Delight in one of the jewels in the crown of the UK’s summer festivals, a pioneer of the early music making scene
Enjoy five world-class performances spanning the ages, from a celebration of song by Dowland and Purcell and an evening devoted to William Byrd, to a delightful programme of Baroque concertos by Telemann, Handel, Leclair, Vivaldi and J S Bach
Explore magnificent local estates and gardens, including Sissington Castle Garden, developed by Vita Sackville-West
“Ashley was an excellent Tour Director. His introductions to the music were both scholarly and accessible; he was extremely good at welding the group together and looking after everyone and was great fun to be with”
ACE customer who travelled with Ashley Solomon on a previous tour
Small-Group Tour
Please note that this is an exclusive small-group tour, limited to a maximum of 18 participants – an ideal number to appreciate the intimate performances and special atmosphere of this festival.
ACE is delighted to unveil a new destination in our 2026 ACE musical line-up – Stour Music – which boasts a well-deserved reputation for bringing top quality artists from all over the world together for inspirational music-making amidst a wonderfully welcoming atmosphere.
Set in the heart of the Garden of England, the festival takes its name from the River Stour, which runs along the valley between Ashford and Canterbury. In June each year, the main festival venue – a 12th century pilgrim church noted for its superb acoustic and charming rural setting – becomes a haven for those wishing to steep themselves in the transporting sounds of early music.
“Like a refreshing shower of everything that is best about music-making”
– British countertenor Robin Blaze
The festival was founded by the late Alfred Deller, the world-renowned countertenor, when he was at the height of his international career. Early festivals included luminaries of the early music scene, including the Schola Cantorum Basiliensis, Gustav Leonhardt, Frans Brueggen, Nikolaus Harnoncourt and the Concentus Musicus, David Munrow, and Alfred’s own group The Deller Consort.
The festival has grown in size and stature over the years, and continues to thrive. Mark Deller, Alfred’s son, took over the reins in 1975 and continued in post until 2020 when the current Artistic Director, Robert Hollingworth, stepped into the role.
“I love the unique combination of a rural Kent church, Alfred Deller’s grave nearby and the legendary hospitality – all of which seem to get musicians to give of their best. I’m flattered to be asked to step into Mark’s shoes, and as the third counter-tenor/director of a vocal group to run the festival, will continue to ‘sound the trumpet’ for Stour.”
– Artistic Director Robert Hollingworth
Our 2026 visit to Stour will whisk travellers through the ages on a musical journey full of sounds and colours. The tour opens with a recital by the wonderfully communicative soprano, Ruby Hughes, with Jonas Nordberg on lute. Together they will perform a Dowland and Purcell programme to mark the 400th anniversary year of Dowland’s death. The second concert of the evening features the excellent Fieri Consort, and explores ornamentation and female creativity in the 16th century.
On Saturday, our focus falls on William Byrd with an early evening musical play, featuring a strong choral soundtrack performed by The Renaissance Singers alongside the 70 year-old composer who is looking back at his life and works. The evening draws to a close with a display of Byrd’s daring harpsichord repertoire by Maciej Skrzeczkowski, winner of the 2023 Bruges Harpsichord competition.
We build towards a delightful final concert featuring a collection of Baroque Concertos by Telemann, Handel, Leclair, Vivaldi and J S Bach, performed by the London Handel Players.
The weekend’s music will be expertly introduced and brought to life by Tour Director, Ashley Solomon, who has himself been a frequent performer on the Stour stage. In addition to the music, we will take the opportunity to enjoy some of the area's most beautiful sites in summer, including a historical walking tour of Canterbury and and visits to Sissington Castle Garden (created by poet and writer Vita Sackville-West) and the gardens at Downs Court, with their sweeping lawns and fine trees.
We will stay at the four-star Champneys Eastwell Manor in Boughton Lees, Ashford, a beautiful countryside hotel set in a historical manor house and surrounded by peaceful gardens. The hotel is extremely well situated, just a ten-minute drive from the festival venue, and close to other sites on our itinerary.
Evening performances are due to take place at 1900 and 2115 (Day 2) and at 1930 and 2145 (Day 3), with an interval during which dinner will be taken in the on-site festival marquee.
“Ashley was an excellent Tour Director. His introductions to the music were both scholarly and accessible; he was extremely good at welding the group together and looking after everyone and was great fun to be with”
– ACE customer who travelled with Ashley Solomon on a previous tour
Ashley Solomon
Ashley is Chair and Head of Historical Performance at the Royal College of Music and Director of Baroque ensemble Florilegium.
Our Tour Director, Ashley Solomon, FRAM, FRCM, is a Fellow of the Royal College of Music and the Royal Academy of Music, Chair and Head of Historical Performance at the Royal College of Music, and Director of early music ensemble Florilegium. As a flautist and recorder player with Florilegium, he has recorded 35 CDs on the Dutch Channel Classics label, many of which have garnered international awards. Florilegium have performed over 1300 concerts worldwide, including many at London’s Wigmore Hall.
“I am delighted that ACE have added Stour to their programme of UK tours for 2026 and am particularly excited to be leading our first visit to the festival. Over the years I have performed a number of times with Florilegium and also as a soloist in the medieval church of All Saints’ Boughton Aluph. It has a unique atmosphere and energy that I know we will all be inspired by.”
– Tour Director Ashley Solomon
NEW MUSIC FESTIVAL: Stour Music
ACE is delighted to unveil a new destination in our 2026 ACE musical line-up – Stour Music – which boasts a well-deserved reputation for bringing top quality artists from all over the world together for inspirational music-making amidst a wonderfully welcoming atmosphere.
Watch the latest promotional video kindly shared with us from the official Stour Music team.
5
£2295
STOU-26
