A major festival of chamber music on the dramatic North York Moors will this year invite audiences into the looking glass where they can expect the unexpected.

The North York Moors Chamber Music Festival, now in its 15th year, is well known for its daring programming but inclusive atmosphere.

This year’s festival runs from Sunday 13 to Saturday 26 August, and will feature a stunning line-up of around 30 international artists.

This year’s theme - Into the Looking Glass - takes its influence from Lewis Carroll’s classic novel, exploring the psychology of the mind through the prism of music, conveying its various chapters with carefully curated music which takes the audience on an adventurous journey through many twists and turns.

Known for having forged ahead to play to live audiences throughout the height of the pandemic by hiring an open-sided 5,000-square-foot marquee, the festival retains the format this year in the grounds of Welburn Manor (YO62 7HH) whilst also presenting a series of lunchtime concerts in some of the North York Moors National Park’s beautiful churches: St Michaels. Coxwold; St Hilda’s, Danby; St Hedda’s, Egton Bridge, and St Mary’s, Lastingham.

Artistic director and internationally renowned cellist Jamie Walton (who lives in the North York Moors) has gathered together around 30 international artists including pianist Katya Apekisheva, French horn virtuoso Ben Goldscheider, and violinists Charlotte Scott and Benjamin Baker, with festival debut appearances from the awarding-winning Ukrainian pianist Vadym Kholodenko and violin sensation Alena Baeva.

They will perform works by composers including Bach, Schubert, Strauss, Schumann, Debussy and Mendelssohn.

Jamie says: “Although the festival is primarily chamber music in the classic sense, the success of last year’s appearance by folk singer Sam Lee and his band opened up our audiences to new styles and acts, whilst attracting his own fanbase to the world of classic music. This year, we’re delighted to welcome eclectic singer/violinist Alice Zawadzki and her jazz-infused trio for a concert entitled Wonderland, specially developed for the festival.

“Throughout this festival, audiences can expect the unexpected in a fantastical fortnight which showcases great talent, sublime music and spectacular locations. There’ll be loads of vitality and we’ll be pushing some boundaries!”

Tickets for each main festival concert are £15, and free for under-30s. A season ticket for all 14 concerts costs £150.

To book, please email bookings@northyorkmoorsfestival.com, call 07722 038990, or visit www.northyorkmoorsfestival.com