Music for flute, cello and piano reflecting the light and hope of a new year. Featuring works by Johann Strauss, Lili Boulanger, Richard Strauss and Yuko Uebayashi.

Kath Sugden, flute; Charles Sugden flute/cello; Jacquelyn Bevan, piano

Ticket prices: Entry by donation

How to book: on the door

Booking/ information link: www.chardmusic.com

Jen graduated from Leeds College of Music (Leeds Conservatoire) with a 1st class Honours degree. She has been awarded numerous awards and scholarships, including the John Sheerer Prize for Woodwind, and the Arnold and Marjorie Ziff Concerto Award. Jen has studied under Rachel Holt, Clare Southworth, Wissam Boustany, and undertaken masterclasses with Trevor Wye and Peter Lloyd. Jen currently studies under Alena Walentin (international soloist, orchestral player and teacher at conservatoires around the world) and Luke O’Toole (Principal Flute at Opera North). 

Jen has performed as a soloist internationally and at venues across the UK, including Buxton Opera House where she performed the Ibert Flute Concerto with orchestral backing. In addition to her performing career, Jen has over 15 years of teaching experience, with a particular interest in teaching students of grade 8 and above. 

Jen is currently performing as a soloist at venues across England with renowned pianist Joanna Garcia. These include: St. Brides Church on Fleet Street, London; St. Paul's Church, Bedford; Lincoln and Worcester Cathedrals. Alongside her busy schedule, she is she is undertaking the highly-regarded MMus in Performance at the University of Leeds.

Jen Townsend Concert Schedule

Flute Recital by Jen Townsend
Date: 15th January 2026, 13:00
Location: Otley Courthouse, LS21 3AN
Details:

• Programme: To be confirmed

• £10 entry

• Book via Otley Courthouse Website

This month in the Flute Nerd Lab we’re welcoming the fabulous Nick Fitton, Assistant Principal Flute & Piccolo of the Omaha Symphony Orchestra, for an exciting session on breathing, support, and resonant tone.

✨ What Really Brings your Sound to Life

Breathing and “support” are words we hear all the time but they can feel frustratingly abstract. In this workshop, Nick Fitton breaks down what we actually mean when we say “support”, how 360° support works in the body, and how it directly impacts tone, dynamics, and articulation. Instead of chasing a bigger sound through tension or force, you’ll explore ways to create a more resonant, centred, and responsive tone that works with your body, not against it.

You’ll walk away with a clearer understanding of your breath, practical ideas to try immediately, and a stronger connection between air, sound, and expression.

Join the Flute Nerd Lab for FREE to attend.

https://www.skool.com/flute-nerd-lab/about

Ticket prices: 0.00

How to book: Join the Flute Nerd Lab on Skool for Free

Booking/ information link: https://www.skool.com/flute-nerd-lab

Dame Sarah Connolly is the soloist in a programme that includes the premiere of composer and former Led Zeppelin bassist and keyboardist John Paul Jones’ new song cycle, setting texts by British and American poets - and will also include Debussy's Syrinx and Caplet's work for voice, flute, and piano, 'Viens! Une flûte invisible soupire', with Britten Sinfonia's Thomas Hancox on flute.

Ticket prices: £18 - £50

Booking/ information link: https://www.wigmore-hall.org.uk/whats-on/202601081930

First Half:

Mikhail Ippolitov-Ivanov – Caucasian Sketches, Suite No. 1, Op. 10, 

Fourth movement

Aram Khachaturian – Concerto for Flute and Orchestra (Rampal version) with JEN TOWNSEND

Second half:

Reinhold Glière – Symphony No. 2, Op. 25

Ticket prices: £10 adults £5 concessions

How to book: Must be prebooked through booking link

Booking/ information link: https://fixr.co/event/symphony-orchestra-winter-concert-2025-tickets-602575956/tickets

Jen Townsend (flute) and Jonathan Lilley perform a programme of works by composers who have succeeded despite adversity. Jonathan Slade will announce and accompany his own Sonata for Flute and Piano in the London Premiere.

