Manchester is set to be hotter than Los Angeles this bank holiday weekend, hitting a scorching 28°C!
If you’re looking for the perfect way to spend a hot, sunny bank holiday weekend in the city with the kids in tow, we’ve put together the ultimate itinerary. Crack out your sunglasses and sun cream and get ready for a perfect day with music, crafts, food and paddling.
Morning: Al Fresco Breakfast & Cathedral Gardens
Start your sun-soaked day in the heart of the city. Head over to the Northern Quarter or Exchange Square to grab an iced coffee for the adults, some fresh pastries for the kids, and find a spot to sit outside.
Once fuelled up, stroll over to Cathedral Gardens. On a hot day, this open green space is buzzing. Let the kids run around on the grass and dip their feet in the water fountain, take in the beautiful architecture of Manchester Cathedral, and enjoy the glorious morning sunshine.
The Main Event: The Family Festival at Stoller Hall
As the sun starts to hit its peak and you’re looking to dodge the heat (or find a beautifully air-conditioned sanctuary), it’s time to head round the corner to Stoller Hall for our fun-filled Family Festival.
Running on Saturday 23 May and Sunday 24 May 2026, this is Stoller Hall’s first-ever two-day celebration of music for families.
The Ticketed Highlights: Book to see an enchanting performance of The Storm Whale, a brand-new storybook concert based on the books by Benji Davies. Or join Stoller Story Sounds for an immersive musical experience with Robot! (perfect for ages 3–5).
Saturday (SEND Day): If your family benefits from a more relaxed, sensory-friendly environment, Saturday’s line-up is uniquely accessible. Drop into the SEND Music Cafe with the Manchester Camerata for interactive music therapy sessions, or chill out in The Zen-Den, a peaceful, quiet space filled with calming toys and sensory lights.
Arts & Crafts: Both days feature a free drop-in Creativity Station, allowing the kids to let their imaginations run wild with self-guided crafts.
It’s a magnificent blend of world-class music, hands-on creativity, and a welcoming atmosphere that will keep the kids captivated for hours.
Late Afternoon: Ice Cream & A Stroll Through the Northern Quarter
Manchester is spoilt for choice when it comes to ice cream and no hot day is complete without a cold treat. Black Milk is just a 10-15 minute walk away, serving ice cream and gelato in flavours like pistachio, hazelnut and white chocolate, as well as sundaes, pancake stacks and cheesecakes. Then take a stroll through the buzzing Northern Quarter and see if you can spot the large-scale graffiti and colourful murals, visit the craft centre, or have fun at the Manchester Police Museum. It’s all on Stoller Hall’s doorstep.
What are your favourite sunny day spots in Manchester? Are you planning to check out the Stoller Hall Family Festival this weekend? Let us know in the comments below
What might Mozart have composed if he’d set foot in Cuba? The Sarahbanda offer a dazzling answer.
Born from a passion for Cuban and classical music, the Sarahbanda reinvent the way classical music can be played, merging the vibrant rhythms of Cuba with the rich sound of the French horn. We asked the band’s founder Sarah Willis about exactly how this innovative vision came to be, and what audiences can expect to hear and dance to at their upcoming show on 12 May.
How did The Sarahbanda get started?
“The Sarahbanda was born as part of the Mozart y Mambo project which I started in 2020 with the Havana Lyceum Orchestra. We recorded all the Mozart horn concertos, added some Cuban rhythms to other famous pieces by Mozart, and played Cuban music as well. The story of how I fell in love with Cuban music is a well-known one and I had always wanted to get closer to the band culture.
“So to play with a Cuban band, I had to make one because French horn is not usually found in any sort of band, let alone a Cuban band. I asked some of Cuba’s finest musicians if they would join me and we had special arrangements made which we included in the Mozart y Mambo orchestral project. When we finished the three albums, we decided we wanted to continue with the band. The name was their idea, not mine, and I love it!
How did you realise Cuban music and the French horn could work together?
“Well, I didn’t! I had no idea but I hoped I could make it work. All I knew is that I loved Cuban music so much and I really wanted to try playing it on the French horn.
“When I had the idea to record the Mozart horn concertos in Havana, I wanted to do things a little differently. We didn’t want to just do all four horn concertos on one album like so many horn players have done before; I wanted to try some Cuban music as well. So, we asked some of the finest arrangers and composers in Cuba today to create new pieces for the French horn and orchestra in a Cuban style. I also had some special guests – a singer, a trumpet player, a saxophone – and we created new arrangements for the French horn like we thought Mozart may have written had he gone to Cuba…
“So no, I didn’t know before if horn and Cuban music would go well together and was very nervous when the first album was released, but people loved it and I’m very, very happy and proud to be playing Cuban music. With this project, we have also created an entire new repertoire for French horn players, I hadn’t found any other Cuban pieces for solo horn before. We have so many new pieces that I hope other horn players will want to play and fall in love with Cuban music like I did for generations to come. It makes me happy when horn players send me videos of them playing our music.”
