 Press release for immediate use, Monday 23 February 2026 Three-year partnership announced between one of the UK’s most dynamic orchestras and Ryedale Festival  Ryedale Festival has announced a new three-year partnership with Sinfonia of London and the conductor John Wilson, marking a significant commitment to bringing orchestral music of the highest quality to audiences across North Yorkshire and the wider region. The partnership sees Sinfonia of London become a regular presence within the festival’s artistic programme over the next three years, allowing audiences to encounter the orchestra through a sequence of exciting projects. At the heart of this partnership is a shared belief in artistic ambition, creative programming, long-term audience building and the importance of bringing great music to audiences across the north of England. The partnership will begin in summer 2026 with a major orchestral concert presented as part of the Ryedale Festival at York Barbican on 12 July 2026. Tickets are available now from the Ryedale Festival website or directly from York Barbican. Entitled ‘An English Summer’, the programme celebrates British orchestral music in all its variety and colour, from Vaughan Williams’s The Lark Ascending to William Walton’s famous Spitfire Prelude and Fugue, as well as a glorious parade of British light music classics by composers including Eric Coates and Haydn Wood. The programme reflects a tradition of lyricism and inspired programming that sits at the heart of Sinfonia of London’s work and speaks directly to Ryedale Festival’s audiences. John Wilson is in demand at the highest level across the globe, having conducted many of the world’s finest orchestras over the past 30 years. In 2018 he relaunched Sinfonia of London, which has been described as ‘the most exciting thing currently happening on the British orchestral scene’ among an impressive string of accolades. They are now highly sought-after across the UK, regularly returning to sell-out audiences at the BBC Proms and London’s Barbican Centre, among many others. John Wilson said: “When I relaunched the Sinfonia of London in 2018 it was with the simple aim of bringing together outstanding players for projects we could really believe in, in the studio and on stage. Ryedale Festival has exactly that sense of purpose – ambitious programming, a genuine relationship with its audience and a commitment to taking great music beyond the obvious places. I’m delighted we’ll be returning over the next three years, starting with an ‘English Summer’ that celebrates the colour, character and sheer craftsmanship of British orchestral music.” Christopher Glynn, Artistic Director of Ryedale Festival, said: “John Wilson’s Sinfonia of London is one of the most exciting orchestras you can hear anywhere in the world. What’s more, the quality of the playing is matched by inspired and adventurous programming. I’m thrilled that this partnership will bring such wonderful music-making to Yorkshire over the next three years.’’ A spokesperson for York Barbican said: “We are delighted to be hosting the opening concert of this new partnership in 2026. York Barbican is committed to welcoming world-class artists while serving audiences across the region, and this concert is an exciting opportunity to be part of a longer-term artistic vision.” |
