We are delighted to announce our 13th annual Chamber Music on Valentia Festival. With concerts, immersive based experiences, and music workshops, there is something for everyone and we look forward to welcoming you to the island.
Thursday, 13th August 2026
Valse & Film
7.30pm – 9.00pm | Church of St. John the Baptist, Knightstown
The opening concert takes inspiration from the genre of the ‘valse’ and some of the most striking music for film by composers from Schubert to Philip Glass, Michael Nyman to Wojciech Kilar, weaving dance with the evocations of these pieces.
PROGRAMME
Philip Glass: String Quartet No. 3 ‘Mishima’
Neil Martin: Sliabh Luachra Polkas
Franz Schubert: Piano Trio in E flat major D929, Andante con moto (as featured in Stanley Kubrick’s 1975 film Barry Lyndon)
Samuel Barber: Adagio for Strings
Michael Nyman: Yellow Beach
Michael Nyman: In Re Don Giovanni
Michael Nyman: Music from The Piano
Wojciech Kilar: Waltz from the film, The Leper
Featuring | Darragh Morgan violin Gaby Lester violin Sarah Jane-Bradley viola Hannah Roberts cello Adrian Mantu cello Mary Dullea piano
Late Night Session
9.30pm – 10.30pm | Church of St. John the Baptist, Knightstown
A mesmerising twilight hour of music for solo strings and wind by Festival artists. This will be a dedicated programme of women composers spanning 250 years.
Featuring | Maria du Toit clarinet Darragh Morgan violin Thomas Kemp violin/viola Sarah Jane-Bradley viola Hannah Roberts cello Adrian Mantu cello
Friday, 14th August 2026
Across the Ocean
7.30pm – 9.00pm | Church of the Immaculate Conception, Knightstown
Threading together some remarkable music from America on this other side of the Atlantic.
PROGRAMME
Antonín Dvorák: String Quartet in F major, Op. 96 ‘American’
John McDonald: ‘Tom’ for violin, cello and piano (World premiere)
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart: Trio K 498 for clarinet, viola and piano, ‘Kegelstatt’
Antonín Dvorák: Piano Quintet in A major, Op. 81
Featuring | Maria du Toit clarinet Darragh Morgan violin Gaby Lester violin Thomas Kemp violin/viola Sarah Jane-Bradley viola Hannah Roberts cello Adrian Mantu cello Mary Dullea piano
Saturday, 15th August 2026
Family Concert at the Lighthouse
11.00am – 11.45am | The Lighthouse, Cromwell Point
A highlight every year in the stunning location of one of the Great Lighthouses of Ireland, this is a location unlike any other to experience an interactive morning of music and fun. Book early to join this popular event with a selection of our 2026 Festival Artists.
Musical Map
2.00pm – 5.00pm | Across the island
A cornerstone of our programme is an afternoon of short, pop-up, free entry events around the island. For 2026, we have three up-close-and-personal sessions where audiences will have the opportunity to get involved in a workshop and performance by West Cork Gamelan to celebrate their 10th anniversary year, an informal sharing of work from ‘A way into composition’, and a special session called ‘The voice of the clarinet’ with Festival Artist, Maria du Toit.
Celebration of Kerry
6.00pm – 7.00pm | Church of Immaculate Conception, Knightstown
Join us for this special FREE concert featuring performances from our workshops and calls for participation. No booking required.
The Swiss Piano Trio
7.30pm – 9.00pm | Church of the Immaculate Conception, Knightstown
Founded in 1998, the Swiss Piano Trio has gained since a remarkable reputation as an ensemble of outstanding balance and technical perfection whose interpretations electrify with emotional power and their rich and colourful sound. It is therefore not surprising that the US-magazine Fanfare described the Swiss Piano Trio as “one of the very top piano trio ensembles on today’s stage“.
PROGRAMME
Ludwig van Beethoven: Piano Trio in C minor, Op. 1 No.3
Ludwig van Beethoven: Allegretto, WoO 39
Frank Martin: Trio sur des mélodies populaires irlandaises
Johannes Brahms: Piano Trio No. 3 in C minor, Op. 101
Featuring | Angela Golubeva violin Franz Ortner cello Martin Lucas Staub piano
Late Night Session: Trees and Tales
9.30pm – 10.30pm | Church of Immaculate Conception, Knightstown
An immersive experience exploring nature’s sounds and inspirational titles with music from early 20th century to the present day enhanced by a commissioned film installation by a Kerry creator inspired by the nature on Valentia.
PROGRAMME
Nick Roth: Ailanthus for violin and cello
Seán Ó Dálaigh: An Féileacáin for violin
Dvorák: Silent Woods for cello and piano
Nathan James Dearden: o dan y ddaear [under the earth] for piano trio
Amy Rooney: New work for solo piano (World premiere)
Murrough Connolly: New work for solo piano (World premiere)
Maurice Ravel: Ma Mére l’Oye (Mother Goose) Suite for piano trio
Featuring | Darragh Morgan violin Adrian Mantu cello Mary Dullea piano
Sunday, 16th August 2026
Lunchtime Concert: Moeran & Mozart
1.00pm – 2.00pm | Church of St. Dorarca and St. Teresa, Chapeltown
Take a midday break with a chamber music treat. This lunchtime, we celebrate the lyrical warmth of Mozart alongside the folk-infused vitality of our Festival Patron composer, Ernest J. Moeran.
PROGRAMME to include
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart: Clarinet Quintet in A major, K 581
Ernest J Moeran: String Quartet No 1 in A minor, Rondo: Allegro Vivace
Featuring | Maria du Toit clarinet Darragh Morgan violin Gaby Lester violin Thomas Kemp violin/viola Sarah Jane-Bradley viola Hannah Roberts cello Adrian Mantu cello
Finale Concert: ‘The Irish Mozart‘
1.00pm – 2.00pm | Church of St. Dorarca and St. Teresa, Chapeltown
Irish composer John Field earned the title ‘The Irish Mozart’ and this finale concert celebrates works for piano and strings, a rare performance of Irish composer Joan Trimble’s In Glenade and bookended by those ever-fresh work for string orchestra by Grieg and Holst.
PROGRAMME
Gustav Holst: St Paul’s Suite
Joan Trimble: In Glenade
John Field: Rondo for piano & strings in A-flat, H. 18
John Field: Nocturne in G major for piano & strings (from Piano Concerto No. 7)
Edvard Grieg: Holberg Suite
Featuring | Maria du Toit clarinet Darragh Morgan violin Gaby Lester violin Thomas Kemp violin/viola Sarah Jane-Bradley viola Hannah Roberts cello Adrian Mantu cello Ben Burley double bass Mary Dullea piano
