Tree of Strings Festival Launches in Abbotsbury

The Tree of Strings Festival starts today in the nearby village of Abbotsbury, running from Friday, 3 July to Sunday, 5 July 2026. This new three-day event is the first showcase for the Tree of Strings charity, co-founded by cellist Adrian Brendel and CEO Elinor Shields. The project aims to make high-quality music more accessible in rural areas, support early-career musicians, and connect classical, jazz, folk, and contemporary genres. Brendel, who is also the artistic director, has put together a programme that brings together international artists and local communities in intimate settings. The charity itself focuses on music education in primary and special educational needs schools, alongside professional development for young artists.

Events are spread across several historic venues in the village, including a 14th-century tithe barn, St Nicholas' Church, and St Catherine's Chapel on the hill. Today's schedule begins with an afternoon performance by the Elmore Quartet and young cellist Hugo Svedberg, followed by voice and rhythm workshops. Later, Vietnamese pianist Khanh Nhi Luong, a bronze medallist at the 2024 Leeds International Piano Competition, plays works by Brahms and Beethoven, leading into an evening of Argentine tango and Brazilian samba featuring pianist Joanna MacGregor, percussionist Adriano Adewale, and Adrian Brendel.

Saturday's lineup offers a mix of folk, classical, and contemporary music. Local historian and musician Tim Laycock joins Colin Thompson for a session of Dorset songs and tales, while pianist Joseph Havlat performs his own live score to the 1929 silent film Drifters. The evening features Mendelssohn’s Octet for Strings and Beethoven’s G Minor Cello Sonata, followed by a late-night performance by Kit Downes, Heloise Werner, and Colin Alexander. Sunday concludes the festival with an early morning session at the chapel, a multi-era performance called Invisible Waves, and a finale featuring Schubert’s String Quintet.

If you are planning to head over from Bournemouth, tickets are available online through Eventbrite until 11:59 pm the night before each performance, with any remaining tickets sold at the door. A full pass covers the main concerts at the Tithe Barn and St Nicholas' Church, though the free workshops and chapel events require separate registration (several of which are already fully booked). It is worth bringing a warm layer for the evening concerts in the barn and wearing sensible shoes if you plan to walk up to St Catherine's Chapel.