Nova Classical Music Festival

Join us for fantastic classical music played by young, talented musicians from Cornwall and beyond at Wheal Martyn Clay Museum in St Austell.

Join us for fantastic classical music played by young, talented musicians from Cornwall and beyond at the wonderful Wheal Martyn Clay Museum in St Austell.

The NOVA Festival was set up in 2021 by Joseph Barker as a way of giving back to the town that raised him, championing young Cornish talent and contributing to the cultural landscape of St Austell. In 2022 the festival expanded, adding an extra concert and involving more young musicians, playing an increasingly ambitious programme to a larger audience.

This year new and returning faces collaborate to present a diverse programme involving not only strings, but also piano, (kindly provided by Clive Pinkham).

We are very proud to be offering chamber music workshops for children aged 11 – 16 looking to develop their skills. And we will be performing free outreach concerts in local care homes.

We pride ourselves on being a genuinely accessible, chilled festival that is enjoyable for both audience and musicians.

The acoustics in the atrium at Wheal Martyn are fabulous; and with the audience sitting close to the musicians in the round, the concerts are very intimate and inclusive. The licenced bar is open before and during the interval of the performances, for snacks and drinks which you can enjoy on the sunny terrace. The venue has lots of free parking, is wheelchair friendly and children are most welcome: tickets for under 26s are subsidised at just £6 each performance.

Please visit the website at www.novaclassicalfestival.com to see what fabulous pieces we’ve chosen to play for this year’s programme…

We really are looking forward to sharing the music we love with everybody and cannot wait to see you there!