Use the calendar below to find concerts and musical entertainments.
You can now book your tickets for Charlton Church concerts via this link! https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/st-peter-and-st-pauls-charlton-church-dover
MUSIC AT CHARLTON - An Overview
Thanks to its size, its versatile lay-out and the beauty of its remarkable acoustic, Charlton Church is Dover’s prime venue for live music. As it is becoming more widely known, Charlton is increasingly a sought-after venue for choirs, large scale concerts, ensembles and soloists. It is also developing a vital educational role, hosting services, workshops, demonstrations and concerts given for and by local school children. Charlton is delighted to be facilitating the work of Deal Music and Arts in Dover, and looks forward to involvement in the developing work of the newly formed Dover Youth Orchestra, which uses the church hall for rehearsals.
Music is of course an essential part of worship at Charlton Church and it has become a vital part of our mission in Dover, a town that has been identified by the Arts Council as a Priority Place for cultural ‘levelling-up’. We are proud to offer to the Dover community a range of affordable musical experiences, bringing people together for high-quality, enjoyable and uplifting entertainment.
Charlton Church – a music hub for Dover!
Please continue reading to find out more.
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CHARLTON FINE ARTS
The generous donation of a fine grand piano spear-headed the creation of Charlton Fine Arts, a series of monthly Sunday-afternoon recitals, now in its 2nd Season. Our aim is to enhance lives by bringing affordable, live, high-quality musical experiences to Dover, serving the community around Charlton Church and further afield. Performers have included the brilliant young counter-tenor Richard Decker, Kurt Weill specialist Penelope Turner, pianist Helen Crayford, operatic bass Alan Ewing and the ensemble Muzika Lyra.
Local support was solid from the start and has continued to grow as word has spread, so that now Charlton Fine Arts is developing a strong following as its reputation spreads.
We are extremely grateful to artists who helped launch Charlton Fine Arts by giving of their time and expertise, or by taking only a token fee. Thanks to their generosity, we now have an established concert series. The 2nd Season is now underway, with wonderful recitals booked up to July 2025 and beyond.
Admission is £8, significantly lower than for comparable concerts in the area, and remains free for under-18s. Refreshments after each concert prove to be popular, giving a chance to meet the performers or to relax and enjoy the impressive setting of Charlton Church. For information about the 2nd Series, and recollections of the first, please see the Charlton Fine Arts page.
In order to bring high-quality classical music to Dover at this admission price, we need sponsorship. Please consider becoming a Patron by sponsoring a concert or an artist in our upcoming concerts. Sponsorship starts at £50. Contact Camilla 07578220209
CHOIRS AND LARGER SCALE CONCERTS
Recent highlights have been a return visit by Revelations Strings and the saxophone quartet Alright on the Night, the Kent Police Male Voice Choir and a ‘Come and Sing’ performance of Stainer’s Crucifixion and Handel’s Zadok the Priest directed by Rupert Preston Bell. The excellent Sound Waves Choir directed by Peter Futcher recently gave a wonderful candlelit concert for Christmas.
In July, the Thanet Chamber Choir under the direction of tenor, Greg Tassell, came to Charlton to sing choral evensong for the official welcoming of the Revd Melissa Carter. The music was beautiful and an atmospheric addition to the lovely words of the Evensong service. We look forward to the choir's return for a concert.
We are keenly awaiting a visit from the Bradstow Chamber Orchestra directed by Jacob Bride, with a programme designed for children, on April 6th 2025.
MUSICAL ENTERTAINMENTS
We are pleased to say that the spectacular performer on electric cello, Christian Grosselfinger, will include Charlton once again in his tour, appearing on March 31st, 2025. Christian’s show has to be seen to be believed as he creates a one-man orchestra with his very own technique: Celloop!
MUSIC FOR SERVICES
WORSHIP BAND
Charlton's skilful Worship Band, led by Alistair Mackie on the guitar, provides the music for Parish Mass once a month and for special services at the church and in the Dover Town Benefice.
CHORAL MUSIC
Look out for our special choral services. People of any age and any amount of experience are invited to join the choir for a monthly service in the lovely acoustic of Charlton. Contact Camilla to know more. 07578220209