Welcome

Welcome to the website of Kensington and Chelsea Music Society.

Launch of our 2023-24 Concert Series

On behalf of the KCMS committee, I am delighted to introduce our 62nd season of concerts. We were thrilled last season to be able to return to Leighton House for our first full season since 2018-19, following the renovation of the house and museum. The former home and studio of the leading Victorian artist Frederic, Lord Leighton (1830-1896), Leighton House is a unique and unforgettable setting for music. From its first construction in the 1860s up until shortly before his death, his studio-house and garden was Leighton’s constant preoccupation and delight, as he extended and decorated the building, and filled the rooms with an extraordinary collection of paintings, ceramics, textiles, furnishing and other objects. Leighton House has been closed to the public since March 2020 undergoing a transformative capital project and reopens in October 2022 with improved visitor facilities, step-free access to all public parts of the building, a new purpose-built gallery, new contemporary commissions and recovered original architecture lost in later additions following Leighton’s death.

I am delighted to announce another outstanding season of KCMS concerts, featuring a mixture of new and established artists, performing a varied and exciting programme of solo piano works, chamber music, and opera. We are delighted to be opening our series with a concert by the Delphine Trio, 2023-24 Leighton House Artists in Residence, in association with the Royal College of Music. We continue our partnership with Making Music and Opera Holland Park and, for the first time, co-promote a solo piano recital with the Keyboard Trust.

We will also continue to give three young, local musicians “Five Minutes of Fame” slots over the course of the season in association with the Wandsworth Young Musician of the Year Competition. Supporting young talent is very important to KCMS, and we continue to find innovative ways to support emerging artists.

None of this would be possible without the support of Killik & Co and Corridy Property Management, whose sponsorship enables KCMS to prosper and to showcase the finest musical talent. Killik & Co offers award-winning advice for your savings, planning and investments and Corridy Property Management provides independent property management services in prime locations in London. For further details, see their advertisements in this programme and visit their websites. Our heartfelt thanks also for the support of RBKC and the staff at Leighton House.

Tickets, priced at £20 per concert, are available via the Leighton House website. The best value, as always, is to be found in purchasing a season ticket: this year priced at a very reasonable £100, a saving of £40 (students and children £50 – a saving of £20). All tickets include wine, fruit juice or mineral water during the interval.

We hope to see you soon!

William Vann, KCMS Chairman