Welcome to the 2025 Harrogate Interna�onal Sunday Series
We are excited to announce our upcoming programme of five coffee concerts for 2025, bringing a fantas�c range of ar�sts to your doorstep. Our stellar lineup includes talented and prize-winning chamber musicians.
Opening the 2025 season is Junyan Chen, who won the silver medal at the 2024 Leeds Interna�onal Piano Compe��on and is without doubt the fastest rising star in the piano world.
17-year-oldviolinprodigy LeiaZhu takestotheOld SwanstageforherHarrogatedebutinFebruary. In March, we welcome trumpet and harp duo Aaron Azunda Akugbo and Milo Harper, whilst 2024 Young Musician Amiri Harewood returns to Harrogate, fresh from success at the Royal Fes�val Hall in London. Closing the season on 6 April is the much-hailed Fibonacci Quartet, who recently became the only ensemble to win both First Prize and the Audience Prize at the Premio Paolo Borciani Interna�onal String Quartet Compe��on in Italy.
We look forward to welcoming you to the Old Swan Hotel in Spring 2025 for another sparkling season of coffee and chamber music.
Junyan Chen | piano
Sunday 26 January | 11am
We open the 31st Sunday Series with Junyan Chen, winner of Second Prize & The Marion Thorpe Silver Medal, the Alexandra Dariescu Award for Work by a Woman Composer and the Yaltah Menuhin Award (Chamber Music Prize) at the Leeds Interna�onal Piano Compe��on 2024.
Her confident playing, characterised by virtuoso technique, warmth, and vibrancy, has appeared in venues including Wigmore Hall, KKL Lucerne and Shanghai Symphony Orchestra Hall. As a soloist, she has collaborated with the Shanghai Philharmonic Orchestra, Brighton Philharmonic Orchestra, and XinZhu Symphony Orchestra.
Junyan currently studies at the Royal Academy of Music with Joanna MacGregor, CBE.
“a deligh�ul blend of delicacy and fire” – The Latest Programme:
J.S. Bach French Suite No.3 in B minor, BWV 814
Beethoven Piano Sonata No.28 in A major, Op.101
Bartók Three Studies, Op.18
Liszt Piano Sonata in B minor, S.178
Leia Zhu | violin
Sunday 9 February | 11am
Celebrated for her excep�onal musical maturity, 17-year-old Bri�sh violinist Leia Zhu has performed on the interna�onal stage in more than20countries since her debut at the age of four. In2022she was the youngest musician to be included on the list of30brilliant young musicians under30by ClassicFMfor its30th birthday special edi�on and was named arising star byBBC Magazine in2021.
Leia was Ar�st in Residence with the London Mozart Players aged just fourteen and has appeared as asoloist with the Philharmonia Orchestra, Royal Northern Sinfonia, Oxford Philharmonic Orchestra, and Na�onal Orchestra of Belgium.
“a poise and musical intelligence beyond her years” – The Latest Programme:
J.S. Bach Toccata and Fugue in D minor, BWV 565
Prokofiev Violin Sonata No. 2 in D major, Op.94bis
Dvořák Sona�na for Violin and Piano in G major, Op.100
Wieniawski Varia�ons on an Original Theme, Op.15
Rossini ‘Figaro’ from The Barber of Seville
Aaron Azunda Akugbo and Milo Harper | trumpet and harp
Sunday 2 March | 11am
Born in 1998 and of Nigerian-Sco�sh descent, Aaron Azunda Akugbo hails from Edinburgh and is poised as a future leading exponent of his instrument. He brings a wide-ranging musical taste to his ar�stry and despite being classically trained, cites Louis Armstrong as his biggest musical inspira�on.
A graduate of the Royal Academy of Music and an ex-principal of the Na�onal Youth Orchestra of Great Britain, Aaron made his London debut at the Royal Fes�val Hall playing the Haydn Trumpet Concerto with Chineke! in 2020.
Milo Harper is devoted to showcasing the harp's possibili�es - though�ully cura�ng music from both recognised and underrepresented composers to explore its history and poe�cism. He has performed with orchestras including the Berlin Staatskapelle, Philharmonia, Bri�en Sinfonia, London Philharmonic Orchestra and English Touring Opera.
“A revelatory pairing of trumpet and harp… Both players are rising stars of the classical music scene” – Arts Desk
Programme:
Villa-Lobos O Canto do Cisne Negro, W122
Eugène Bozza Rus�ques
Florence Price Night
Poulenc C'est ainsi que tu es
Debussy Nuit d'étoiles, L2
Liszt Le Rossignol
Lili Boulanger 2 Morceaux: Nocturne and Cortège
Joy Guidry They Know What They’ve Done to Us
George Enescu Légende
Amiri Harewood | piano
Sunday 23 March | 11am
Harrogate Music Fes�val Young Musician and winner of the Dorothy Parkinson Memorial Award for Young Bri�sh Ar�sts 2024, Amiri returns to Harrogate by popular demand. Currently studying at the Royal College of Music on a full scholarship under the tutelage of Danny Driver, Amiri holds the Ann Driver Trust Scholarship, supported by the Victor Dandaleh Founda�on. He previously studied at Trinity Music Academy under Richard Evans and, in 2024, was a winner at the Young Classical Ar�sts Trust Grand Prize.
