Extraordinary musical experiences, in harmony with nature
Buy TicketsRegistered charity in England and Wales: 1212485
The White Horse Festival is an exciting new classical and cross-genre Festival for the South West, bringing world-class artists and innovative programming to the beautiful countryside of Wiltshire and the surrounds.
We believe that everyone deserves to have their lives changed by music, and to experience programming which is as interesting and innovative as you would find in London's leading venues from the Barbican to Ronnie Scott's. We are passionate about celebrating local talent across all disciplines, and championing stunning venues, beautiful landscapes and rural life in all its forms, brought together by music.
With our Artistic Director Hilary Davan Wetton (Holst Singers, RPO, City of London Choir) at the helm, our aim is for everyone to experience the power of music to bring communities together and to feel uplifted, energised and inspired.
Audiences and participants of all ages should be able to experience the power of music on your doorstep. We are bringing internationally-renowned artists from a variety of genres such as classical, jazz, drama and children's and exciting, innovative programming to you.
Children and young people feel inspired by getting 'hands on' with all types of music. Our amazing workshop leaders will be putting instruments and immersive experiences right into their little hands, alongside performances for adults which are completely inclusive and child friendly, so the whole family can experience it.
We're not just about music. Featuring Michelin-starred culinary delights, stunning venues, expert mixology and muddy fields across the weekend, we are miles away from 'traditional' concert programming.
Artistic Director
Hilary Davan Wetton is one of Britain's most versatile and dynamic conductors.
Both choral and orchestral repertoire has featured in his wide-ranging career, and Hilary is particularly admired for his interpretations of Haydn and Mendelssohn, as well as English music of the 20th century.
Acclaimed recordings include those with the City of London Choir, Guildford Choral Society, Holst Singers, London Philharmonic and Royal Philharmonic Orchestras.
A regular guest conductor with choirs and orchestras both in Britain and overseas, Hilary can be regularly heard on Radio 3 and Classic FM. His book, 'Reflections on Conducting' was published in 2021.
Festival Director & Trustee
Julia Hudson has a track record of 15 years in the arts, with experience across artistic planning and concert management, PR and marketing, and artist management. Previous workplaces included the National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain, Southern Sinfonia, based in Berkshire, and the Military Wives Choirs, a charity with 2000 members across the UK and overseas and a busy recording and performance schedule.
Julia grew up in Savernake Forest, Wiltshire, and after a period in London, has moved back to Ramsbury in Wiltshire with her family.
Julia is a choral musician and performs regularly in cathedrals and concert venues across the UK.
Trustee
John McLaren began his career in HM Diplomatic Service, serving in the Foreign & Commonwealth Office in London and the British Embassy in Tokyo. He then held senior positions in three major investment banks and a San Francisco venture capital company. He is currently on the board of several companies.
He wrote five novels and two children's stories, founded Masterprize, an international competition for composers, in partnership with the LSO, EMI, BBC and Classic FM, produced The Durham Concerto, and in 2024 wrote November Sunday, a birthday song for HM The King recorded by the Military Wives Choirs and The Band of the Household Cavalry.
Trustee
Richard has 23 years' service in The Band of the Household Cavalry, achieving the rank of Staff Corporal, where responsibilities include managing the Band's busy schedule of engagements and stage-managing performances such as the Military Music Spectacular on Horse Guards. Richard is regularly involved in state occasions such as the Coronation of His Majesty King Charles III, The King's Birthday Parade and Royal State Visits.
Richard is an experienced charity Trustee; he is currently Chair of Trustees of the Friends of Alexander First School and was previously Vice Chair of Trustees for the Military Wives Choirs. Richard also conducts a number of choirs, including the staff and parents' choir at Hall Grove School.
Trustee
Eliza Thompson is a composer, director and music consultant working in various aspects of film, TV and theatre. Music Supervisor film credits include: The Madness of King George, The Crucible, Dangerous Liaisons, Shadowlands. Music Consultant credits include: Othello, The Importance of Being Earnest, An Ideal Husband, St Trinian's 1 and 2. As composer, Eliza has written music for TV and radio and for theatre productions including Love for Love (RSC), The Double Dealer (Orange Tree), Miles Jupp's The Life I Lead (Wyndham's) and Eddie Izzard's Hamlet and Great Expectations (New York and London).
Eliza Thompson is the co-founder of OperaGlass Works, directing and producing chamber opera including The Rake's Progress and the films of The Turn of the Screw which won the Critics' Circle Award for Best Opera Film 2022 and, most recently, La Traviata.
Our talented Creative Friends are collaborators with and supporters of the White Horse Festival across the creative disciplines; we are inspired by their art and delighted to co-create with them.
Chef
Painter
Georgie Weedon is a British painter, filmmaker and author. She studied at Goldsmiths College and initially pursued a career in documentary filmmaking, producing and directing films for the BBC and Al Jazeera. She made a series of films for BBC Arts about the exiled theatre group Belarus Free Theatre, as well as joining Al Jazeera as the third employee and developing the documentary programme Witness. She has produced and directed several films including The Poet of Baghdad and Return to Somalia with Rageh Omaar. Her film work explored the idea of exile in all its forms. She also co-authored the book Off Screen: Four Young Artists in the Middle East.
More recently, Georgie's artistic journey has transitioned into painting, where she now works from her studio in Ramsbury. A modern colorist, Weedon's work exudes joy and energy, with her work being inspired by a sense of preemptive nostalgia, and an attempt to capture the fleeting beauty of the present. She is represented by Fosse Gallery, Stow-on-the-Wold and The Halland Gallery and was recently Artist in Residence at the Well Read Literary Festival at Wasing Estate. She lives in Ramsbury with her husband, the artist Philip Shaw, and their two daughters.
The White Horse Festival is a registered charity and we greatly value your support.
Ways to support us include:
Friends of the Festival have the chance to glimpse behind the scenes and gain exclusive access to our artists and performers. Friends all have a Festival pass, giving you access to every performance with the best seats reserved for you. If you would like to discuss becoming a Friend, please email Julia Hudson, Festival Director on cea4bba2a7af8eb9a6a7baaba6a1bcbdaba8abbdbaa7b8afa2e0ada1e0bba5.
We welcome prestigious artists and music leaders from across the country to perform at our Festival in a variety of genres. By funding their performance, we will give you the opportunity to meet with them over a glass of something special, to discuss their craft, their performance and the repertoire they will be performing. If you would like to discuss sponsoring an artist, please email Julia Hudson, Festival Director on cea4bba2a7af8eb9a6a7baaba6a1bcbdaba8abbdbaa7b8afa2e0ada1e0bba5.
All donations to the charity are warmly welcomed; funds raised through ticket sales or donations go back into the Festival to ensure it can develop year on year and that we can be entirely inclusive through our ticket pricing structures and schemes.
If you would like to make a donation to the Festival, please email Julia Hudson, Festival Director on cea4bba2a7af8eb9a6a7baaba6a1bcbdaba8abbdbaa7b8afa2e0ada1e0bba5.
Alternatively, please email cea4bba2a7af8eb9a6a7baaba6a1bcbdaba8abbdbaa7b8afa2e0ada1e0bba5 – we will respond as quickly as possible.