragh Morgan (violin)
  • Fiona Winning (viola)

Video showing highlights of the final day of BMS 2019

People

Project Manager: Graham Kelly
Artistic Director: Prof. Michael Worboys
Fund raising: Cian McHugh

Advisory Board

Prof. Sam Hayden, Trinity Laban Conservatoire
Dr. Martin Parker, Edinburgh University
Julian Smith, Berwick resident
Prof. Martin Stokes, Kings College, London
Dr. James Weeks, Durham University

and a host of volunteers