Win a weekend pass for Awaken, an online celebration of music for spring at York’s National Centre for Early Music

Win a weekend pass for Awaken, an online celebration of music for spring at York’s National Centre for Early Music (NCEM). 

The National Centre for Early Music is planning an online celebration of music for spring. Awaken features some of the UK’s most celebrated musicians, working across a range of historic venues celebrating the unique association between the City of York and the exquisite beauty of the music of the past.

The celebration

Taking place over two days, the festivities begin with a musical whistle-stop tour led by the acclaimed all-male vocal group The Gesualdo Six. Beyond these shores: A York Tapestry explores the musical ‘jewels in the crown’ of Renaissance Europe as revealed in the stained glass and manuscripts of the City of York. The journey shows off some of the city’s most beautiful buildings including Holy Trinity Church, Goodramgate, St Olave’s Church, and the medieval splendour of the Merchant Adventurers’ Hall.

The weekend’s grand finale features I Fagiolini, with a concert filmed in York and directed by Robert Hollingworth. They are joined by the English Cornett & Sackbut Ensemble to present a multi-choir extravaganza of music from the Italian Renaissance, taking us on a musical journey across Spain to the New World and back again. 

Also appearing in Awaken is the internationally-acclaimed countertenor Iestyn Davies performing with the instrumental viol specialists Fretwork, bringing light to the 17th century world of J.C. Bach and his contemporaries interlaced with the 20th century genius of Vaughan Williams; BBC New Generation Artists the Consone Quartet perform Schubert’s magnificent Quintet with cellist Alexander Rolton; and rising stars Ensemble Augelletti present their very own Spring Lockdown programme as they make their York debut at the NCEM’s home, St Margaret’s Church.

The competition

For your chance to win one of two weekend passes for Awaken, sign up to the Northern Soul newsletter (details of how to do this are on the right-hand side of the page) and send an email to emma@northernsoul.me.uk with the title ‘Awaken’ and remember to include your name and address in the body of the email. 

Closing date: March 11, 2021. 

A winner will be picked at random and notified by March 11, 2021. 

Awaken will take place March 27 – 29, 2021. Weekend Pass £40, individual concerts £10 available on demand until April 30, 2021. For more information, click here.