The Festival Committee brings together representatives from the Barnes Music Society, Barnes Choir, Barnes Community Association, St Michael’s Barnes, The Friends of St Mary’s Barnes and local music lovers and professionals who volunteer their expertise.
Andrew Summers Chairman; James Day Artistic Director; Harriet Cole brochure & website, Eleanor Davison, soirées and pop-ups; Angela Hoggarth, Barnes Choir; Hugh Joslin sponsors; Charles Law, Barnes Music Society; Grytè Navardauskaitè Artist Manager; Peta Nightingale & Jeremy Limb, St Michael’s; Katherine Passerieu PR & Media; Gary Smith Logistics,; Evelyn Street-Wilcox Festival Administrator; Christine Thornton Youth Programme
Andrew Summers
Chairman
Andrew is the founder chairman of the Barnes Music Festival, combining it with his role as chairman of The Friends of St Mary’s Barnes. Although not a musician himself he has a deep passion for classical music and has wide management experience in business, government and education. This has included being chief executive of the Design Council, managing director of Sharwood’s Foods, chair of Companies House and deputy chair of King’s College London. He is currently chair of Ravensbourne University London.
James Day
Artistic Director
James has been Artistic Director of the Barnes Music Festival since 2018. He is also Chief Executive and Artistic Director of the Pimlico Musical Foundation and Director of Choral Music at Tiffin School. A prize-wining choral conductor at the Royal Academy of Music, he has worked with many of the leading conductors and has prepared choruses for the London Symphony Orchestra, Royal Opera House, Opera Holland Park, 2024 Proms and has been broadcast on BBC, ITV, Channel 4 and Classic FM.
Our Patrons
“Among the many good reasons for being enthusiastic about life in Barnes, we can now add a terrific music festival every year. It can only be a matter of time before Barnes is entered for the European City of Culture.”
Lord Patten of Barnes
Politician, diplomat, author and university chancellor
“Our ambition is to bring world-class music to Barnes - and to make it accessible to the whole community. As a Barnes resident, former parliamentarian and music lover, I am hopeful that, whatever your musical taste, you will find something to satisfy, to stimulate and to surprise you. Please take part. Please enjoy.”
Gyles Brandreth
A prolific writer and broadcaster, former MP and Government Whip
“Barnes is a fabulous place for a composer to live - our community holds such an inspirationally diverse collection of musicians, writers and artists that it's only natural we should have a Barnes Music Festival to celebrate and promote this highly concentrated cultural epicentre with the highest quality performances in beautiful and serene settings. I'm very proud to be a patron!”
Roxanna Panufnik
One of the UK's most popular and loved composers
“Being local to Barnes, I am thrilled to be associated with the Barnes Music Festival. It is a welcome addition to a part of London that has a long music tradition and that counts Gustav Holst as one of its own.”
Howard Goodall
Award-winning composer of choral music, stage musicals, film and TV scores and distinguished broadcaster