Saffron Hall's chief executive says ticket sales for the three Chelmsford Cathedral concerts will decide whether the series becomes a year-round fixture.
Saffron Hall already sells more than 3,000 tickets a year to people who live in Chelmsford, its chief executive says, and whether its new concert series at Chelmsford Cathedral lasts beyond March depends on how many of them, and how many newcomers, turn up for the first three nights.
Angela Dixon MBE, chief executive of the Saffron Music Trust, which runs the hall in Saffron Walden, answered our questions in writing after the series was announced this week. The Sixteen open it on Friday 11 December, the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment play on Thursday 11 February 2027 and Jess Gillam and her band close it on Thursday 11 March 2027. Dates, programmes and seat prices are in our guide to the three cathedral concerts.
“Its future starts with these first three concerts”
Asked what would make the series a regular fixture after March, she said:
“We would be delighted to see this become a permanent part of Chelmsford’s cultural life. We’re starting with three fantastic concerts featuring The Sixteen, the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment and Jess Gillam Ensemble, bringing some of the world’s finest musicians to the heart of the city.
“But for this to grow into a regular series, we really need the people of Chelmsford to get behind these first concerts. We’re taking a significant step by bringing this programme to the city, and strong audiences will give us the confidence to invest further, bring more exceptional artists to Chelmsford and build a stable base in the city.”
The trust is a charity, and she said the concerts are not meant to turn a profit:
“As a charity, our aim isn’t to make a profit from these concerts, with ticket income going towards covering the costs of presenting them. Every ticket purchased helps us build the case for a longer-term programme, and we hope additional support through sponsorship and philanthropy from local businesses and individuals will help us increase our presence and build in outreach work to communities within the city and the surrounding area.
“Ultimately, we’d love to establish a year-round programme of concerts, creating opportunities for local musicians, schools and community groups to be involved too. We’re really excited about what this could become, but its future starts with these first three concerts. If Chelmsford embraces them, we’ll have a wonderful foundation on which to build.”
3,000 tickets a year already go to Chelmsford
We asked roughly how many Chelmsford people already make the trip to Saffron Walden. “Saffron Hall sells over 3,000 tickets a year to Chelmsford residents, so it’s clear there is a demand for high-quality live music,” she said.
“Our new series will bring exceptional artists and ensembles closer to these audiences, while introducing us to people who may not have visited Saffron Hall before. It’s an important step in our ambition to make great live music accessible to more people across Essex.”
The hall, which opened in 2013 with 740 seats on the campus of Saffron Walden County High School, says it sold more than 55,000 tickets in total last year.
What it already does in Chelmsford schools
The trust’s work with young people in the city predates the cathedral series. Asked what it already does with Chelmsford schools, Dixon said:
“Through Saffron Music Trust, we’ve already developed strong relationships with schools in Chelmsford and the surrounding areas, bringing exceptional live music directly to young people.
“We’ve presented schools’ concerts at Chelmsford Theatre, including performances by the wonderful saxophonist Jess Gillam and her ensemble, giving hundreds of children the opportunity to experience live music, often for the very first time. We’ve also taken professional musicians into schools across the area, delivering workshops and performances that inspire young people to explore music in new ways.”
That work sits within the trust’s Saffron Music Live programme, which she said reached more than 7,000 young people across Essex last year:
“This is part of our growing Saffron Music Live programme, which last year reached more than 7,000 young people across Essex through concerts, school visits and creative projects. We’ve worked with extraordinary artists and ensembles, including Jess Gillam, YolanDa Brown, Britten Sinfonia and Aurora Orchestra, introducing children to a range of genres from classical to jazz and world music.
“We see the impact these experiences can have, not just in developing an interest in music, but in building confidence, creativity and aspiration. Our ambition is to build on these relationships and create even more opportunities for young people in Chelmsford.”
Booking
Tickets for all three concerts are on sale at saffronhall.com/articles/chelmsford and chelmsfordcathedral.org.uk, or from the box office on 0845 548 7650 (7p a minute plus your access charge). Access bookings are taken on 01799 588545.
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