Welcome to our programme for the 2023–24 series of Chamber Music concerts.
Those who have attended our concerts know well the pleasures of sitting in the 1970s extension to the house at Kettle’s Yard as music washes over them—that special salon atmosphere, the intimacy and the intensity.
Justin Lee, our Chamber Music programmer, has again brought together a splendid array of performers, embracing both those who have delighted us before and the new sparkling talents he knows will flourish in our unique surroundings.
We open on 12 October with the Carducci Quartet playing Dvořák’s ‘American’ String Quartet and our concerts carry on during term time, brightening Thursday evenings throughout the year with a wonderful range of performances—from quartets to solo artists, strings to song. Do join us.
The full concert series is listed below. Subscription tickets allow entry to all 15 concerts, saving you £140 over the year.
Full Programme
12 October 2023 – Carducci Quartet
19 October 2023 – Kitty Whately, mezzo-soprano and Simon Lepper, piano
26 October 2023 – Susan Tomes, piano
2 November 2023 – Jordan Bak, viola and Richard Uttley, piano
16 November 2023 – Agate Quartet
23 November 2023 – The Jim and Helen Ede Concert: Van Kuijk Quartet
25 January 2024 – Laura Van Der Heijden, cello and Jâms Coleman, piano
1 February 2024 – Boris Giltburg, piano
8 February 2024 – Rossetti Ensemble, piano quartet
15 February 2024 – Marmen Quartet
22 February 2024 – The Max and Evelyn Forbes Concert: Jonathan Leibowitz, clarinet and Joseph Havlat, piano
2 May 2024 – Nash Ensemble
9 May 2024 – Huw Wiggin, saxophone and Noriko Ogawa, piano
16 May 2024 – Alasdair Beatson, piano
23 May 2024 – Solem Quartet
Chamber Music Subscription Ticket 2023–24
Purchase a subscription ticket to gain access into all 15 Chamber Music concerts, saving £140 over the year. Subscription tickets are £220 or £65 for students.
Kenji Umeda: a journey
This display in the Kettle’s Yard Research Space will exhibit never-before-seen drawings by Kenji Umeda (1948-2019), alongside a set of prints and correspondence between the artist and Jim Ede, recently gifted to the Kettle’s Yard Archive by the Umeda family.
Handpicked: Painting Flowers from 1900 to Today
Inspired by the presence of freshly cut flower displays and paintings such as Cyclamen and Primula (c. 1923) by Winifred Nicholson in the Kettle’s Yard house, Handpicked: Painting Flowers will present paintings featuring flowers by artists spanning across the 20th and 21st centuries.
Guided House Tour
Join one of our knowledgeable Visitor Assistants for an introductory guided tour of the Kettle’s Yard house.
‘A Modern Arrangement’: A Discussion on Flower Paintings & Modernism
Join us for a panel discussion with art historians Rebecca Birrell, Sophie Pickford and Naomi Polonsky, chaired by Kettle’s Yard Director Andrew Nairne, on the theme of flower paintings and Modernism.
Pause and Paint: Painting Flowers with Sandra Scott
Inspired by our current exhibition, Handpicked: Painting Flowers from 1900 to Today, we invite visitors to pause for a moment in the Clore Learning Studio and try your hand at painting flowers. Artist Sandra Scott will be on hand for support and guidance.
Studio Sunday: Relaxed Session
Join us for a relaxed Studio Sunday session aimed at children and families with additional sensory needs.
Studio Sunday
Unlock your creativity at our free, artist-led workshops for families in the Clore Learning Studio.
Guided House Tour
Join one of our knowledgeable Visitor Assistants for an introductory guided tour of the Kettle’s Yard house.
Friends-only Hours
Join us for our exclusive Friends-only hours on the last Sunday of every month and visit the house before it opens to the public.
Early Years Studio
Early Years Studio is a fun, creative, immersive experience for children aged 0–4.
Studio Sunday: Relaxed Session
Join us for a relaxed Studio Sunday session aimed at children and families with additional sensory needs.
Studio Sunday
Unlock your creativity at our free, artist-led workshops for families in the Clore Learning Studio.
Friends Event:
Join the Friends of Kettle’s Yard for a day out by coach to view and admire some of the best modern architecture of Oxford. After our expert-led morning walking tour, there will be a rare opportunity to visit Edwin Lutyen’s final work with its decorated chapel, followed by a splendid afternoon tea on a College lawn.
Exhibition Tour - Handpicked
Join us for an exhibition tour with Curatorial Assistant Meg Breckell and enjoy a behind-the-scenes insight into Handpicked: Painting Flowers from 1900 to Today.
Guided House Tour
Join one of our knowledgeable Visitor Assistants for an introductory guided tour of the Kettle’s Yard house.
New Music
We are excited to be planning four more New Music concerts at Kettle’s Yard in 2024. Our New Music Curator, BBC Radio 3’s Tom McKinney will reprise his success of his 2023 season bringing us more of the top talent and excitement in New Music today. Performers will be announced later in the year on our website (as above). Be brave and expand your musical horizons!
Student Music
We look forward to hosting a selection of the best of University student musicians at an evening concert on Thursday 7 March 2024. Details will be released in the spring.
