Festival 2026
The Exon Singers will hold their annual festival in the historic market town of Tavistock, Devon, between 28th July - 2nd August, with a Come and Sing Workshop on Friday, 31st July.
The outline of the 2026 Festival is published below.
Events take place at the beautiful 13th century St Eustachius Parish Church, and nearby National Trust Buckland Abbey.
Tickets will be available on the door for all concerts (card payments accepted), online or in advance from secretary@exonsingers.org.uk
Evening Concert tickets £15 (Tue, Wed & Thu) / £18 (Sat) | U18 free.
Choral Workshop £10 (Fri) / Workshop & Performance £25 | U18 free.
Lunchtime Recitals Free with retiring collection
Tickets for the 2026 Festival will be available to purchase online by the end of May 2026.
I WAS GLAD
Wednesday 30th July 2025 7.30pm
Tavistock Parish Church
Great Anthems for Choir and Organ, interspersed with shining contemporary a cappella works.
Charles H H Parry I was Glad
Joanna Marsh Thou hast searched me and known me
Simon Preston Alleluyas
Eriks Ešenvalds Magnificat
Edward Bairstow Blessed City, Heavenly Salem
--- Short Interval ---
Edward Elgar The Spirit of the Lord
Amy Summers Nunc dimittis
Louis Vierne Adagio (Symphonie III)
Gerald Finzi Lo, the Full Final Sacrifice
HALDON QUARTET
Thursday 31st July 2025 1.10pm
Tavistock Parish Church
An irresistible programme of lunchtime treats.
Haldon Quartet perform three representative works of the 17th, 19th, and 20th centuries that pay homage to the past but also look forward to the future. Purcell's expressive, surreal, fantasias will be followed by capricious Mendelssohn and minimalist Jenkins. Hear how the past and future is experienced in music.
Henry Purcell Two Fantasias
Felix Mendelssohn Tema con Variazioni, Scherzo and Canzonetta, Op. 81
Karl Jenkins String Quartet No. 2
DESPITE THE SNOW
Thursday 31st July 2025 7.30pm
Tavistock Parish Church
“Without love we may not live.”
Francis Poulenc Un soir de neige
Morten Lauridsen Mid-Winter Songs
Pēteris Vasks Baltā ainava | White Scenery
Eriks Ešenvalds Stars
Joanna Marsh All Shall Be Well
Bob Chilcott Sun, Moon, Sea, and Stars
COMPLINE BY CANDLELIGHT
Thursday 31st July 2025 9.00pm
Tavistock Parish Church
Quietness and reflection.
Following the concert Despite the Snow, and after a short break, the beautiful and meditative service of Compline will take place under candlelight. It lasts for approximately 20 minutes and congregation participation is welcomed. The service is sung to Gregorian Chant and will conclude with the reflective Thou hast searched me and known me by Joanna Marsh.
Service sheets will be distributed at the service.
THE EXON SINGERS: Sun, Moon, Sea, and Stars
Friday 1st August 2025 1.10pm
The Great Barn, National Trust Buckland Abbey
Choral highlights from The Exon Festival sung in the spacious acoustic of The Great Barn at National Trust Buckland Abbey.
A varied lunchtime recital featuring 20th and 21st century works from Francis Poulenc Un soir de neige to an arrangement of Blackbird by The Beatles. Also featuring Eriks Ešenvalds’ luminous setting of a Sara Teasdale poem Stars, written for choir and varyingly filled wine glasses.
Visitors and concert goers alike will be welcome to wander around the Great Barn as we perform this 50-minute informal recital.
Free (after admission to the grounds)
NEIL TAYLOR: ORGAN RECITAL
Friday 1st August 2025 1.10pm
Tavistock Parish Church
J S Bach Prelude and Fugue in Eb Major BWV 552
Louis Vierne Adagio (Symphonie III)
Simon Preston Alleluyas
César Franck Chorale No. 3 in A minor
CHORAL WORKSHOP:
ELGAR/TARNEY | THE SPIRIT OF THE LORD
Friday 1st August 2025 6.30pm - 8.30pm
Tavistock Parish Church
Performance with the Exon Singers
Saturday 2nd August 2025
PM Rehearsal / 7.30pm Concert
Join The Exon Singers, Artistic Director Joseph Judge, and Accompanist Neil Taylor for a choral workshop on Edward Elgar The Spirit of the Lord – the incredible introduction to his Oratorio The Apostles – and Oliver Tarney’s contemporary setting, inspired by the former, and considered a “re-imagining”.
As well as a fun evening working on all aspects of singing technique and some hints on score reading, it’s the perfect preparation for your involvement in Saturday evening’s performance of the two works accompanied by Piano and String Quintet.
Scores will be provided
Edward Elgar The Spirit of the Lord
Oliver Tarney The Spirit of the Lord
Joseph Judge, Conductor
Neil Taylor, Accompanist
Refuge
Saturday 2nd August 2025 7.30pm
Tavistock Parish Church
The Exon Singers / Haldon Quartet / Neil Taylor / Exon Festival Chorus
“no other light or guide than the one that burned in my heart.”
Dietrich Buxtehude Ad manus from Membra Jesu nostri
Caroline Shaw To the Hands
--- Interval ---
Edward Elgar arr Judge The Spirit of the Lord
Strings
Oliver Tarney The Spirit of the Lord
Ola Gjeilo Dark Night of the Soul
CHORAL EUCHARIST
Sunday 3rd August 2025 9.45am
Tavistock Parish Church
W A Mozart Missa brevis in F major, K.192/186f
Gerald Finzi Amen from Lo, the Full Final Sacrifice
Tickets
Tickets available on the door for all concerts (card payments accepted), online or in advance from secretary@exonsingers.org.uk
Evening Concert tickets £15 (Tue, Wed & Thu) / £18 (Sat) | U18 free.
Choral Workshop £10 (Fri) / Workshop & Performance £25 | U18 free.
Lunchtime Recitals Free with retiring collection
Festival Ticket £45 - for Friends and Benefactors, covers all evening concerts