What is Pennine Spring Music? 

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Pennine Spring Music is an annual Festival of recitals, musical workshops, rehearsals and performances, held every Spring Bank Holiday week in the beautiful mediæval hilltop village of Heptonstall. The Festival was founded in 1985 by Ian Harrold, and brings together amateur instrumentalists and singers from all over Britain for a week of convivial music-making and performing. Expert tuition is provided by the musical director and associate director.

In addition, Pennine Spring Music includes an Education Programme with local junior and secondary schools, leading to a public performance within the opening concert of the week. The performance is developed by the pupils themselves under the expert guidance of professional musicians and educators in workshops held within the schools in the week prior to the Festival.

For those who want it, accommodation can be rented in local cottages, self-catering accomodation, and commercial premises. There is time to explore some of the most attractive walking country in England, driving further afield, as well as attending the Festival masterclasses and a range of concerts and recitals.

The orchestral concerts in which members perform take place on Tuesday, Friday and Saturday evenings, with rehearsals starting on Monday. The Festival starts earlier, on Bank Holiday Sunday, with a Young People's Concert. There are masterclasses early in the week, an invited concert, and two recital sessions. Members of Pennine Spring are able to attend these events without cost.