Two Moors Festival Celebrates 25 Years of Classical Music

In the autumn of 2001, a quiet initiative took root in the remote expanses of Devon and Somerset. The rural economy, battered by quarantines and travel bans, teetered on the edge of stagnation, and those vast, undulating blankets of heather and granite emptied of visitors. It was against this backdrop of enforced isolation that a pair of dedicated music enthusiasts conceived the Two Moors Festival.

St. Andrew’s Church in Moretonhampstead

It was not intended as a grand spectacle, but as a modest act of defiance. Designed to coax people back into the landscape and remind them of the solace that art could offer amid hardship, a small number of chamber music concerts sounded across the villages of Dartmoor and Exmoor.

As the festival approaches its 25th anniversary in October 2025, it stands as a testament to persistence, as it has become a bridge between the solitary wilds of these twin national parks and the communal intimacy of sustainable cultural events.

An Introduction to The Two Moors Festival

Guided by Story, Shaped by Sound

Tamsin Waley-Cohen © Neda Navaee

Celebrating its 25th anniversary, the festival thrives under the visionary leadership of Artistic Director Tamsin Waley-Cohen, who has steered its creative direction since 2020. Having grown up on a working farm in the region, and participated as a performer at earlier editions of the festival, she now channels her lifelong passion for storytelling into a canvas of musical and narrative enchantment.

The Two Moors Festival is committed to intimate and unconventional venues, like churches, railway stations, village homes and halls. As Waley-Cohen explained, “These venues deeply inspire my programming, each telling a story of the history and folklore of particular spaces and areas.”

Organising a two-weekend event across 1,200 square miles is a massive jigsaw. “We coordinate global artists, align schedules with October dates, and assign daily events while managing Moorland logistics. Commissions and immersive events require months of planning, but with a dedicated team, we turn potential chaos into a cohesive celebration that brings over 6000 people to these rural heartlands each year.”

Albion Quartet plays Dvořák: Quartet No. 13 in G Major, “Andante”

Immersive Soundscapes

The 25^th anniversary programme spans roughly six centuries of music, and I asked Waley-Cohen how she balances historical retrospectives with forward-looking elements. “My guiding principles of the anniversary programme,” she explained, “revolve around seeing music as threads that bind the past to the present, creating a kaleidoscopic context that reflects the moors’ timeless stories.”

One of the highlights of the anniversary festival is the performance of a world premiere string quartet composed by Erkki-Sven Tüür. “It was commissioned as part of our annual tradition of supporting new works. And Tüür responded with a composition that features a sound wall of layered textures, pulsating rhythmic riff, and an immediacy that is firmly rooted in the moment.” Drawing on his signature vector-based techniques for dynamic tonal beauty without alienating listeners, “the piece feels visceral and immersive, much like the landscape itself.”

Waley-Cohen/Watkins plays Watkins: Violin Sonata

A Festival of Many Voices

Chiaroscuro Quartet

The Two Moors Festival prominently features talks, workshops, poetry readings, and nature explorations that reflect its thematic depth. Waley-Cohen strongly believes that “separating the arts is unnatural, as they complement each other perfectly.”

“I decide to integrate talks, workshops, and poetry readings when they can deepen the festival’s storytelling, connecting music to the cultural, architectural, and natural heritage of the moors.”

For Waley-Cohen, this also helps audiences who might be slightly nervous about classical music, “as the interdisciplinary elements bridge that gap by creating a holistic experience.” And let’s not forget the festival’s dedication to actively involve young and emerging talents through its Young Musicians Competition, “ensures the festival’s legacy for future generations.”

Tamsin Waley-Cohen plays Freya Waley-Cohen: “Unveil”

Ever Growing, Ever-Rooted

United Strings of Europe

Determined to bring people together through live, in-person experiences rather than livestreams and digital footprints, Waley-Cohen envisions the festival’s next 25 years as a dynamic evolution. By embracing fusions with folk, jazz, and environmental themes, deeper collaborations with other art forms, new commissions, and recreating site-specific programmes that engage local choirs, schools, and conservation efforts tied to the national parks, Waley-Cohen “wants things to keep changing and growing, and not just standing still.”

Always looking to deepen the connection between cultural heritage and broader community benefits, the Two Moors Festival invites visitors to co-create an evolving narrative that resonates with the landscape’s timeless stories and vibrant future.

If you’re free during the first part of October 2025, you might well join the celebration of the Two Moors Festival’s 25^th anniversary. Experience enchanting music, intimate venues, and vibrant storytelling across Exmoor and Dartmoor while creating unforgettable memories in the moors’ timeless beauty.