What unique qualities does the horn bring to Cuban dance music?
“Cuban dance music is very rhythmical, and the horn must play in time, otherwise you get left behind. The qualities I can bring sadly do not include improvisation – I do my best, but I will never be as good an improviser as the Cubans! I try and bring a lyrical quality with my horn. The horn is good for slow music like boleros and cha-cha-chas with beautiful melodies. Faster pieces are harder because of the way we play – the horn points backwards, which makes the sound much less direct and harder to hear in dance music.
“I’ve had to find a different technique to be able to play Cuban dance music in the way that it needs it – like a harder attack than I would use in classical music and pointing my bell partly towards the audience. The unique qualities I can bring are the sound of the horn and the mixture of sounds that we make in the Sarahbanda, like with the horn and the saxophone or the horn and the trumpet. And as far as I know, we are the only Cuban band who plays with classical music phrasing and dynamics!
It is a give and take. I brought my classical music knowledge to the band, and they have taught me so much about Cuban music. It’s very much a learning experience for everyone and a constant exchange. We love it!”
How do you balance staying true to Cuban styles while bringing in your own classical background?
“It was very important to me to learn as much as I could about Cuban music to tackle this repertoire. I don’t just play along and hope for the best. I have learned all about the history of many Cuban dances and Cuban rhythms: the bolero, the cha-cha-chá, the guaguancó, the Afro Cuban rumba, the son, the timba, all these rhythms and all the traditional ones like the danzón and the changüí. I’ve sat down and really learned – well I’ve actually stood up and learned because the Cubans say if you can’t dance it, you can’t play it! Once you have them in your body they’re a lot easier to play. I had to be very serious about learning it so that I could sound very light-hearted when I played it.
What do you hope audiences will experience at your Sarahbanda concert?
“I hope they leave the hall with a huge smile on their face and rhythm in their hips and are curious to find out more about Cuban music, about Mozart y Mambo and about the Sarahbanda and these wonderful musicians I am so happy to be playing with. It’s very important to us to connect to our audiences and we hope to have everyone on their feet at the end of the concert – we have never finished a Sarahbanda concert where not everyone has been up and dancing. It doesn’t matter if you think you can’t dance, Cuban music gets under your skin and makes you twitch, dance, whirl and jump. (But please, non-dancers amongst you, don’t let that scare you off!)
“I challenge anyone to stay sitting in their seats at the end of our concerts. We hope everyone will have a good time and will love our mixture of classical and Cuban styles. After the concert we will go out into the foyer for a jam session and connect with the audience – this is an important part of our concerts and we’re really looking forward to meeting everyone.
“The other thing I’m looking forward to is introducing my band to Manchester because it’s the first time there. They were asking me, “what should we do in Manchester, can we go and watch Manchester United?” And I said only if you try the local food first! They asked, “what is the local food?” I knew about Eccles cakes and black pudding, and I’d heard about parched peas and Manchester tarts, and something called pasty barms from my Granny, who came from Bolton. I’m going to make them try it all!”
“We’re very grateful to Tom Redmond and Chetham’s School of Music for making this special concert possible – our UK debut – and we can’t wait to see you all in Manchester!”
The Sarahbanda bring their electrifying fusion of classical music and Cuban rhythms to Stoller Hall on 12 May at 7:30pm. Get tickets now on our What’s On page.
This May half-term, we are presenting our first ever family festival, organised by our Creative Engagement team! Taking place from 23-24 May, little ones and their grown-ups will have Stoller Hall all to themselves and enjoy playing through musical experiences. We’re excited to present new shows alongside family favourite Stoller Story Sounds, plus we will have a full day of accessible, SEND-friendly activities on Saturday 23 May.
Providing experiences for young people and families to discover and engage with music is an essential part of our programme and mission. We asked Anna from our Creative Engagement team what families can expect at Stoller Hall’s family festival, what makes our venue a welcoming space for families and SEND-friendly, and what else there is to look forward to.
Stoller Hall is hosting its first family festival. How did this come about, and how has our family offer grown?
“Creative Engagement’s mission is to showcase the power of music, making it more accessible and welcoming for all. We believe that money should not be a barrier to accessing music, therefore we aim to provide affordable musical experiences for everyone. This mission starts with our Family Programme where we provide musical experiences for families with children as young as 3.
“Through regular programming of our family favourites, Stoller Story Sounds, Mini Music Adventures, and other family concerts, we have established a reputation among families that Stoller Hall is a welcoming and inclusive place for grown-ups and their little ones to explore music together. We create safe spaces for families to make music and get creative, with families often choosing to stay and play in our spaces before and after their sessions.
