Bayle Music

Hon. President: Rev. Christopher Johnson

Hon. Patron: Mark Simpson

Chairman: Ian Gordon, for all enquiries contact bayleman@gmail.com

Concert Secretary: Prof. Grenville Hancox

Bayle Music grew out of the ‘Music on a Sunday Afternoon’ series which in turn had developed from the ‘Coffee, Cakes and Classics’ series held on Saturday mornings at The Metropole. 

When The Metropole was no longer available, the concerts – and the splendid Yamaha Concert Grand Piano – transferred to St Mary & St Eanswythe’s church.  With agreement of the church, the concerts moved to Sunday afternoons.   Grenville Hancox, then Head of the Music Department at Canterbury Christ Church University, organised the concerts and booked the performers.  The costs of the concerts were underwritten by the University and the programmes, featuring established and emerging young musicians proved attractive.

One such emerging group was the Sacconi Quartet which after performing twice asked if the church would be prepared to host an annual Music Festival over a weekend in May.  Fr David and Churchwardens agreed and the first Sacconi Chamber Music Festival was held in 2008.  The Festival goes from strength to strength and presents five concerts in three days filling the church each time.

Sadly the University withdrew its financial support leaving the concerts uncertain.   However under the leadership of Grenville Hancox, sponsorship from local businesses  and the support of our ‘regulars’ becoming patrons or buying season tickets, the concerts continued under the name ‘Bayle Music’.  

Scroll down for upcoming Bayle Music concerts.