Events in the community

2026 Festival – Music by Jack’s Lake

Final Concert of the summer – Bullrushes

The fourth and last concert of our Music by Jack’s Lake festival will be held on Saturday 8th August at 6.00pm. The programme includes pieces by Mahler, Couperin, Ravel, Villa-Lobos and Rameau, with a finale from Henry Wood. We are delighted to welcome Cellist Miwa Rosso and Harpsichordist and Viola Alistair Scahill. Please join us, and bring your friends and family.

The detailed programme will include:

Gustav Mahler Symphony 4, last movement

Alexander Durante Danza, danza fanciulla

François Couperin:
Allemande en ré mineur (from: L’Art de toucher le clavecin)
Les Tours de passe-passe (from: Quatrième livre de pièces de clavecin)

Claude-Michel Schönberg:
I dreamed a dream (from: Les Misérables)

Maurice Ravel Sonata for violin and cello: iii Lent

Heitor Villa-Lobos Bachianas brasileiras n.5

Jean-Philippe Rameau:
Prélude in A minor (from: Premier livre de pièces de clavecin)
Sarabande in A (from: Nouvelles Suites de pièces de clavecin)

Trad. arr. Simon & Garfunkel Scarborough Fair

Andrew Lippa ”Evil like me” (from: Descendants)

Henry Wood Fantasia on British Sea Songs

The concert will feature performances from some of Ilona’s highly talented students: Arabella, Delilah and Molly

Mahler Symphony 4, last movement:
This movement of the Symphony presents heaven as a joyful paradise of perfect peace, happiness and abundance, free from suffering or earthly troubles. Angels and saints sing, dance and celebrate together, while plentiful food, drink and music create an atmosphere of generosity and delight. With nature freely providing its riches and heavenly music surpassing anything on earth, the text portrays heaven as an eternal place of harmony and bliss.
Villa Lobos Bachianas Brasileiras n.5:
This piece describes a peaceful midnight landscape where glowing clouds and the rising moon transform the night with beauty and serenity. As nature falls silent, the moonlight reflects across the sea, creating a dreamlike atmosphere that awakens deep emotions of wonder, longing and quiet sadness, while all of nature seems to honour the moon’s radiant presence.

And a short report of our last concert:

The third concert of our Music by Jack’s Lake festival was held on Sunday 12th July. Another evening of beautiful weather accompanied our musicians Ilona Domnich (soprano), Charles Mutter (piano/violin), Marney O’Sullivan (timpani) and Neil Varley (accordion).

An audience of 260 people, many with picnics, enjoyed a varied programme including Beethoven, Sibelius, Janacek and several film scores. The sound of the timpani rolled like summer thunder across the lake, thrilling everyone on a magical evening. Many thanks to all those who attended and supported us.

Set against the idyllic backdrop of Jack’s Lake on Monken Hadley Common, the evening delighted audiences and launched another inspiring season of music in the heart of our community. The founding principle of the lakeside concerts is to bring our communities together around world class music performed in the beautiful natural setting beside the Lake, while also raising funds to improve and maintain this treasured open space for everyone to enjoy and support a music education bursary.

And here are a few photos of the event.