“Our family weekend takeover will offer musical events and experiences solely for family audiences, free from restrictions of other programming. We hope that the family festival gives more families the opportunity to visit us and see that we are a great place to stay, play, and discover the power of music.”
What can families expect at our Family Festival Weekend?
“The festival will offer families the opportunity to experience lots of different spaces in our venue through affordable and free activities specifically for them. With every event being dedicated to family fun, families will have free rein to explore, get creative, and experience music. Ticketed events include family favourite Stoller Story Sounds, a musical adventure perfect for children aged 3-5. Families can also watch brand-new storybook concert The Storm Whale for children aged 3-7, presented by Music in the Round. There will be a variety of free activities alongside our ticketed events, including crafts and a musical playground, providing hands-on access to music-making and creativity!”
What makes Stoller Hall a family-friendly venue?
“We welcome families of all shapes and sizes, inviting young ones and their grown-ups to engage with music and creativity together. We have family ticketing options, including babes-in-arms where children under 2 may attend for free. There is plenty of space for buggies and prams in communal areas as well as secure storage outside our performance spaces during events.
“Located in the city centre and within a short walking distance of train, tram and bus services, many of our families enjoy making the journey into town part of the excitement of their day! Our regular family audiences love our spaces and describe their experience of Stoller Hall as calm, relaxing, and accessible for all ages. Most of our spaces are filled with natural light, and are open and spacious, meaning families can get involved or take time out as needed.
“Our cafe bar provides soft drinks, teas and coffees, in addition to child-friendly snacks for your visit. We are a breastfeeding-friendly venue, or we can find you a private space if you prefer. There are also lots of toilet options including baby changing facilities and mixed gendered individual toilets which work well for smaller family groups.
Saturday 23 May is set to be a day of accessible sensory friendly concerts and experiences. What is on offer on that day, and how these events are SEND-friendly?
“Our regular Stoller Hall families have told us that they feel comfortable bringing children with additional needs to our events, as grown-ups know that their young people are able to ‘engage freely with performers and activities without fear of being disruptive.’ They also say they are supported during their visit, and they know our artists and staff will engage with every member of the family with ‘respect’, ‘thoughtfulness’ and ‘attentiveness.’
“Our families value our efforts in creating an environment which is inclusive, considered, and adapted where possible for young people living with SEND. However, we were aware that we are lacking a specific provision of events and experiences solely dedicated to SEND family audiences.
“Saturday 23 May is a dedicated day of activities and concerts for SEND families. We will be providing young people who may have sensory needs, learning disabilities, communication challenges, or physical disabilities with a range of ticketed and free creative opportunities designed and adapted specifically for them.
“Creative Engagement will be piloting a brand new accessible and sensory friendly musical adventure – Sounds Together! – delivered by experienced storyteller Emily Capstick (Peoplescape Theatre) and musician Sarah Atter (DIY Theatre). The sessions combine live music and storytelling and are designed for families of mixed ages with young people living with SEND. Music in the Round will also be presenting relaxed versions of the The Storm Whale with consistent lighting, reduced sound, anytime exit and re-entry, a break-out space, and relaxed audience expectations. The relaxed concerts will feature an introductory ‘Meet the Musicians’ session introducing audiences to the musicians and their instruments before each concert. Families can also use this introductory time to get comfortable and acclimatise to the concert hall ahead of the concert.
“We are welcoming other Manchester organisations who are utilising their expertise to provide creative sessions specifically for our SEND family audiences. Manchester Camerata will be presenting a free lunchtime SEND Music Cafe where families can discover, play and make music together. We will also welcome Rochdale Town Hall and their Zen-Den building activity which is a popular feature at their own SEND Sunday events.
“Creating safe and inclusive spaces is hugely important to us. Tailoring a day specifically for SEND audiences is a huge step in the right direction towards increasing our opportunities and access provision. We are excited to welcome regular and new SEND audiences across our family festival and hope to continue our learning into how we can improve our offer and continue to make our venue as accessible as possible.”
What makes Stoller Hall an accessible venue?
“Stoller Hall aims to be a venue where everyone can come and experience live music in whatever way works for them. Our staff members are friendly, approachable and trained to be able to assist and support guests during their visit. We were also awarded silver accessibility status by Attitude is Everything in 2023, demonstrating our commitment to making live music more accessible.
“We are located directly opposite Manchester Victoria Train Station with step-free access to our main entrance. We are providing a limited number of pre-booked car parking spaces to provide easier access for those who need to drive into the city centre. “These can be reserved when booking any event on Saturday 23 May or by contacting our box office after booking.
“Stoller Hall has been designed to accommodate audiences who have mobility issues or use mobility aids. Once in the building, many of our events will be taking place on the same level with lifts available to provide access to other spaces when needed. There are a range of accessible toilets available on all levels in addition to break-out and quiet space options as needed.
