Pictured on this month’s front cover of Just Beverley Magazine is the pianist, Libby Burgess. In 2016, the trailblazing musician founded New Paths Music with her partner, Beverley man Roland Deller. An immediate hit with locals, their ‘un-stuffy’ classical music festival grew rapidly to become a major event.
Every year, the festival welcomes thousands of culture-seekers to Beverley from near and far, as well as stars from the world of classical music. But it remains firmly rooted in the community, with concerts for families, education opportunities for young musicians, and a love of the town itself.
With this year’s Spring Festival (15th -19th April) on the horizon, we sat down with Libby over coffee to find out more about her decade-long ‘passion project’.
Of all the towns and cities in the UK, why Beverley?
Well it was the place which inspired the idea of a festival, not the other way round! When Roland introduced me to the town I was captivated by it, and just knew I wanted to put on music here. The Minster and St Mary’s are breathtaking. Creatives need inspiration, and the East Riding offers that. I could instantly imagine musicians filling these beautiful spaces with sound, and festivalgoers pottering up and down Beverley’s beautiful streets. Plus the people here are so warm, and it has magnificent pubs and open spaces - things very much appreciated by musicians!
What do you remember about the early years?
In the very first year, having no idea whether the whole thing would work! - whether people would
come, whether it would cover costs, whether the musicians would enjoy themselves. So the relief
and the euphoria were strong when it became clear this was an idea that could thrive.
Two years later we ran a Takeover of the Town - music in all sorts of unusual spaces - in Flemingate shopping centre, on the Syntan boat on the Beck, in a wine shop - and it’s still one of my favourite things we’ve done. Right from the outset I remember how warm and generous our audiences have been - it’s a special atmosphere.
How has it matured or changed over time?
The festival was just reaching its maturity when the pandemic hit, so like all organisations we had to pivot and work out what was next. At the time I felt we were taking massive steps backwards, but now I realise it gave us time to think about how we wanted to do things.
We made virtual musical Postcards, but I’ll never forget the intensity of the first live festival after lockdown: for lots of the performers and audience it was their first music in well over a year, and lots of tears were shed! I think we’ve always tried to stay true to our mantras of high quality and genuine approachability, and have continued to introduce new ways for people to hear music. The latest have been musical yoga,
and a musical walk on the Westwood!
How do you programme the festival?
Lots of lists, scrapbooks, spreadsheets and postit notes - and countless different drafts each time. I’m always on the lookout for the kernel of an idea which could become a programme - we often theme our events to give a particular perspective or tell a story. In our first decade we’ve only repeated six pieces of music: there’s so much good music in the world, including a lot which has been hidden away because of
the gender or race of the composer. So telling hidden stories alongside celebrating popular masterpieces is a key part.
We’ve given ten premieres of pieces written especially by current composers. And often our ideas start with the performers themselves - beautiful concepts they suggest to us. We always think about how the events will be suitable for different people: some daytime, some evening, some calm, some exhilarating, some pop-up, some family-focused, some ticketed, some free. We book musicians who are world-leading at what they do, but who also ‘get’ the spirit of the festival - they chat to the audience, and they fall in love with the town.
How did you get into music?
My parents are both keen amateur musicians, so there was always music around at home - something which I’ve only later realised was a privilege. So many people have talent that’s never discovered because they’re never exposed to music, so we work hard at New Paths to make music available to all and share
music in different contexts. I started piano lessons when I was about six, took up other instruments along the way, ended up studying music at university, and built a career from there.
Can you put the buzz of the festival into words?
No, so come and experience it for yourself!
But if I were pushed: joy, escapism, friendship, atmosphere, enthusiasm, community, energy, space, inspiration, intensity, beauty, passion. And maybe: Nellie’s! In a modern, digital world, something created live and ‘in the room’ is special - I think shared experience has become something to treasure. And it’s been moving to see the friendships formed amongst our audience and our performers through New Paths.
What will you be doing between now and the festival?
A lot of preparation - musical and logistical!
Finessing the schedule for festival week (a crazy tapestry of people and places). Writing the introductions to each concert, to help listeners understand background or context. I’ll be travelling to Germany to rehearse with some of our performers who live there - plus rehearsals in London and Manchester. We have workshops with the youngsters on our Voyagers scheme for talented local teenage musicians. And I’ll be
juggling the rest of my work too!
When you’re not working on New Paths how do you spend your time?
I give concerts in all corners of the country and beyond, so travelling and rehearsing. Sometimes I’m performing somewhere glamorous like London’s Wigmore Hall, sometimes it’s in a tiny village hall! Much of my music-making is with other people, so there’s rehearsal time together - a part of the creative process I love. I teach at the Royal Academy of Music in London, and work often with the BBC Singers.
There’s a lot of admin that goes into running a freelance business and building creative projects, so I have to factor that in, but also ringfence time for personal practice, which is essential, lifelong. Aside from music,
nothing beats spending time with friends, putting the world to rights - preferably with a view over the sea or a river, and a large glass of wine in hand.
New Paths Music’s Spring Festival runs 15th - 19th April, featuring 35 events in venues across Beverley. For information and tickets visit www.newpathsmusic.com
