Founding Partners
Bury Music Festival is a joint venture between three partner groups at the heart of Bury’s musical life
St Edmundsbury Cathedral
Music is central to the life of St Edmundsbury Cathedral. Our choirs enrich and beautify our worship across at least six weekly services. Many children across Bury St Edmunds and beyond experience the joy of singing through our work, either as choristers in the renowned Cathedral Choir or through our work with schools in the area. The Music Department is led by Claudia Grinnell, and Richard Cook is the Assistant Director of Music.
Bury Bach Choir
Bury Bach Choir is a group of enthusiastic people who love to perform the great choral works in wonderful surroundings. We are very fortunate to have an absolutely top-class Music Director and Rehearsal Accompanist.
We were founded in 1932 so have a long and interesting history. Over the years our repertoire has included all the great composers of choral music. We increase our horizons every year by mixing the familiar with the unfamiliar, including twentieth and twenty first century music. We celebrated our 90th Anniversary in 2022.
The Facade Ensemble
Founded at Cambridge University by its conductor Benedict Collins Rice to champion the music of 20th-century modernism, The Facade Ensemble now brings together Gramophone, BBC Music Magazine and Royal Philharmonic Society award-winners with BBC Radio 3 New Generation Artists, Britten Pears and City Music Foundation artists in compelling and original concerts like no others.
The ensemble has a core of eight or so musicians but one of its strengths is a versatility which enables it to perform music outside the scope of most chamber ensembles.
They are Ensemble-in-Residence at The Courtauld Institute and recent highlights have included sell-out performances of Stockhausen; UK tours of Schoenberg and Arvo Part.