On what continues to be a busy year of performances for composer Edward Gregson, the latest premieres of two new works came at the Presteigne Festival, the leading classical music festival based in mid-Wales.

Premieres

His suite for solo cello 'Dances Old and New' was performed by Gemma Rosefield in a programme that also featured music by JS Bach, Dani Howard, Edmund Finnis and 2025 Festival Composer in Residence, Eleanor Alberg OBE.

In addition, the closing concert of the 43rd Festival also saw his 'Aubade', commissioned by the event, performed alongside Benjamin Britten's 'Prelude and Fugue', Op 29, a new 'Clarinet Concerto' from Huw Watkins, Steve Reich's 'Duet for two solo violins and string ensemble', and Shostakovich's starkly personal, 'Chamber Symphony in C minor'.

Awards and links

The Presteigne Festival has gained critical acclaim for its musical outlook under Artistic Director George Vass, who this year was presented with the prestigious RPS Leslie Boosey Award recognising his significant contribution to contemporary music.

2025 saw 14 new works and commissions featured over the five days from composers that included those with links to the banding world such as Gavin Higgins and Dani Howard, whilst over the years others such as Richard Blackford, John Pickard, Hilary Tann, John McCabe, Ian Wilson, Paul Patterson and Judith Bingham.

Ambitious artistic policy

Speaking about the event and the new commissions, Edward Gregson told 4BR: "Presteigne is a festival which punches way above its weight.

It doesn't have a large budget, but it does have an ambitious artistic policy which its artistic director and main conductor George Vass delivers year on year.

You will always see more composers at this festival than any other in the UK and the real joy is that its faithful audience returns every year to spend a week in this idyllic small town in rural Wales listening to new music from a wide range of living composers alongside more distant classics."

Highlight

He added: "For me it remains a highlight of my compositional life and to work with such talented young professional players is a bonus which none of the composers take for granted.

The final concert given by the 18 piece string orchestra conducted by George Vass was outstanding!"