Conductor and arts manager team up on rural music festival

Conductor HILARY DAVAN WETTON and arts manager JULIA HUDSON have teamed up to bring Wiltshire a new “classical and cross-genre” annual music festival.

Wetton and Hudson will lead the White Horse Festival as artistic director and festival director, respectively.

The former presenter of Classic FM’s Masterclass, Wetton has recorded music with the likes of the Royal Philharmonic, and most recently worked as artistic director of Military Wives Choirs.

Hudson worked alongside him there as head of artistic planning and engagement, and has previously held roles at National Youth Orchestra and Southern Sinfonia.

The pair are supported by a team of trustees, including composer Eliza Thompson and clarinettist Richard Stringfellow, overseeing a festival scheduled to run between 2 and 5 October.

Throwing its doors open for the first time this autumn, the event aims to provide “interesting cultural activity outside of London” and to combine music appreciation with an emphasis on the natural landscape.

Wetton said: “I am hugely looking forward to this new festival, which will be a
splendid addition to the musical provision in the environs of the White
Horses.

“It provides ‘music without barriers’ which has been my goal throughout my career.”