The Yehudi Menuhin School

Congratulations to Natalie Cummings on being awarded an MBE in the King's Birthday Honours List for services to missing persons and Holocaust remembrance.

We’ve been delighted to welcome Natalie to the Yehudi Menuhin School to share her inspiring work as the guardian of the Auschwitz Violin, having donated it to YMS in 2017.

A huge congratulations on this well-deserved honour, Natalie.

Photos: Natalie Cummings/ Shropshire Star/YMS

One week until we launch our Annual Summer Festival!

Join us for our 2026 Summer Festival (27 June – 3 July), a vibrant celebration of classical music and folklore.

Open the festival with our Orchestral Picnic on Saturday 27 June at 5pm. Pack a picnic and enjoy a relaxed summer evening of live music, with a picnic interval in the beautiful grounds. Featuring music by Rutter, McDowall, Vaughan Williams and Britten, performed by the outstanding musicians of the Yehudi Menuhin School.

🎟️ Tickets £12–30 | Under 30s half-price: https://www.menuhinhall.co.uk/events/orchestral-picnic

Just 2 days left to apply for Summer School 2026!

Ahead of joining our Summer School faculty, Professor of Violin Ning Kam shares why the best teachers don't create copies of themselves, they inspire students to think independently and find their own artistic voice.

"You'll be your own best teacher and your own best student."

Read the full interview and discover what students can expect this summer.

Applications close On 19th June. Don't miss your chance to join us: https://www.menuhinschool.co.uk/news/summer-school-ning-kam

Spend an inspiring afternoon at Blackheath Halls with St James Chamber Orchestra featuring Yehudi Menuhin School alumni on Mon 22 Jun, 1.10pm.

Enjoy an elegant programme of Scandinavian music by Grieg, Sibelius and Wirén, including the radiant Serenade for Strings and lyrical works for violin and strings.

Conducted by Matthew Taylor, with soloist Sasha Parker and leader Mira Marton featuring several YMS alumni performers.

Music with purpose, supporting children affected by war through partnerships with War Child UK and Humanity & Inclusion UK.

Book now: https://www.blackheathhalls.com/whats-on/lunchtime-recital-st-jamess-chamber-orchestra/

This Friday, Summer Solos return!

Fridays: 12, 19, 26 June, 7.30pm
Sundays: 14, 21, 28 June, 4.30pm

Across the six performances, audiences will hear favourites by Sarasate, Paganini, Gershwin, Clara Schumann, Prokofiev, Tchaikovsky, alongside hidden gems by Bottesini, the ‘Paganini of the double bass,’ and Ysaÿe, the ‘King of the Violin’ performed by our multi-award-winning young musicians.

Plus enjoy world premiers from our acclaimed young composers on select evenings.

Book your tickets here: https://www.menuhinhall.co.uk/whats-on/category/summer-solos

Huge congratulations to YMS violinist Michael on winning Second Prize at the prestigious Concorso Violinistico Internazionale Andrea Postacchini in Italy last week.

Since its first edition in 1994, the International Violin Competition dedicated to legendary violin maker Andrea Postacchini has become renowned worldwide for celebrating exceptional young talent in the beautiful city of Fermo.

Bravo, Michael — we can’t wait to hear him perform in our upcoming Summer Solos series, starting 12 June at 7.30pm.

Tickets: https://www.menuhinhall.co.uk/whats-on/category/summer-solos

to our Annual Scotland Tour

What a wonderful weekend it was as four of our talented young pianists travelled across Scotland to perform at some of the country’s most beloved venues, including Christ Church in Lanark, Canongate Kirk, and Blair Atholl.

Accompanied by our Music Administrator Cathy and guest pianist Nigel Hutchison, the tour was filled with inspiring performances, unforgettable memories, and plenty of musical magic along the way

“Here is a composer so eager to prove his worth that even his music seems to trip and skip over itself”

Before From the New World, before international acclaim, there was a young Antonín Dvořák.

Discover more in Menuhin Recommends..., and join us for our Summer Festival finale: Summer Serenade, on 3 July at 7.30pm, to experience the remarkable work that marked the true beginning of Dvořák’s musical journey: https://www.menuhinschool.co.uk/news/menuhin-recommends-serenade-for-strings-by-antonin-dvorak

“The violins languid and nostalgic over the cello and bass’s stormy interruptions.”

Discover Britten’s early triumph for string orchestra in the latest edition of Menuhin Recommends…, where we share our top three picks from this year’s Summer Festival from 27June - 3 July.

Read more and book your tickets: https://www.menuhinschool.co.uk/news/menuhin-recommends-simple-symphony-by-benjamin-britten