Elmore Quartet and Sir Michael Morpurgo bound for Penzance

Plenty of their West Cornwall audience has never needed a ticket. Over the past two years, four young string players have been turning up in school halls across the far west, playing Haydn and Schumann to children who may never have heard a live string quartet before. Next Sunday, the grown-ups get their turn.

Concerts Penzance is back for its winter series at St Mary’s Church in Penzance, with two afternoon concerts from two of the UK’s leading string quartets. The second brings in a famous name from the world of children’s books.

📷The Elmore Quartet. Credit: IOA Photography

The prizewinners opening the season

The Elmore Quartet open the series next Sunday (25 October) at 3pm.

Earlier this year they won first prize at the 74th Royal Over-Seas League International Music Competition, and they have picked up prizes across Europe too, including third prize at the Premio Paolo Borciani International String Quartet Competition in Reggio Emilia, Italy, in 2024. They are now the Hans Keller Chamber Fellows at Guildhall School of Music & Drama, after a fellowship at the Royal Northern College of Music teaching chamber music to undergraduate and postgraduate students.

Over the past three years they have recorded several times for BBC Radio 3 and played venues including Wigmore Hall, Kings Place in London, Brighton Dome and Bridgewater Hall. They are known for digging deep into the music they play, mixing intimacy and subtlety with real ferocity.

The Penzance programme is Haydn’s mysterious Quartet Op. 33 No. 1, Frank Bridge’s rhapsody A Londonderry Air, and Schumann’s joyous Quartet Op. 41 No. 2.

📷The Elmore Quartet. Credit: IOA Photography

Six weeks a year in West Cornwall

The Penzance concert is far from the quartet’s first visit. In 2024 the Elmores were chosen as MusicAbility Foundation’s first resident string quartet, in partnership with the Frost Music Trust, which funds the residency. The role runs until 2030.

It means the musicians spend up to six weeks a year in West Cornwall, playing regularly in the Concerts Penzance series and working with local schools, youth groups and community music groups. Their concerts for young people and their support for the school curriculum are free to schools, and they reach thousands of children every year. Plenty of those listeners, along with plenty of adults, are hearing great classical music played live for the very first time.

Tim Boulton, CEO of MusicAbility Foundation, said: “Thousands of local young people have been uplifted by the Elmore Quartet over the last two years. You can be inspired too on Sunday 25 October as these outstanding musicians bring their compelling freshness to music by Haydn, Bridge and Schumann. This is a musical treat not to be missed!”

📷The Elmore Quartet. Credit: IOA Photography

Vivaldi, poems and mince pies with Sir Michael Morpurgo

The series continues on Saturday 5 December at 3pm with the Brodsky Quartet. Their festive programme features their own arrangement of Vivaldi’s The Four Seasons for string quartet and double bass, with poetry written and read live by the author Sir Michael Morpurgo woven in between the music.

There is an extended interval with refreshments and mince pies, and a chance to meet Sir Michael and his wife, Clare Morpurgo. Sir Michael will be signing copies of his latest book, Down Burrow Lane, which tells the story of how the couple set up their charity Farms for City Children. The charity marks its 50th anniversary this year, and donations for the tea go straight to it.

After the interval, the Brodsky Quartet return to close the afternoon with Beethoven’s ‘Razumovsky’ Quartet Op. 59 No. 1.

📷The Elmore Quartet. Credit: IOA Photography

Who is behind Concerts Penzance

Concerts Penzance has been bringing international-quality classical music to the centre of the town since 2009. It is run by MusicAbility Foundation, a Penzance-based charity that uses music therapy, music-making, education, concerts and events to create opportunities for people of all ages and abilities. Nine trustees oversee the charity.

It recently restored a Regency building on Parade Street in Penzance, now the MusicAbility Centre, with two purpose-equipped music therapy rooms and other teaching spaces. The foundation works in partnership with MusicAbility Community Interest Company, a separate organisation that delivers services towards the same aims.

📷The Elmore Quartet. Credit: IOA Photography

How to get tickets

Tickets for both concerts are on sale through the Minack Theatre’s local venues page, or on the door where seats remain. Early booking is recommended.

Both concerts are at St Mary’s Church, Penzance, and both start at 3pm.

📷The Elmore Quartet. Credit: IOA Photography