Welcome to the Highgate International Chamber Music Festival – North London’s annual festival which brings together leading musicians from around the world to perform in unique combinations.
Wednesday 3rd – Sunday 7th December 2025, St Anne’s, Highgate
“Top soloists blend to perfection” – ArtsDesk
“A week of stylish playing that shone a new light on familiar repertoire” – The Strad
“Something quite spectacular – world-class musicians playing truly lovely music.” – Camden New Journal
Welcome to the 13th edition of the Highgate International Chamber Music Festival!
13 certainly does not feel like an unlucky number for us. This December, we are proud to present a festival brimming with variety, energy and our customary world-class quality.
With seven concerts over five days, this year’s programme includes a star turn from supreme Baroque violinist Rachel Podger, who returns to HICMF following a sold-out evening last year. Amongst her specialist collaborators is emerging Dutch violinist Charlotte Spruit, hailed as ‘one to watch’ by Gramophone. We welcome the accompanist of the moment, James Baillieu, for a candle-lit evening of Schubert Songs with BBC Radio 3 New Generation 2025 soprano Erika Baikoff; and present a stunning folk programme unlike anything you are likely to have seen before, led by Manchester Collective founder Rakhi Singh. Plus, the riotous return of Not So Silent Cinema, this time screening the Buster Keaton romp ‘College’; and a fascinating creative back and forth between HICMF director-founder and composer Natalie Klouda and acclaimed artist Nathaniel Boyd, in which the cello is celebrated through music and paintings.
Continuing our commitment to education, in October we’ll work with children from Haringey primary schools, bringing to life Rob Biddulph’s book ‘Blown Away’ and its charming tale of Penguin Blue and his brand new kite, alongside our longstanding creative partner Polly Ives.
As always, we are honoured to welcome so many internationally acclaimed performers to HICMF. This year, 23 remarkable artists from around the world will gather in Highgate to perform just for you, in the magical, intimate setting of St Anne’s Church. In the words of one of our audience members: ‘World-class artists… literally feet away from you, it’s an experience that can’t be equalled.’
None of this would be possible without the generous support of our Friends, Supporters, sponsors and grant-making trusts.
If you would like to support HICMF, and ensure we can continue to mount festivals of the highest quality in the future, please consider signing up as a Friend or Supporter, or get in touch to discuss how we might work together.
We can’t wait to welcome you to the 2025 festival.
Irina Botan, Ashok Klouda & Natalie Klouda
Founders & Co-directors of the Highgate International Chamber Music Festival
Honorary Patrons: Elisabeth and Bob Boas
