Drogheda Classical Music has unveiled its 2026/27 season, bringing internationally acclaimed singers, pianists, ensembles and instrumentalists to St Peter’s Church of Ireland from September through to next April.
The new programme includes Swedish soprano Miah Persson, pianist Joe Middleton, the Irish Baroque Orchestra, guitarist Seán Shibe, pianist Roman Rabinovich and a new two-day BeethovenFest.
The season opens on Friday, 11th September, when Persson joins Middleton for an evening of opera and song at St Peter’s Church of Ireland.
Drogheda Classical Music Artistic Director Dr Gavan Ring said the new programme reflects the series’ ambition to bring leading international artists to the town.
“We are enormously excited to unveil our 2026/27 season. Our ambition at Drogheda Classical Music is very simple: to bring extraordinary artists and extraordinary music to Drogheda, and I think this season demonstrates that ambition more strongly than ever.
“To open with an artist of Miah Persson’s international stature alongside the wonderful Joe Middleton is incredibly exciting, while welcoming the Irish Baroque Orchestra and Peter Whelan for Bach’s Christmas Oratorio will make for a truly special Christmas event. We also have artists such as Roman Rabinovich and Seán Shibe making eagerly anticipated Drogheda débuts, alongside some of Ireland’s finest musicians throughout the season.”
BeethovenFest coming in March
A major addition to the 2026/27 programme will be BeethovenFest 2027, taking place on 19th and 20th March.
The two-day mini-festival will combine talks, workshops, interactive sessions and a gala concert featuring pianists Finghin Collins and Dida Condria.
The event will also celebrate Drogheda Classical Music’s Steinway concert grand.
“BeethovenFest is something particularly exciting for us,” Ring said.
“We want to create an event that goes beyond the traditional concert and gives audiences of all ages different ways to explore this extraordinary music. It will also celebrate the brilliance of Irish pianism and the jewel in Drogheda’s musical crown – our incredible Steinway piano. We’ll be announcing full details later in the season.”
Drogheda Classical Music 2026/27 programme
The season opens on 11th September with Miah Persson and Joe Middleton.
On 27th October, clarinettist John Finucane will be joined by pianist Fergal Caulfield and cellist Martin Johnson for a programme including Beethoven and Brahms.
Pianist Roman Rabinovich makes his Drogheda appearance on 13th November, with music spanning from Rameau to Ravel.
The Irish Baroque Orchestra returns on 12th December for Bach’s Christmas Oratorio, conducted by Peter Whelan and featuring international soloists and the Irish Baroque Orchestra Chorus.
The 2027 programme begins on 22nd January, when Claudia Boyle performs alongside tenor Cathal McCabe and pianist Rebecca Warren in an evening of opera, song and Irish favourites.
Scottish guitarist Seán Shibe follows on 19th February, with music by Rodrigo, Dowland and Thomas Adès.
BeethovenFest takes place on 19th and 20th March, before the season closes on 16th April with tenor Dean Power and pianist-composer James Hurley presenting The Great Irish Poets Songbook.
That final programme will feature settings of texts by writers including James Joyce, W.B. Yeats, Fanny Parnell, Oscar Wilde and Katharine Tynan.
Pre-concert talks return
Drogheda Classical Music’s pre-concert talks will also return throughout the season at 7pm, with performances beginning at 7.30pm.
All concerts take place at St Peter’s Church of Ireland in Drogheda.
Season tickets are currently available through Droichead Arts Centre for €130, covering all concerts in the series, while individual tickets are also available.
Drogheda Classical Music is funded by the Arts Council of Ireland and Louth County Council and runs in partnership with Droichead Arts Centre and RTÉ Supporting the Arts.
