MATLOCK MUSIC PRESENTS LIVE MUSIC IN THE DALES ~ SHEFFIELD MUSIC ACADEMY

Matlock Music’s 2025/2026 season continues on Friday 27th February with the annual opportunity to hear outstanding young musicians from the local area.

The Sheffield Music Academy trains many of the best young musicians in and around Sheffield under the direction of Martin Cropper, its Music Director. It is a music education charity supported by the Department of Education as part of the network of only 15 Centres of Advanced Training. It started in 2006 with 13 students and now provides music education for around 150 musicians who show outstanding ability and potential on their instruments. It is dedicated to the education and encouragement of passionate young musicians aged 4-19.

Through expert tuition, specialist classes and a tailor-made curriculum, it nurtures young musicians to excel and expand their horizons. Many of them have gone on to study music at a conservatoire or university. Not only is this an opportunity to hear high quality performances but it allows these young musicians a rare and valuable chance to perform and thus gain experience in front of an adult audience, sometimes directing their peers and even their teachers. This concert is always extremely popular and is one of the regular events in our annual programme.

This year the ensemble will play a wide variety of music with players demonstrating their expertise in a range of solo roles accompanied by the rest of the players.

Martin Cropper is passionate about Chamber Music and has been fortunate to study and perform with some of the world’s most inspiring chamber musicians. He shares his energy and enthusiasm between Sheffield Music Academy and Oakham School, where he is Head of Strings. Martin also has over 20 years’ experience working with the City of Sheffield Youth Orchestra and regularly gives workshops for Music in the Round.

Do come and join us for what promises to be an exciting showcase of local young musical talent.

Future concerts in the 2025/26 season include the return of the amazing Wihan Quartet of Prague on 20th March and award-winning guitarist Chris Godhard on 24th April. Details of the full season are given on the society’s website.

The concert is on Friday 27th February at the Wheeldon Hall, Highfields School, Lumsdale, off the Chesterfield Road, Matlock, DE4 5NA starting at 7.30pm. Tickets at £8 will be available at the door. Under 18s are free and students and registered job-seekers pay half-price. All seats are unreserved. There is ample parking at the school. Further information is available on our website www.matlockmusic.org.uk or by phoning George Wolfe, Tel 01433 631308.