Dear Friends, Sponsors and Supporters 

Cuckfield Music Festival week June 7th to June 13th 2026 has been wonderful. We have been thrilled by the quality of all the Music through the week and are very grateful for the high attendance to every concert we have given.

Our Artistic Director Mark Travers introduced many thrilling acts to us. We started the week with a gentle Choral Evensong in Holy Trinity Church and finished the week with an outstanding performance of Leading Ladies, featuring Rachael Lloyd, Debs Parker and Gemma Hawkins, with guest star Luke Gasper performing in a song from Phantom of the Opera.

Part of our ethos is to promote youngsters in the early stages of their professional music career. So, we were delighted to promote Alexander Hancorn with trumpet through the ages, Kitty Casey with operatic songs from the heart, Corey Wickens playing violin from Vivaldi to Bernstein, and Alexander Rider playing Harp, from Debussy to Scott, in our free lunchtime concerts. Greatly helped by Kate Bray and William Hancox with their wonderful piano accompaniments.

On the evening of June 10th we featured Lindfield Community Voices, and No Strings Attached, a five-piece a cappella group, for an evening vocal extravaganza. Fun was had by all. On Thursday, June 11th we featured the marvellous jazz pianist and vocalist, Ian Shaw, who gave a barnstorming performance to rapturous applause.

Finally on Sunday the 13th we had an extra item, a workshop for children run by local Opera star Rebecca Milford, with 23 very happy children performing to equally happy parents.

May we take this opportunity to thank our wonderful sponsors: – SCOPS Arts Trust, Adelphi group, Savills Estate Agents, P&S Gallagher, the Independent State of Cuckfield, Whiteman’s Green social Club, Holy Trinity Church Cuckfield, and JoJo Boutique.

Without their brilliant support we could not bring all this music to the community. I would also like to thank the committee for their unstinting support and time given to make this festival happen. Alison Sinclair Hon Sec, Sue Vickery Treasurer, Mark Travers our Artistic Director, and Caroline Groom volunteer manager & front of house. Also, a big thank you to Sally Nakajima – website and ticketing management, and Claire Clark of Juniper Bloom for media marketing.

The volunteers at our performances, who many of you will have met, made every event run smoothly and our thanks also go to those who very kindly hosted the advertising boards outside their homes.

With best wishes to everyone for a lovely Summer.

David Spear
Chair of Cuckfield Music Festival Management Committee, and a Trustee of Cuckfield Music Festival

We will confirm the dates for next year’s festival soon.