Ophelia looks back on her visit with Young Critics to see concert pianist and chamber musician Junyan Chen perform at Lichfield Festival. On 19 July, I had the pleasure of seeing Junyan Chen perform at Lichfield Cathedral. From the very…
After a hotly-contested competition (in temperatures to match), Friday Voices from Anslow near Burton upon Trent, emerged victorious and were crowned 2026 Midlands Choir of the Year as part of this year’s Lichfield Festival. The group, some of whom have…
Summer transports us to the far-away sounds of Kasai Masai as she saw them with Young Critics in Lichfield this month. As the crowd took their seats in the sweltering Guildhall, lit by the light of the beautiful stained glass…
As the final notes sound on Lichfield Festival 2026, we’re taking a moment to look back on the whirlwind of events that have filled the last fortnight. Lichfield Festival holds a special place in the hearts of our local audiences…
Isla popped back to eighteenth century France with Liberata Collective and got the read on Marie Antoinette for Young Critics. On Wednesday last week I had the opportunity to see Liberata Collective’s new opera ‘Antonia’. This opera featured well known…
The Festival has kicked off with the high drama of Othello staged outside Lichfield Cathedral by The Lord Chamberlain’s Men. Young Critic Lucian tells us how ‘it almost felt that you were a guilty bystander to Iago’s callous plot.’ Lichfield…
Our America250 mini-series marks the anniversary of US Independence with a focus on an eclectic mix of music from across the pond, from jazz to classical, Hollywood musicals to fingerstyle guitar-playing Americana. In our flagship classical Cathedral…
Back in 2021, we tentatively programmed the first post-Covid Lichfield Festival, hopeful that audiences would want to come! We needn’t have worried. The escapism of music, drama and dance was what everyone craved, and one of the highlights of that…
The exceptional Welsh dance company Ballet Cymru are true Lichfield Festival favourites who always leave the audience spellbound with their magnificent performances. In their 40th anniversary year, they’re back with an enchanting take on the classic fairy tale Sleeping Beauty,…
For many years now, one of the Festival’s focusses has been its jazz output, and 2026 is no different as we welcome a host of the UK’s most talented jazz exponents to Lichfield. Leading our line-up is our Associate Artist,…
Livewire performer Jess Gillam is one of the most recognisable saxophone players in the world. She became the first saxophonist to reach the BBC Young Musician finals in 2016, the youngest soloist to perform at the Last Night of the…
After an incredible live Semi-Final on Sunday 10th May, when we were treated the most glorious day of stunning singing, we are thrilled to announce that the finalists for Midlands Choir of the Year 2026. The six finalists are: Cantare…