“The main hall is fitted with a Sennheiser infra-red hearing system which uses a Stethoscope style receiver, which can be collected from the box office when you arrive. Artists facilitating some of our smaller sessions are happy to wear neck loop devices if provided.
“We have an established Access Scheme which allows audiences to request seating for personal assistants, reserve wheelchair spaces, and inform our front of house staff with any additional access requirements ahead of your visit. You can join the scheme by completing this online form or contacting our box office.
“There will be lots of friendly staff on hand to help support your family throughout the day. For more access information please visit Stoller Hall’s Access page. Or, if you have any questions about our upcoming SEND events and your visit, please get in touch via the box office or by emailing joinin@chethams.com.”
What can families look forward to in the future at Stoller Hall?
“We’re excited for the future of our Family Programme! We hope to bring the families of Greater Manchester and beyond more opportunities to experience live music together.
“Coming up, our last Stoller Story Sounds of the season will be taking place on Saturday 20 June. Join Leo the Lion for another musical adventure on Jungle Island with storyteller Faz Shah, illustrator Lizzie Finlay, and musician Gemma Ashcroft.
“From September onwards, keep your eyes peeled for our next season of family performances including Stoller Story Sounds, a Christmas Family Concert, and more!
“After the Family Festival, we hope to grow and develop our pilot SEND programme, Sounds Together, by embedding it into our regular programme and establishing a more consistent offer for our SEND family audience.
“Stoller Hall will keep bringing exciting family-friendly events to our venue. Keep an eye on our website for your next fun day out together!”
Check out the full programme for our Family Festival weekend, happening 23-24 May.
Now entering their tenth year of captivating audiences with an incredible repertoire of own songwriting and arrangements, jazz septet The Easy Rollers return to the city where it all began to embark on their most high-profile UK tour yet. Ahead of their performance at Stoller Hall this April, the first on their tenth anniversary tour, we chatted to saxophonist Jamie Stockbridge to find out about their Manchester origins, how the last 10 years have shaped the band, and what we can expect at their show.
Can you tell us about your special connection to this city?
The band was formed in Manchester, on Oxford Road. Our first gigs were in bars and cafes around town, and now to have travelled around the country, released some records, written some new music, and to be starting the tour in a venue like the Stoller Hall feels like a nice full-circle moment for everybody.
This year will mark ten years of The Easy Rollers. Can you tell us a bit about your journey?
So, the band met at the Music College. Our first gigs were actually in the bar there! That bled into trying to find some other opportunities just to play. We ended up at the Edinburgh Fringe for a while, and that slow growth culminated in playing the lunchtime series at the Bridgewater Hall. That felt like a moment where we now were able to communicate ourselves to rooms that have a certain amount of prestige associated with them, and that galvanised us for this tour to play at places like Stoller Hall. We’ve all seen world-leading artists here before, and it feels like this tour is the next step up the rung for us as a band.
It all started with us cramming into a corner of a small sweaty pub somewhere in South Manchester, so now to be in a large, less sweaty not-pub does feel like we’re heading in the right direction!
How has your music changed over the last ten years, and how do you keep the sound fresh?
What’s been exciting with our most recent album is that we’re not only playing music from 100 years ago, but we’re writing brand new music that draws on those ideas, and that feels like an exciting place to be. Having a foot in both camps as a writer of music myself, it’s a lovely challenge to have.
Audiences can expect to come along and see a band that doesn’t present this stuff as just a museum piece. We’re still trying to keep it very much alive and as fresh and exciting as the original 78 records would have been. They’re still massively interesting and energetic and brave to listen to, and we want to try and communicate that sort of energy with what we do, so it felt natural to try and write some original pieces as part of that. At our Stoller Hall show, we’ll be playing all the original stuff on the record, and this will be the first time that audiences can hear some of these new pieces.
What can audiences expect at Stoller Hall’s show, the first on your UK tour?
Whenever any music has got an element of improvisation or live interaction involved, I think what’s fun is it feels different across an entire run of gigs. You’re also seeing us surprise one another and wrong-foot one another and excite one another with how things come out differently than it did the day before, and coming to day one of a tour, you always get this candid snapshot. It’s often incredibly energetic because we’re all so excited to finally get it into the world, and you get everyone’s first expression of how they want those pieces of music to go. It feels different for us eight gigs on, and it probably feels different for an audience eight gigs on as well. On the first night of a tour, you get a really honest expression of what you want that music to sound like, and that’s particularly true when it’s something as interactive as making jazz music.
Catch The Easy Rollers at Stoller Hall on 16 April and be transported back to the golden age of jazz. Get your tickets on our What’s On page.
We’re delighted to announce a new cohort of Haworth Emerging Artists for 2026-2027. Three early-career musicians join us on this year-long programme to help them gain invaluable industry knowledge and develop key skills to support their work.
