Wells mayor praises international music festival

By Laura Linham 14th Jul 2026

Local News by Laura Linham 13 minutes ago

Wells mayor Cllr Denise Denis has praised a weekend of music after opening WOWFest at Cedars Hall on Friday afternoon. The Wells-based international festival welcomed young singers and musicians from the USA, Holland, Ireland, Brazil, Bristol, Bath and Wells.

WOWFest, or Wells Orchestral Weekend, is an international festival for youth and amateur choirs, orchestras and bands. The event brings performers to the city for a weekend of concerts, workshops, joint performances and social activities.

Cllr Denis said it had been a pleasure to be invited to open the festival. Friday afternoon's programme featured the Irish Chamber Orchestra Youth and two pianists from the Leon Fleisher Academy.

The mayor said the young musicians had been full of excitement before taking to the stage. She said they then gave a "technically strong and beautifully executed performance" which she enjoyed listening to.

The festival programme continued across the weekend with performances in some of Wells' most recognisable venues. Concerts were held at Wells Cathedral, The Bishop's Palace, St Cuthbert's Church, St Thomas' Church and Wells United Church.

Cllr Denis and her Mayoress, Olivia, also attended the Saturday evening concert in Wells Cathedral. The programme included pieces by Elgar and Mendelssohn, played by the Haydn Youth String Orchestra and conducted by Yan-Ype Nata.

The evening then featured a performance of Carl Orff's Carmina Burana. Cllr Denis described it as an "arousing performance" and said it gave the audience a "rollercoaster of raw, contrasting emotions".

She praised the "marvellous coming together" of Bristol Classical Players, WOWFest Community Orchestra, Wells Cathedral Choir and Song Squad. The performance also featured pianists Yuchen Guo and Qinkai Zhao, soprano Miriam Allan, bass Adam Green, conductor Tom Gauterin and tenor Matthew Minter.

WOWFest is held under the patronage of Charles Hazlewood and is built around the idea of young musicians making music together in Wells. Participating ensembles are housed locally, with venues and activities reachable on foot.

The festival invites each ensemble to perform one solo and one joint performance, take part in an expert workshop tailored to their needs and enjoy meals and social activities with young musicians from across the world. Organisers describe Wells, with its cathedral, moated medieval Bishop's Palace and Cedars Hall, as a setting for an "unforgettable weekend" of music, friendship and discovery.