Romance in F by Beethoven
Valse Bleue by Angela Morley 

Sonata for Flute and Piano by Jonathan Slade - accompanied by Jonathan Slade

Romance No. 1 by Clara Schumann 

Flute Concerto in D Minor, 3rd Mov by Aran Khachaturian 

Ticket prices: Free - booking not necessary

Booking/ information link: https://stmarylestrand.com/event/thursday-lunchtime-concert-jen-townsend/

Gareth Houston (host of the Inline G podcast) will present a relaxed, thought-provoking session on confidence, creativity, and the art of self-expression.

✨ We spend so much time chasing confidence, but what if we already have it?

In this playful session, Gareth Houston shares stories and lessons from his creative career as a flutist and podcaster, exploring how self-expression shapes our identity and self-esteem as musicians. You’ll learn how the courage to create (in any form) can transform not only your flute playing, but how you see yourself.

In this workshop you’ll explore:

• How creativity and self-expression build genuine confidence

• Why the benefits of artistic thinking reach far beyond music

• Practical ways to translate creative freedom into your flute practice

• The surprising story of orange cola — and what it teaches about finding your voice

You’ll walk away feeling inspired, seen, and equipped with ideas to make your playing (and your confidence) feel more authentically you.

Ticket prices: Free

How to book: Join the Flute Nerd Lab for Free: https://www.skool.com/flute-nerd-lab

A flute and piano recital including JSBach’s E major Sonata, Tchaikovsky’s Lensky’s Aria, pieces by Mark Underwood and UK first performances of works by award-winning Australian composer Margaret Brandman, including her Silver Winds Suite commissioned by Mark Underwood.

Ticket prices: Free admission. Booking not required.

Join Flute School London for a fun and enjoyable day of ensemble playing and workshops, led by Janna Hüneke and Abigail Burrows.
All standards welcome from Grade 4 to advanced players; all ages welcome.
Expect a relaxed, supportive atmosphere with plenty of playing in small and large flute ensembles

Price: £49
BFS Members price: £42

Booking: https://www.fluteschoollondon.co.uk/octfluteday

We’re so excited to launch our series of regional flute days, Flute Days Near You! Starting this autumn, our Flute Days will give you the chance to connect with like-minded people, to enjoy listening to great flute players, and to make music together.

Each day will focus on ensemble and flute choir playing, technique and a masterclass, as well as a short concert to celebrate what we have achieved across the day. The events will feature a guest artist who will have strong links to your particular area.

Our first event will be on Saturday October 18th in Bristol with the fantastic Ian Mullin, Principal Flute of English National Ballet and originally from Bristol himself!

It promises to be a fantastic day, with something for everyone! As well as listening to Ian’s wonderful playing, sessions will include how to develop and improve your sound and technique, and there will also be lots of time to play together in ensembles.

About Ian Mullin

Ian became Principal Flute with English National Ballet in March 2024 and is currently on trial for Sub Principal flute with London Philharmonic Orchestra. He won a scholarship to study at the Royal Academy of Music under the tutelage of Sebastian Bell and Jaime Martín. Whilst at college he played piccolo & Principal Flute with European Union Youth Orchestra and made his professional debut with Chamber Orchestra of Europe in 2000.

Ian has performed as guest principal flute with many of the UK’s leading orchestras including London Philharmonic, Royal Philharmonic, Philharmonia and the London Symphony Orchestra. Further afield, Ian has also played guest principal flute with Orchestre de la Suisse Romande, Orquesta de Cadaqués and Malaysian Philharmonic Orchestra.

Ian has given masterclasses at Royal Academy of Music, Chethams & Wells Cathedral Schools as well as extensively throughout the UK, USA and Japan. He is in great demand as an orchestral player, soloist, teacher and commercial musician. In 2011 he was awarded an Associate of the Royal Academy of Music (ARAM). He also has a keen interest in martial arts and has trained in Danzun-Ryu Ju-jitsu for 20 years. Ian is currently working towards his ‘Sandan’ (3rd degree black belt) and is a Sensei helping to teach classes when he has time.

