The Stanford Festival 2025

The Stanford Festival 2025

We are delighted to share the outline programme for The Stanford Festival 2025, which will take place in the beautiful surroundings of Salisbury Cathedral Close from 11–12 October 2025.

The weekend will feature a rich variety of talks, recitals, services, and social gatherings, celebrating the music and legacy of Sir Charles Villiers Stanford.

Some elements, including Friday’s informal dinner, Saturday’s lunch, and Sunday’s guided tour, will depend on levels of interest and will be confirmed in due course.

We warmly encourage members and friends to join us for what promises to be a memorable celebration of Stanford’s music and the English choral tradition. Thank you to those who have already signed up for the weekend!

Friday 10 October

• 17:30 – Evensong, Salisbury Cathedral

• 19:00 – Informal Dinner (venue and cost TBC, depending on interest

Saturday 11 October

• 10:00 – Talk: The History of Music at Salisbury Cathedral

• 11:00 – Recital: Violin & Piano

• 12:00 – Talk: The History of the Royal School of Church Music

• 13:00 – Lunch in Sarum College

• 14:00 – Talk: Samuel Coleridge-Taylor

• 15:00 – Recital: Voice & Piano

• 16:45 – Organ Recital (John Challenger, Salisbury Cathedral)

• 17:30 – Choral Evensong, Salisbury Cathedral

• 19:30 – Festival Drinks Reception, The White Heart

• 20:00 – Festival Dinner, The White Heart

Sunday 12 October

• 09:15 – Choral Mattins, Salisbury Cathedral

• 10:30 – Eucharist, Salisbury Cathedral

• 12:00 – Guided Tour (cost TBC, depending on interest)

• 13:00 – Lunch (venue and cost TBC, depending on interest)

• 16:30 – Choral Evensong, Salisbury Cathedral

Our Festival Home: Sarum College

We’re also pleased to announce that Sarum College, located within the Cathedral Close, will serve as our base throughout the weekend.

Situated just a stone’s throw from the Cathedral itself, Sarum College is steeped in history. Its roots trace back to the 17th century, though the site itself stands atop layers of older ecclesiastical heritage, with parts of the building occupying the footprint of the original Bishop’s Palace.

Over the centuries, it has housed theological colleges, training institutions, and musical gatherings — and today, it remains a vibrant centre for theological education, reflection, and public engagement. Its beautiful Georgian frontage and views across the Close make it a serene and fitting setting for our talks, gatherings, and Festival HQ.

We are immensely grateful to Sarum College for hosting us this October — and we look forward to welcoming Festival guests into its historic walls.

Recitalist Spotlight: John Challenger

Organist of Salisbury Cathedral and Stanford Festival 2025 Recitalist

We are thrilled to welcome John Challenger, Assistant Director of Music at Salisbury Cathedral, as our organ recitalist for The Stanford Festival 2025.

A graduate of St John’s College, Cambridge, and organ scholar under Andrew Nethsingha, John is widely recognised for his expressive and stylish playing. Since his appointment to Salisbury in 2012, he has played a central role in the musical life of the Cathedral, where his performances have received wide acclaim.

His recital for the Festival, taking place on Saturday 11 October, promises to be a deeply rewarding centrepiece of the weekend

Festival Tickets & Information

Pricing for the weekend is as following and represents good value for the weekend ahead:

• Full weekend ticket (includes all saturday events and dinner): £110pp

OR;

• Saturday Day Only: £65pp
• Saturday Dinner Only: £45pp

Please see the PayPal link below for payment of festival tickets.

We would also ask that attendees review the MENU for the Festival Dinner and confirm their menu choices and any dietary requirements for this and also the lunch during the day.

If attendees could please purchse their tickets and confirm their menu choices/dietary requirements by the 31 August please by emailing cvstanfordsociety@gmail.com or replying to our newsletters.

To assist us in organisation, it would also be useful for attendees to confirm if they would be interested in the following additional activities (not included in the ticket price):

1. Informal and inexpensive dinner on Friday 10 October – venue TBC
2. Tour of Salisbury Cathedral on Sunday 12 October – late morning
3. Roast lunch on Sunday 12 October – venue TBC

If you would like to purchase tickets via a different payment method or have any questions about the weekend, please get in touch with the society.

Please get in touch with us at cvstanfordsociety@gmail.com if you could like to use an alternative payment method or have any queries about the weekend.