This year’s selected artists are:
Talland Quartet – an award-winning Manchester-based classical string quartet. All alumni of the Royal Northern College of Music, the quartet stars violinists Dylan Edge and Orla McGarrity, violist Rebecca Stubbs and cellist Nathan Jackson-Turner.
Grace O’Malley – a captivating musical storyteller and alumna of Chetham’s School of Music, Grace is a Manchester and London-based soprano working in opera, art song and character-led vocal performance.
Hera Piano Trio – an exciting chamber ensemble based in Manchester and formed of violinist Caterina Bordoni, cellist Gabriela Peres and pianist Winnie Su. They bring diverse cultures and individuality to their performance.
The Haworth Emerging Artists Scheme, now in its fourth year, supports early-career musicians to take the next steps in their professional careers through mentoring, performance opportunities, and engagement with students at Chetham’s School of Music. Our new cohort will receive guidance in marketing, fundraising, programming and general management from our in-house team, as well as the opportunity to perform in our outstanding chamber spaces, the Carole Nash Hall and Chetham’s Library’s medieval Baronial Hall. The scheme is made possible thanks to the generous support of the Haworth Trust.
You can see each artist perform in our Rush Hour Concert series this autumn and support emerging talent. These early-evening performances are the perfect way to avoid the end-of-the-day rush and will be just £5. Tickets to be announced soon.
Our Emerging Artists Scheme is just one of the ways we are committed to supporting diverse musical voices and inspiring a new generation of performers at Stoller Hall. We can’t wait to work with each of these artists and get to know them during their time on the programme.
Among the seasonal madness, the Creative Engagement Team at Stoller Hall find a rare moment of quiet to reflect on a packed autumn term. Here’s what we’ve been up to!
Team Growth
As the Creative Engagement Team continues to deliver an ever-increasing number of projects, there was only one solution… to expand the team! In September, we were thrilled to welcome Chris Mather onboard as our new Creative Engagement Coordinator. In one term, Chris has seamlessly become part of the Creative Engagement family and is conducting excellent work across our Schools and Haworth Emerging Artist programmes. Welcome, Chris!
Schools
September also saw the return of our popular Key Stage 2 Online Workshops. Themed around nature, our free online workshops provided 1,062 children with the opportunity to explore a variety of musical skills including Body Percussion, Lyric Writing, Found Sounds, and Soundscapes. Facilitated by musician Sarah Atter, the sessions were not only fun and interactive for attending schools, but also a great opportunity for young musicians from Chetham’s School of Music to share their musical skills and passion.
“It’s one of the best parts of Chets to have these opportunities to inspire younger generations of kids and hopefully be able to share my love of music and songwriting with them, and even more amazing that a collaborative compositional process can happen across schools and the product of so many musical minds!” – Bardo, Year 13.
To book your place on next term’s KS2 workshops, contact us at joinin@chethams.com
Encouraging students at Chetham’s to share their musical skills with other young people and inspire them is at the heart of what we do. This was evident during our recent visit to Burnage Academy for Boys, one of 30 MiSST (Music in Secondary Schools Trust) partner schools in the UK. Five of our woodwind and brass students performed for all Year 7 and 8 pupils, each of whom has received their own instrument through the MiSST programme. By demonstrating their instruments, discussing their musical journeys, and sharing some of their favourite music, our Chetham’s students inspired the young musicians at Burnage to continue developing their skills and to pursue their musical education with confidence and enthusiasm.
Library Tours
From September 2025, we’ve been delivering tours and workshops within the historic Chetham’s Library to schools across the northwest. We offer curriculum–informed workshops focussing on both History and English, using items from our collection as sources for study and to build pupil’s knowledge of the topics presented.
This has been in development for many months, and so far feedback from these tours is excellent, with visiting pupils praising the staff, workshop activities and Library space.
‘I loved exploring the different rooms, the Library was really cool to see’ – Year 11 pupil
‘I liked getting to write my poem best and hearing the poems everyone else wrote’ – Year 9 pupil
‘I have learnt a new way to engage pupils in poetry!’ – English Teacher
We will continue to develop these workshops, build a richer offer and engage with as many schools as possible. The Library is a hugely valuable resource, and we would love to share it with as many people as we can! School Tours and workshops at the Library are now sold out until April 2026, and we are working to maintain this level of interest moving forward.
Creative Engagement continued to support Chetham’s students in sharing their music with a wider audience through the sell-out free Relaxed Lunchtime Concerts.
These popular events featured 17 students showcasing a range of musical talents to 191 members of our Stoller Hall community this term. The concerts also celebrated nationwide initiatives, including International Day of Older People and National Befriending Week, highlighting the power of music to connect people across generations. With exciting plans ahead, we are eager to get to know our loyal audience better and ensure we continue to provide meaningful musical experiences for everyone. Relaxed Lunchtime Concerts will return for the new year on Wednesday 4 February.
