The venue for all concerts will be the Gransden Hall, The Merritt Centre, Sherborne Girls, Bradford Road, Sherborne DT9 3QN unless stated otherwise. Queenie’s Café will be open for 30 minutes before the Gransden Hall Concerts to buy light refreshments. All tickets (including free admission) are available from events@sherborne.com, except where marked otherwise or not open to the public.
LUNCHTIME CONCERTS
Free admission | All welcome
Tuesdays as listed
1.45pm Cheap Street Church, Sherborne
29 April | 20 May | 10 June
Fridays as listed
1.45pm Gransden Hall, The Merritt Centre
2 May | 16 May | 13 June | 20 June
Booking advised - please scan the QR code
Abbey Services – not open to the public
27 April, 11.30 18 May, 11.30 – Joint Service with Sherborne Boys
CONTACT DETAILS:
Director of Music - Mark Cracknell
E: m.cracknell@sherborne.com
Music Administrator/The Merritt Centre Manager
T: 01935 818212
E: music@sherborne.com
It gives me great pleasure to introduce our music diary for this Trinity term 2025. Music has a very special place at Sherborne Girls, and we warmly and enthusiastically embrace music in all its forms. We have a packed and broad programme of events this term, the majority of which are open to everyone. Our musicians will be taking part in a variety of concerts and recitals, and we will also be hosting a number of events as part of The Sherborne Abbey Festival in our fabulous Gransden Hall.
During the opening weekend of the Festival, we are delighted to host two wonderful concerts at Sherborne Girls. On Saturday 3 May Susanna MacRae and Claire Habbershaw will
perform Words of Women - an inspiring concert showcasing a combination of poetry, prose and music to highlight key female literary figures and their influence on music. On Sunday 4 May, Ben Goldscheider, James Gilchrist and Anna Tilbrook will give a fabulous recital on horn, voice and piano.
As we move towards the end of term, we are excited to celebrate our leavers during the Commemoration concerts and service.
We very much look forward to welcoming you into the music department at Sherborne Girls.
Mark Cracknell Director of Music
Music Scholarships are available at 11+, 13+ and 16+
Please contact me if you would like more information or to arrange a pre-audition
Saturday 26 April
JOINT SCHOOLS’ COURTSFEST SHERBORNE SCHOOL
7.15pm | The Courts, Sherborne Boys
Not open to the public
Pupil rock bands and DJs from Sherborne Boys and Sherborne Girls perform to the Sixth Forms of both schools in the BSR, with a live link to a large screen in the Courts, whilst enjoying an evening of street food.
SHERBORNE ABBEY FESTIVAL
Saturday 3 May
WORDS
OF WOMEN
3.30pm
Gransden Hall | The Merritt Centre
Sherborne Girls
Susanna MacRae Soprano | Claire Habbershaw Piano
Poetry, prose and music combine to highlight key female literary figures and their influence on music. Readings of Emily Bronte, Christina Rosetti, Emily Dickinson and others each precede song settings by composers including Schumann, Barber, Copland, Libby Larsen and Jonathan Dove.
For more information on events, tickets or any other general enquiries please get in touch: Email: hello@sherborneabbeyfestival.org
Friday 2 May
CHAMBER MUSIC ENSEMBLES AND SOLOISTS
1.30pm | Sherborne Abbey
A variety of soloists and chamber ensembles, including the Joint Schools’ Wind Quintet, perform in the first of three concerts in this year’s Sherborne Abbey Festival.
This is a FREE event, no ticket is required
SHERBORNE A
Sunday 4 May
BEN GOLDSCHEIDER, JAMES GILCHRIST AND ANNA TILBROOK
3.30pm
Gransden Hall | The Merritt Centre | Sherborne Girls
Ben Goldscheider Horn | James Gilchrist Tenor | Anna Tilbrook Piano
A fabulous recital from a trio of international artists. Star horn soloist Ben Goldscheider – a member of the Boulez Ensemble and Principal Horn of the West-Eastern Divan Orchestra – joins renowned tenor James Gilchrist and pianist Anna Tilbrook for early Romantic song and horn pieces through to music by Britten. Thwarted love and longing opens the recital – Beethoven’s song cycle An die ferne Geliebte, then beautiful lyrical gems by Schumann and Schubert. The artistry of all three soloist is on show in the second half, ending with the exquisitely haunting and piquant Serenade for Tenor Horn and Strings.
For more information on events, tickets or any other general enquiries please get in touch: Email: hello@sherborneabbeyfestival.org
BBEY FESTIVAL
Tuesday 6 May
SHERBORNE GIRLS MADRIGAL SOCIETY
1.00pm | Sherborne Abbey
Mark Cracknell Director
Sherborne Girls Madrigal Society is the school's premier choir, founded 58 years ago. The ensemble gives regular concerts in the region in support of a wide range of charities.
Book at events@sherborne.com or scan QR code
Tuesday 6 May
SHERBORNE GIRLS CHAMBER ENSEMBLES
4.30pm
Gransden Hall | The Merritt Centre | Sherborne Girls
Sherborne Girls’ beautiful concert hall is the perfect place to experience the school’s exceptional young musicians performing in a range of chamber music genres.
Book at events@sherborne.com or scan QR
Sunday 11 May
JOINT SCHOOLS’ UNPLUGGED
ORGANISED JOINTLY WITH SHERBORNE BOYS
4.00pm | Benjamin Britten Hall | Sherborne Girls
Organised jointly with Sherborne Boys, Unplugged provides a platform for pupil bands and soloists to perform in a popular and acoustic style.
Not open to the public
Tuesday 13 May
JOINT SCHOOLS’ PREP SCHOOLS’ CHORAL DAY
10.00am-4.30pm | Sherborne Girls | Sherborne Boys
Pupils from Prep Schools will attend workshops and rehearsals at both Schools before coming together with the Sherborne Boys Chamber Choir and Sherborne Girls Madrigal Society for Evensong in Sherborne Abbey at 4.00pm.
Not open to the public
Friday 13 June
MUSIC SCHOLARS’ CONCERT
7.30pm
Gransden Hall | The Merritt Centre | Sherborne Girls
An opportunity for our younger Music Scholars to showcase their musical journey.
FREE ADMISSION | BOOKING ADVISED
Book at events@sherborne.com or scan QR code
Sunday 22 June
COMMEMORATION AND CONCERTO CONCERT
7.30pm
Gransden Hall | The Merritt Centre
Sherborne Girls
Showcasing the breadth of music at Sherborne Girls, including solo concertos performed with a professional orchestra.
Tuesday 24 June PERFORMING ARTS DINNER
7.00pm
Gransden Hall | The Merritt Centre
Sherborne Girls
An occasion for invited Music and Drama pupils to be recognised for their performances throughout the year.
Not open to the public
Thursday 26 June
LEAVERS’ SERVICE
3.30pm | Sherborne Abbey
Not open to the public
Thursday 26 June
LEAVERS’ GALA CONCERT
6.30pm
Gransden Hall | The Merritt Centre | Sherborne Girls
A farewell concert for musical girls leaving Sherborne Girls to perform one last time to friends and family.
