Born in Dungiven in 1975, surrounded and infused with the rich cultural heritage of her native County Derry, Cara has risen to become one of the finest exponents of traditional Irish song anywhere in the world. Together with her husband and musical partner, Sam Lakeman, she has succesfully steered an eclectic musical path defying the typical pigeonholes that hinder most artists in her genre. Celebrated for entwining traditional and contemporary elements she has earned both commercial success and astonishing critical acclaim. Whether she's singing her native traditional songs of lost love and emigration, or original compositions, you will be hard pressed to find a more emotive and captivating performer. Cara Dillon is at the very top of her field and one has the feeling she'll remain there for a very long time.

Come and enjoy a wonderful afternoon of piano music, and perform if you like! Let's Play The Piano have been meeting monthly since 2015. Now in nine UK cities, our sessions are a fantastic opportunity to meet fellow music lovers, whether you play the piano or not. There's always an interesting mix of music at each session and playing is optional. We play some of the best grand pianos available, such as the Steinway Model D, Bechstein Model C, Yamaha GFX and Schimmel 208. The venues are carefully chosen and always of the highest quality. Adult players of all levels and musical styles are welcome to perform. Maybe you're thinking of learning the piano and would like to find out more! The group is friendly and appeals to all ages and backgrounds. It's a lot of fun and a great way to make new friends. If you would like to perform, just let us know when you arrive on the day or message the organiser in advance and we'll be sure to fit you in the programme. People can also attend as audience, there's no requirement to be a pianist.

Erland Cooper: Carve the Runes Then Be Content With Silence Erland Cooper is a Scottish composer, producer and multi-instrumentalist originally from Stromness, Orkney. As a solo artist, he has released five acclaimed studio albums, including a trilogy of work inspired by his childhood home, as well as themes of nature, people, place and time. His work combines field recordings with traditional orchestration and contemporary electronic elements. Through music, words and cinematography he explores landscape, memory and identity. He develops these themes further by partnering with other artists, writers and poets. Cooper also works across mixed media projects including installation art, theatre and film. He’s widely known for burying the only existing copy of the master tape of his first classical album in Scotland, deleting all digital files and leaving only a treasure hunt of clues for anyone to seek it. The tape was found in 2023 and the album will be released, exactly as it sounds from the earth, this year along with its world premiere of the completed score. Presented by Hey! Manchester. This is a 14+ event. Under 16s must be accompanied by an adult

Visitors are invited to join Sheffield Philharmonic Chorus in a day's workshop featuring English Anthems, conducted by our fantastic conductor Darius Battiwalla and featuring popular delights Toward the Unknown Region by Vaughan Williams, A Blest pair of Sirens and I Was Glad by Parry, and Faire is the Heaven by Harris. Knowing the pieces or working on them before hand will help you enjoy the day as there'll be little or no note-bashing. Information about joining the Chorus will be available on the day. Note there is no parking at the venue, lease use city centre car parks. 10.00. Registration 10.30 to 12.30 Morning session with break (drinks and cake provided) 14.00 to 16.30 Afternoon session with break (drinks and cake provided) 18.00 Free performance for family and friends (tickets required, limited numbers) Singer tickets £25. Please sign up by voice part, stating whether lower or upper voice, for example Soprano 1 or Soprano 2, listing the name of the singer even if someone else is booking for them. If you don't know whether you are upper or lower don't worry, we will allocate you on the day. NB. Singers who booked before 19 April will be contacted to ascertain their voice parts. Tickets for the performance are FREE, but tickets will be required as our Chorus is a large one (we expect around 100 of us to be there) so space is very limited. Wheelchair users are very welcome; please email Anne Adams [email protected] so we can make appropriate arrangements.

We're delighted to announce the launch of the Sefelda Consort, a new professional vocal consort based in Sheffield. For our first concert, we will be presenting a nature-inspired programme featuring music from Tudor England through to the 20th century. We look forward to seeing you all there! PROGRAMME: Thomas Morley - Now is the Month of Maying Orlando Gibbons - The Silver Swan Clement Janequin - Le Chant des Oiseaux Felix Mendelssohn - Der erste Frühlingstage Op. 48 Gabriel Fauré - Madrigal Op. 35 Gerald Finzi - 'My Spirit Sang All Day' and 'I Have Loved Flowers That Fade' from Seven Poems of Robert Bridges Op. 17 Lili Boulanger - Sous Bois Arthur Sullivan - The Long Day Closes Johannes Brahms - 4 Quartets Op. 92

Lisa Knapp and Gerry Diver, a dynamic duo, fuse their deep-seated love for English and Irish folk traditions into a vibrant project that's as grounded in tradition as it is daring in innovation. With Knapp's distinctive voice and her skill in weaving the ancient with the contemporary, alongside Diver's fiddle virtuosity and trailblazing production, theyre crafting an auditory journey that honours the past while boldly stepping into new musical territories. This partnership is poised to enchant traditional folk purists and new seekers alike, promising a fresh, exhilarating spin on folk music's timeless tales. Lisa Knapp's debut album Wild & Undaunted in 2007 saw her emerge as a distinctive voice in British folk, becoming known for her captivating vocals and highly imaginative approach. Deeply rooted in the folk traditions of Britain and beyond, she also garnered a highly coveted BBC Radio 2 Folk Award for her songwriting on Hidden Seam. Her 2017 release, Till April is Dead ~ A Garland of May, featuring Blur's Graham Coxon, now celebrated as a modern classic, is an exhilarating deep dive into historic songs and rituals of May. Recently, her voice graced the closing song of the Oscar nominated film Living (2022). Aps part of the Hack Poets Guild with Marry Waterson and Nathaniel Mann, she's released Blackletter Garland (One Little Independent 2023), showcasing her ongoing evolution and collaborative spirit in the folk scene. Gerry Diver, a visionary composer, producer, Irish fiddler, and multi instrumentalist, has significantly impacted the folk scene. His innovative Speech Project featured folk icons like Christy Moore, Shane MacGowan, Martin Hayes, and others in a collaborative masterpiece described as groundbreaking by The Guardian. Diver's role as an award-winning producer shines in his contributions to a host of contemporary folk albums. Diver has displayed his versatility by working with a broad spectrum of artists, including Damon Albarn, Sinéad OConnor, Tom Robinson, Benjamin Zephaniah, and many others, showcasing his ability to transcend musical boundaries. His creative prowess extends to the cinematic and television realms, where he has written soundtracks for various movie scores and BBC dramas, further establishing his reputation as a multi-faceted artist.