Our Make Some Noise! Programme provided music development courses for young people who access support from Wood Street Mission. During October half-term, we welcomed 20 young people from Ardwick for a day packed with music-making and songwriting. With the guidance of musicians Liam Frost and Ellen Lewis, every participant learned new skills around creating and making music. We can’t wait to welcome more young people from Salford and Manchester to Chetham’s for music-making and creativity in the new year!
Families
This Autumn term we welcomed back 932 members of our family audience, introducing children aged 3–7 to musical adventures with old and new friends through Stoller Story Sounds and Mini Music Adventures.
After a summer preview in the Lake District, our brand-new Stoller Story Sounds character, Robot, was warmly embraced by our Stoller Hall families. Joining Robot on their first adventure into the forest, children explored the natural world through colour, sound, and movement.
In October, Leo the Lion returned, travelling across Jungle Island to enlist his friends in creating the perfect birthday treat for Tunde Turtle’s 102nd birthday. Young audiences had the chance to sing, get creative, and play a variety of percussion instruments, including the surdo, marimba, and timpani.
Closing the Autumn family season, our Mini Music Adventurers joined storyteller Faz Shah and guest musician Rapasa Nyatrapasa Otieno on a brand-new journey to Kenya in Quiet Kijana & the Water Queen. Accompanied by students from Chetham’s, the performance was filled with traditional Kenyan music and instruments, interactive music-making, and plenty of dancing, encouraging imaginations to soar.
We used this Mini Music Adventure’s celebration of Kenya as an opportunity to broaden our family community by connecting with Know Africa CIO, a Wythenshawe-based charity that supports and celebrates African people and culture across Manchester and beyond. Know Africa promotes African heritage while offering valuable community support through learning and engagement opportunities. To support these aims, we were delighted to invite Know Africa families to join our wider Stoller family community in exploring and celebrating Kenyan culture and music.
We can’t wait to welcome our family audiences back in 2026 for more Stoller Story Sounds performances and our Big Band Bop family concert in March!
Emerging Artists
Our Emerging Artists 2025 programme is almost at its conclusion. We have seen outstanding concerts from Dominic Mattos, Rory A .Green and Sagnick Mukherjee, with Eleanor Dunsdon and Gregor Black performing in the Carole Nash Hall next year as part of Manchester Folk Festival.
The artists have spent time with Chetham’s students delivering masterclasses in strings, music technology and folk, as well as developing knowledge and skills in marketing, development, engagement and more! Over the next 12 months, we will be expanding and evolving our development opportunities within the programme, including building a collaborative project, expanding our Rush Hour Concerts series into a fully-fledged programme, and increasing the onsite time we have with our artists.
We are now taking applications for our 2026 Emerging Artists programme, so if you are a northwest-based musician in the first three years of your career, we would love to hear from you! We are excited to develop and support even more artists in these essential early-career years, as well as expand our offer to other art forms to create a truly enriching and collaborative development programme.
‘It’s amazing to have this opportunity to be a supportive environment that encourages you to further critically think about and refine your work’ – Sagnick Mukherjee
‘Having someone who’s willing to hold your hand and give you a bit of support is an amazing thing’ – Dominic Mattos
‘This scheme has allowed me to take time away from my usual work and focus more just being creative and exploring new sounds and new music for myself’ – Rory A. Green
We can’t wait to deliver even more opportunities for experiencing music, supporting emerging talent, and bringing communities together in 2026!
As a charity, making music fun, affordable, and accessible to the people of Manchester and beyond is at the heart of what we do. However, keeping our projects affordable comes at a cost. Therefore, if you feel able to, we would be very grateful for any donations, no matter how small, which can support our mission to share music with everyone. Find out more here.
Bring your curiosity and let live music do the rest…
While everyone else is dusting off gym memberships and attempting ambitious meal plans, why not step in a world of live music? Here at Stoller Hall, we have something for everyone to make your New Year’s resolutions feel louder, brighter, and a whole lot more fun!
In 2026, we’ve got breath-taking opera, smooth Friday-night jazz, big band tunes to make your little ones bounce in their seat, and so much more that you’ll be talking about all year long.
On Saturday 24 January, experience Mozart’s playful opera in 45 minutes in Whistle Stop Opera: The Marriage of Figaro.
Figaro and Susanna are getting married, but trouble is on the horizon… their boss Count Almaviva is out to bed the bride, the lovesick pageboy Cherubino keeps landing himself in hot-water and, to top it all off, if Figaro cannot repay his debt to Marcellina, he’ll have to marry her instead.
With four professional opera singers and an accordionist as your guide, take a whistle-stop tour through the comic twists and glorious music of one of the world’s most popular operas.
“Not so much a band name as a whole genre of its own, Budapest Café Orchestra embraces an encyclopaedia of music and mischief” – Scotsman
On Friday 20 February, travel to all corners of the world as Budapest Café Orchestra bring their own unique sounds to our stage. From Balkan and Russian traditional music to artful distillations of Romantic masterworks to soaring Gaelic folk anthems, Budapest Café Orchestra is an unforgettable musical experience.
