WHAT'S ON
Baroque But Not
St Luke’s Church, West Holloway, London N7 9JE
Thursday 1 October 2026
6.45pm Doors open for drinks
7.15pm Performance begins ft. quiz!
8pm Performance ends
Baroque But Not is a new work in progress collaboration between Vache Baroque and Contemporary Vocal Sünds; a chance to see two new works exploring the relationship between Baroque performance and contemporary vocal experimentation.
FOLLIA is a devised performance by Ellie Westbrook, Oskar McCarthy and Mark Seow. Drawing on Arcangelo Corelli’s La Folia harmonic sequence, it treats Baroque material as a framework for experimentation. Spoken text, looping, improvisation, gesture and extended vocal techniques unfold alongside period instruments, creating a live evolving sound world in which performers respond to one another in real time.
The second work is a new commission by composer Amy Bryce, written specifically for this collaboration. Bryce’s work will employ her playful compositional style to draw out the absurdity and humour inherent in putting very old and very new musical approaches in dialogue.
IF IT AIN'T BROKE FOR CHILTERN SOCIETY
St Mary Magdalen Church, Great Hampden, Hampden Road, Great Missenden, HP16 9RD
7pm on Saturday 3 October 2026
English music for the ‘broken consort’: the modern symphony orchestra is the historical end game of different instruments being mixed together to create one big happy family. But what are the early examples? In England, from the reigns of Elizabeth I to Charles II, composers wrote ‘concerted’ music for instruments from different families – keyboards, plucked strings, viols, violins, and winds -, sometimes as an accompaniment to solo voices. Players from Vache Baroque present an hour-long programme of music from this fabulous repertory, ranging from punchy dances to reflective songs, with pieces by John Jenkins, Christopher Simpson, William Lawes, and others.
Featuring VB players and singers including…
Soprano Betty Makharinsky
Recorder Olivia Petryszak
Musical director/harpsichord Jonathan Darbourne
Baroque But Not
St Augustine’s Arts & Events Centre, Brighton
1.30pm on Sunday 4 October 2026
Three new experimental early music performances interspersed with audience feedback sessions in the St Augustine’s café
IF IT AIN'T BROKE AT FIDELIO CAFE
91-95 Clerkenwell Rd, London EC1R 5BX, United Kingdom
7pm on Tuesday 6 October 2026
Doors open at 6.30pm for cocktails, wine and bistro-style small plates, available to enjoy before and during the performance in Fidelio Cafe’s signature relaxed atmosphere. The musical programme runs from 7 – c.8.10pm. Guests are invited to stay on for a full dinner, with the complete menu to be shared with bookers.
A HISTORY OF SOUND IN CANTERBURY
St Mary’s Hall Studio Theatre, Canterbury
Wednesday 28 October, 10.30am & 2.30pm
The Agents of S.O.U.N.D have been sent on a mission to share what they have learnt about the history of sound on planet Earth!
Journey back in time to meet four trailblazing musicians from history, explore all the weird and wonderful sounds created in nature, and figure out the physics of sound, voices and instruments.
Recommended for ages 5 – 11, all welcome
ANNUAL FUNDRAISING DINNER
The Vache, Vache Lane, Chalfont St. Giles, Bucks HP8 4SD
Saturday 7 November
An intimate evening within the historic hall of The Vache, in aid of our 2027 performance and learning programmes. If you’d like to find our more, please email our Development Lead Liam on liam@vachebaroque.com.
JBYAP SHOWCASE AT ALL SAINTS CHURCH
All Saints Church, Chalfont St. Peter, Bucks
Sunday 22 November
Our Young Artist Programme is named in memory of our late patron, James Bowman CBE (1941 – 2023). James was a committed supporter of young musicians. He volunteered his time and expertise, even donating generously to Vache Baroque in our first years of existence. He was a trailblazing artist, pioneering the countertenor voice as part of the Early Music revival; an outstanding opera and oratorio soloist, yet also a skilled consort and choral singer who embraced the breadth of skills required to succeed across these closely-linked yet distinct worlds.
Join us for a public afternoon showcase to conclude our 2026 masterclass weekends.
A HISTORY OF SOUND
“…the most impactful visiting group we have ever had in school…“
“This was the best workshop we’ve had in a very long time. The musicians/cast were just exceptional and hilariously funny. The children genuinely enjoyed it. Everything was so well-rehearsed and presented in a very humorous and informative manner.”
In 2026 we continue to tour our workshop-show to state primaries and special schools in Bucks, Brent and Slough.
To date we’re proud to have worked with over 2700 children and young people. Want to find out more about how you could help us reach even more schools and young people in need of support with their musical journeys?
“It was the best day I loved it”
“Super duper amazingly fun”
“I was smiling the whole time!”
“I felt like I was in a different world”