Amiri regularly performs across the UK and abroad. Previous engagements include solo recitals at pres�gious venues including Steinway Hall, St Mar�n-in-the-Fields, Ins�tut Francais, Bishopsgate’s Ins�tute, the Royal Albert Hall (as part of the Steinway Young Ar�st series), and an appearance performing on BBC Radio London.
“…this was a Fes�val Hall debut of considerable panache”
– The Times
Programme:
Prokofiev Selec�on from Vision Fugi�ves, Op.22
Shostakovich Prelude & Fugues Op.87 No.7
J.S. Bach Par�ta No. 5 in G major, BWV 829
Brahms Piano Sonata No. 3 in F minor, Op.5
Fibonacci Quartet
Sunday 6 April | 11am
Kryštof Kohout | violin
Luna de Mol | violin
Elliot Kempton | viola
Findlay Spence | cello
As the only ensemble to ever win both First and Audience prizes at the Premio Paolo Borciani Interna�onal String Quartet Compe��on in Italy (2024), the Fibonacci Quartet are one of Europe's leading young string quartets. Originally formed at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London, the Fibonaccis are a Resident Ensemble at the Escuela Superior de Música Reina So�a in Madrid with Günter Pichler and at the Dutch String Quartet Academy in Amsterdam.
The Fibonacci Quartet are prolific prize winners and have received numerous awards including First Prize in the Royal Overseas League Chamber Music Compe��on, the Cava�na Chamber Music Compe��on and the Interna�onal Triomphe de l’Art Compe��on in Belgium.
“Interna�onal virtuosity” – The Latest Programme:
Haydn String Quartet in B flat major, Op.76, No.4 ‘The Sunrise’
Smetana String Quartet No.1 in E minor, ‘From My Life’
Beethoven String Quartet No.14 in C sharp minor, Op.131
Book your �ckets now!
Band Band A:
Ballroom front rows and inner aisles
Band B:
Ballroom and front of Garden Room
Band C: Garden Room
UNDER 35s FOR £5
Individual �ckets
£24
Series Subscrip�on: book all five concerts in the same price band and receive a 10% discount
£108
£23
£103.50
£21
£94.50
Just as we believe in suppor�ng musicians at all stages of their careers, we believe in making chamber music accessible to new genera�ons of audiences. To help ensure the future of chamber music, anyone under 35 can a�end for £5.
CONCERT TIMINGS
All concerts within the season will be approximately 2 hours in dura�on, including an interval.
BOOKING INFORMATION
Tickets can be booked through the Harrogate Interna�onal Fes�vals Office by the following methods:
Telephone 01423 562 303
Online harrogateinterna�onalfes�vals.com
In Person 32 Cheltenham Parade, Harrogate, HG1 1DB Tickets can be collected from the Box Office or at the Old Swan Hotel prior to the concert. E-�ckets are available.
Payment Method
Payment can be made by cash and major credit/debit cards (excluding American Express).
Booking Fees
All bookings are subject to a £2.50 booking fee.
Opening Times
The Fes�val Office is open Monday - Friday, 10am - 5pm for telephone and in person bookings or general enquiries.
Harrogate International Festival is a Registered Charity No. 244861. All information is correct at the time of going to print. The privacy policy and full T&Cs are available on our website.
Harrogate Interna�onal Fes�vals would like to thank the following organisa�ons for their support
Trusts and Foundations
Friends of the Festivals | Future 50 Foundation The Dorothy Parkinson Memorial Award WW Spooner Charitable Trust | GC Armitage Charitable Trust Charles and Elsie Sykes Trust
The Old Swan Hotel
The hotel has free car parking for Sunday Series patrons, and full disabled access. If travelling by train, the Old Swan Hotel is located a ten-minute walk or a short taxi drive from the railway sta�on.
Coffee and Tea will be available to purchase during the interval of all Sunday Series concerts from the hotel.
Please note the Old Swan Hotel accepts card payments only.
Friends of the Fes�val
Enhance your experience with the Friends of the Fes�vals. Whether you want to get more involved with our arts charity, or if you're simply looking to enjoy the benefits, join the Friends of the Fes�vals today for as li�le as £30.
● Priority entrance (before the crowds) with your membership card at unreserved events so you can choose your favourite seat
● Advance details of Harrogate Interna�onal Sunday Series and Harrogate Music Fes�val Programmes
● Priority booking for the Harrogate Interna�onal Sunday Series and Harrogate Music Fes�val
● Access with your membership card to the Friends’ Lounge prior to the concert at the Sunday Series with complimentary tea or coffee (when purchasing a �cket for the relevant event)
● A copy of the Fes�val's summer programme book
● A host of Friends’ benefits across some of Harrogate’s most beloved businesses
Join today by calling 01423 562 303 or visit our website harrogateinterna�onalfes�vals.com/fes�val-friends or call the Box Office on 01423 562 303