Your lunchtime has never sounded so good. On Wednesday 4 February and Wednesday 4 March, our Relaxed Lunchtime Concerts are the perfect introduction to classical music.
There’s no dress code, you don’t need to know your Beethoven from your Bach, and you won’t be shushed by an usher.
Our friendly team are on hand and happy to help with whatever you need. You can find more details about accessing our venue here.
For families in Manchester
At Stoller Hall, there’s plenty for your little ones to experience and discover magical musical performances perfect for the whole family.
Performed by young musicians from Chetham’s School of Music, Big Band Bop is a family-friendly music event in Manchester that gives children a fun and engaging introduction to instruments of the orchestra through the sound of a Big Band!
Each performance is a musical adventure, following the sounds of jazz and big-band music from around the world. With exciting storytelling, children can easily connect the music to the journey they’re hearing.
This is a fun and welcoming family concert with no need to sit still or stay quiet. Children and their grown-ups are welcome to move, dance, and clap along.
Perfect for children aged 7+ as a first live concert experience, this family music event promises an unforgettable hour full of rhythm, stories, and smiles.
Happening on Sat 14 February, our Stoller Story Sounds are musical journeys that will transport you to a beautiful world of new and exciting sights and sounds. Perfect for children aged 3-5 (and their grown ups)!
The world is huge and Robot can’t wait to explore! What will Robot discover? Who will Robot meet? What new sounds will Robot hear on the journey? Come along and find out!
Join us on our story, exploring the world around us. With storyteller Emily Capstick, illustrator Lizzie Finlay, and musicians Gemma Ashcroft and Ryan Breen, these interactive music sessions feature live music and illustration, storytelling, and more!
Step inside Stoller Hall and discover something new in 2026.
Why wait? Let curiosity take the lead because your next great night out is waiting for you. Head to our What’s On page to book a show.
The festive season is in full swing here in Manchester, and we’ve got our top performance recommendations to kick off the countdown to Christmas.
Winter can be a difficult time, but what if we made peace with the darkest time of year? Wintering is a beautiful upcoming performance on 27 November from Manchester Collective in collaboration with vocal ensemble The Marian Consort, inviting us to slow down as we usher in the winter solstice, and embrace the healing energy this season can bring.
On 11 December, we’re taking a magical journey through the world of Harry Potter with Mystery Ensemble. Hear the iconic sounds of the Harry Potter film soundtracks brought to life by a live orchestra, for all the family to enjoy!
It’s not Christmas without the music of Michael Bublé! Bublé By Candlelight on 12 December and 20 December brings a selection of Bublé’s greatest hits, performed by vocalist Josh Hindle with support from a 7-piece swing band, and including classics from Bublé’s Grammy Award-winning album Christmas.
We’re delighted to welcome back the sensational Down for the Count Swing Orchestra for their annual Swing into Christmas show. With two performances on 13 December, Down For the Count’s incredible 30-piece big band will celebrate legendary hits from Nat King Cole, Ella Fitzgerald, Frank Sinatra and Billie Holiday for an unmissable show that will be sure to make Christmas feel special.
We also have returning performers the William Byrd Singers presenting Bach’s Christmas Oratorio on 14 December. Last performing with us in 2022, this longstanding North-West choir will pay homage to a beloved Christmas classic. In the words of choir member Leslie Robinson, ‘whether hearing it for the first time or returning to it as an old favourite, audiences can expect to be moved, uplifted, and inspired by one of the greatest works in the choral repertoire.’
70s folk-rock pioneers Lindisfarne return for their annual December performance on 19 December. These masters of performance will play with a stellar five-piece line-up of long-time members led by founding member Rod Clements on vocals, mandolin, fiddle, and guitar.
After a heartwarming concert celebrating queer stories on stage in August, The Sunday Boys return to Stoller Hall on 20 and 21 December for a run of eerily beautiful shows that ask the question: can a song be haunted? A Christmas ghost story innovatively performed to a blindfolded audience, The Bells at Midwinter will be an immersive musical tale like no other, presented by the choir and creative team of last year’s ground-breaking Voices of the Polar Night.
Celebrate Christmas with live music at Stoller Hall. Head to our What’s On page to book a show.
We’re very excited to announce that the Stoller Hall has once again been recognised by the LUXLife Hospitality Awards in the category ‘Best Classical Music Venue 2025 – Manchester’, and also achieving the ‘Sustainability Excellence Award’ for 2025.
These awards not only recognise our position within Manchester’s cultural and live events sector, but also our commitment to running live events in an environmentally sustainable way. In recent years we have worked to reduce waste in all areas of our business from technical production to food and beverage; with initiatives that include everything from replacing our venue lighting with LEDs to lower our energy use, to working with local beer producers to reduce the carbon footprint of our deliveries.
