The classical concerts you won’t want to miss in Leamington and Warwick this autumn

As this remarkable summer weather cools and the grass begins to green again, choirs and orchestras busily rehearsing, now is the time to consider the feast of musical events in this upcoming autumn. Among these is a Focus on Poland festival weekend at the end of this month. More details later in this preview.

Many will remember the event at St Mark’s church in Rugby Road at the very beginning of the war in Ukraine four years ago which, thanks to the generosity of local supporters, raised a sizeable fund to support refugees at the time. A local charity Belvedere CIC has worked tirelessly to send 200 tons of medical supplies to the country plus nearly 70 ambulances and front line vehicles. More ambulances are desperately needed as the soldier casualties increase. With some financial support from Blythe Liggins, Wiglesworth and the Edith and Jack Griffiths Charitable Trust, the next fundraising concert for those ambulances features The Coull Quartet playing quartets by Haydn, Dvořák and Beethoven plus a special guest appearance by the Rugby-based Ukrainian Shchedryk Choir. Scheduled for Thursday September 17 at All Saints’ church at 7pm, the ambitious aim to raise £7,000 is achievable. All proceeds will go to this deserving cause.

On Friday September 18, another deserving cause, the Rufus Trust, a local charity providing grants to low-income families in Warwickshire who have a member with learning difficulties, will host The King’s Singers at a gala event at Warwick Hall at Warwick School. That weekend, September 19, features the first choral event of this autumn with Ex Urbe Chamber Choir presenting an evening of King Charles III and Queen Camilla Coronation Music at St Nicholas church, Warwick.

The Opera Boys Farewell Tour, starring Paul Potts, will appear on the main stage of the Leamington Spa Centre on Friday September 25, billed as “a powerhouse classical crossover sensation”. This same Friday is the opening night of Focus on Poland, the three-day celebration of everything Polish. On opening night, violin duo the Ćwiżewicz Brothers, champions of lesser-known Polish works, will offer exciting interpretations of classical and folk music. Across another six events, Polish musicians, including folk singers plus some British musicians, will make this a remarkable cultural experience.

A local success story of this fine summer was the Orchestra of the Swan initiative, Swan Sessions, with members of the orchestra illustrating an extensive range of composers of several genres. This encouraging attempt to attract a diverse audience begins again on Thursday October 1 at 7pm at St Nicholas church, Warwick, continuing on a monthly basis until next June!

Armonico Consort supported by baroque players, cornett and sackbut ensemble begin their 2026/27 season with a 25th anniversary celebration named Venetian Blinders at St Mary’s church, Warwick on Saturday September 26. Director Christopher Monks continues to promote the diligent work of his team with Memory Singers – community choir groups and special outreach projects designed specifically for people living with dementia and their carers.

October is filled to the brim with many top international stars. Roderick Williams hosts a Last Night of the Proms at St Mary’s church, Warwick on Saturday October 3. Leamington Music’s much respected International String Quartet series begins on Friday October 9 with the 2025 Wigmore Hall String Quartet Competition winners Opus 13 – the Swedish-Norwegian combination performing works by Brahms, Beethoven and Adès. The Early Music series begins the following week, Tuesday October 13 at St Mary’s, with Chelys Consort of Viols and their ‘Musical Menagerie’.

Those local choirs and orchestras who began rehearsals in August take to the stage in this busy month, too. Director Laura Bailie leads Divertimento in an all-day ‘Come and Sing’ Vivaldi Gloria. Beauchamp Sinfonietta launch their new season on October 10 in Southam with Mendelssohn’s ‘Scottish’ Symphony. That same day Sinfonia of Birmingham perform Tchaikovsky’s ‘Pathétique’ at St Mary’s and the following Thursday, October 15, Orchestra of the Swan return to Warwick Hall to perform Sibelius Symphony No 5 soon to be followed by Warwickshire Symphony Orchestra performing the Tchaikovsky’s Pathétique at Warwick Hall on Saturday October 17. The month ends with the Royal Leamington Spa Bach Choir collaborating with Divertimento, Coventry Cathedral Chorus and support from Leamington Sinfonia with a performance of the 1937 composition ‘The Ordering of Moses’ by R Nathaniel Dett as part of the cathedral’s Black History Month. Many will remember Mahler 8 in Coventry Cathedral in May; this event on October 31 is most likely to be another of those remarkable occasions.

Richard Phillips Coffee Concerts begin on Tuesday October 20, a new initiative at the Unitarian Chapel in Warwick in the memory of the founder of Leamington Music, without whom music lovers in Leamington, Warwick and Kenilworth would not have enjoyed the last 20 or so years of music-making. Toby Carr (lute) and Hugo Hymas (tenor) will contribute to the celebration of John Dowland’s 400th anniversary year.

And so to November when the second Richard Phillips Coffee Concert is planned for November 17 at 11.30 at the Unitarian Chapel. By this time rehearsals by Warwick and Kenilworth Choral Society singers will be reaching a peak prior to their setting of Fauré’s Requiem on November 21.

What an autumn to look forward to – Christmas will soon be with us!