Suitable for adult players of Grade 5 and above

Price: £40 for members, £50 for non-members

Book now at the link below:

We look forward to seeing some of you there!

If you need any more information, please contact us at events@bfs.org.uk.

More about the BFS Flute Day Series 2025-26

Further events planned for 2025/26 will be in Glasgow (with André Cebrián on Saturday 29 November 2025), Cambridge (with Tom Hancox on Sunday 1 February 2026), Maidenhead and Newcastle (details TBC). Full details of these will be confirmed soon and in the meantime, please get in touch to register your interest!

A day of ensemble playing for adult flute players of approximately Grade 8 level and above, under the leadership of Carla Rees.

The fee for the day is £45 (early bird rate £40).

Book your place here

Wissam Boustany - Flute

Aleksander Szram - Piano

**Dave Heath 'Ascension'

Astor Piazzolla 'Lento - Meditativo' (solo flute)

Nicola LeFanu 'The Forest, The Strand, The Sea (solo piano)

Saint-Saëns 'Sonata No 1 in D minor Op 75

** first London performance

Followed by a discussion and Q&A

Concert I support of Musicians for Peace and Disarmament (MPD)

Ticket prices: Standard: £20 Concessions: £15

How to book: For more information about the concert and MPD, visit https://mpdconcerts.org

Booking/ information link: https://www.tickettailor.com/events/mpd/1661317

Come join us for a delightful evening filled with enchanting melodies performed by the talented Carluke Primrose Orchestral Flutes. The event will take place at the beautiful Our Lady of Good Aid Cathedral, creating the perfect ambiance for a spring serenade.

All proceeds to the Gordon Cowan Memorial – Supporting Beatson Cancer Charity https://gordoncowanmemorial.com/

Ticket prices: £5

How to book: Click here!

Chard Music presents Speranza who will perform a selection of music for flute, cello and piano composed during a time of war. Works include Bax Elegiac Trio, Fruhling Fantasie, Suk Elegie, Boulanger D’unMatin du Printemps and Villa-Lobos Song of the Black Swan.

Ticket prices: Entry by donation

Booking/ information link: https://www.chardmusic.com/recitals

This is a wind quintet concert with Elgar's instrumentation using 2 flutes, oboe, clarinet & bassoon. Elgar taught himself composition & learnt forms & structure of composition through writing for himself, his brother & friends in this wind quintet format. The concert has narration which Catherine Handley has written to tell the story of this important time.

Ticket prices: £12

Booking/ information link

Or call 01905 611427

Founded in 2022 by Karen Wong and Lance Mok, Ensemble Fioritura is a wind-and-piano ensemble with flexible instrumentation. Their concert explores evolving cultural perspectives on gender identity and queer life by juxtaposing two newly composed song cycles—each featuring six sonnets by Shakespeare and Eric Yip, the 2021 National Poetry Competition winner. The performance will be followed by a short talk and Q&A session.

Programme:

Lance Mok | Songs to the Fair Youth: 6 Songs on Fluidity, Op. 20 (world premiere)

Angela Morley | Valse bleue

Benjamin Britten (arr. Lance Mok) | Final tableau from Death in Venice

Lance Mok | 6 Character Sonnets by Eric Yip, Op. 21 (world premiere)

Keith Pun • countertenor

Lance Mok • piano

Karen Wong • flute & piccolo

Alvin Wong • saxophones

There will be a free workshop at Mimosa House on 5th April 2025, where the creative team will share insights into their creative process. The concert will tour at Chelmsford Cathedral (23/5), St Paul’s Clifton Bristol (28/5), St Mary of Charity, Faversham (31/5), and St Anne's, Kew (8/6).

This recital is co-curated by Sandra Lam of Hidden Keileon.

Ticket prices

Standard £13 • Living Support £9 • Student £9 *All ticket prices below include a £1 booking fee.*

Click here to book!

For more information, click here!