You can read more about our ongoing sustainability work here.
Looking to plan a live event here in Manchester? Find out more about our hireable spaces and how we can help to make your event a success.
Our Autumn/Winter season has already been jam-packed, with family fun from Horrible Histories and Stoller Story Sounds, captivating flamenco dance from Daniel Martinez Flamenco Company, and the first of our 2025-2026 Emerging Artists Rush Hour concerts with the incredible Dominic Mattos. Looking ahead to our Christmas programme, we’re welcoming back old favourites with Down For The Count and Lindisfarne, as well as the fantastic William Byrd Singers on 14 December, who last performed with us in 2022. A longstanding North-West choir that has been active since the 70s, the William Byrd Singers are bringing us a spellbinding performance of Bach’s festive masterpiece, the Christmas Oratorio. We spoke with choir member Leslie Robinson to find out about the choir’s history, their mission, and what to expect from their performance.
Tell us about the William Byrd Singers! What’s your story and what’s the driving force behind your work?
The roots of the William Byrd Singers go back to 1970, when Dr. John Coope—GP, philanthropist, and chairman of the East Cheshire Music Committee—invited Stephen Wilkinson, Director of the BBC Northern Singers, to form a small but exceptional choir for a special concert. Stephen handpicked the very best voices in Cheshire, holding auditions to ensure top quality. The resulting performance was a triumph, praised not only for its superb singers but for Stephen’s remarkable ability to draw out a deeply personal musical response from the group.
Originally known as the East Cheshire Cantata Choir, the ensemble soon adopted the name William Byrd Singers. Under their new name, they gave their first concert in November 1970 at Whitworth Hall, Manchester.
In 2009, Stephen passed the baton to Keith Orrell, a former member of the choir with an impressive track record as a choral director. His résumé includes founding the Beaumaris Singers, leading the Birmingham Singers, and directing the Stone Choral Society. He also served as Chorus Master of the Hallé Choir for seven years, and the Music Director of the Liverpool Welsh Choral since 2003. Keith has continued to honour the choir’s founding principles of excellence while adding his own distinctive musical interpretation. Today, the William Byrd Singers remain one of the North West’s foremost chamber choirs.
Our driving force? Quite simply, it’s the unrelenting pursuit of musical excellence.
You’ll be getting us in the festive spirit with Bach’s Christmas Oratorio. Why have you chosen this piece, and what makes you excited about performing it?
Bach has always been a favourite of the Byrds – his music is a gift to singers. Every line is crafted with beauty, and the harmonies, when woven together, create something transcendent. In fact, our very first concert in 1970 featured a Bach piece (Allein zu dir, Herr Jesu Christ), and we’ve returned to his works again and again. Our last appearance at the Stoller Hall in 2022 was a performance of Bach’s St Matthew Passion, a monumental undertaking that was met with great acclaim.
For our 2025 performance, we’ll once again collaborate with the brilliant 18th Century Sinfonia, whose period instruments bring a rich authenticity to the sound. Joining us will be four internationally acclaimed professional soloists. It’s a grand production artistically and logistically, which is why we’ve launched another Crowdfunder campaign to help raise £5,000 towards costs. Supporters will have their names printed in the programme and can choose unique rewards, from music lessons to a personal performance by the Byrds. In 2022 we exceeded our target, raising £6,100, and we’re hoping to do the same this year.
The William Byrd Singers have been performing together for over fifty years. What does it mean to be part of a group with such a rich and enduring history?
We’re hugely proud to be part of a choir with such an established and respected name. Admittedly, most of us weren’t there in those early years – only two or three original members remain (an impressive feat in itself!). But under Keith’s leadership, we’ve developed a renewed identity while holding fast to our tradition of high-quality singing.
Like many ensembles, we faced challenges during Covid, but it strengthened our bonds as a community. The joy of singing together is now even more powerful – sometimes it feels as though that joy surpasses even the individual satisfaction of tackling the challenging and distinctive repertoire that defines the Byrds.
And finally, what do you hope the audience will take away from this performance?
As Keith Orrell explains, while Handel’s Messiah is a Christmas staple, Bach’s Christmas Oratorio (Weihnachts-Oratorium) is equally iconic. It’s a work of infectious joy and celebration – from grand, trumpet-and-drum choruses to serene pastoral scenes with lyrical flutes and oboe d’amores. The contrasting arias, performed by our exceptional soloists, are as melodically captivating as they are technically demanding.
Whether hearing it for the first time or returning to it as an old favourite, audiences can expect to be moved, uplifted, and inspired by one of the greatest works in the choral repertoire.
Don’t miss this magical performance from the William Byrd Singers this December! Experience their enchanting rendition of Bach’s Christmas Oratorio at the Stoller Hall on 14 December at 2:30pm.
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