For many years, the church has hosted high quality concerts, and, thanks to the continuing support of the present vicar and PCC, in recent years we have welcomed international musicians of the highest calibre, including Richard Egarr, Raphael Wallfisch, Steven Devine, Cantabile and Ken Aiso.
I have been running the series since 2005, and it has been a pleasure to explore the chamber music repertoire in particular. High points for me have included several performances by the Aiso Quartet, a concert by the Barbirolli Quartet early in their now blossoming career, and a superb evening with the entire cello section of the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra.
We host concerts for other organisations such as TWIYCA (Tunbridge Wells International Young Concert Artists), the John Kerr Award for English Song, and our friends at the Tunbridge Wells International Music Festival.
We also do our best to encourage local performers, including those in our parish, and especially the young. We have started to hold an annual Young Performers' Showcase concert each Autumn, which celebrates the amazing talent of students in the area, and is an invaluable opportunity for young people thinking of music as a career to gain some genuine performance practice.
If you live in or near to Tunbridge Wells, then I hope you will take an opportunity to visit the church, which is a rare and beautiful building, and come to our concerts. I think you will come away understanding why every performer who sings or plays here finds it a rewarding and happy experience.
Rupert Preston Bell, Director of Music, King Charles the Martyr
