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History
In 1997 Egerton held its first Music Festival in order to raise funds for the new Village Hall. Hundreds of musicians and singers took part in a week of concerts and events that caught the imagination of audiences and performers alike.
2011 will see the sixth Music Festival. However, the story of the Egerton Music Festival would be incomplete without acknowledging our debt to those who have contributed over the years.
The Festival would not have got off the ground at all without the support of John and Catita Lumley, whose beautiful barn at Court Lodge was the main venue for the first two festivals.
Also in the early years, Clem Danin was tireless in his search for musicians, and the late Professor Yfrah Neaman sent us some wonderful young players from the Guildhall School of Music and Drama.
The late Bryan Gipps (sen.) welcomed us into Egerton House and, of course, without his son Bryan we would be rudderless today. John Hall has always turned up trumps with his young jazz players and Roy Gill has never been found wanting when we needed folk musicians.
Visiting choirs have included the Shepway Singers, Cantores Dominicae, the Cranbrook Choral Society, the Sutton Valence Choral Society; and we have welcomed the Kent Chamber Choir, under Alan Vincent, at least three times.
Over the years the chamber concerts and recitals have given us a chance to hear some first class musicians. Highlights must include the Trio Berneray from
Munich, the Baugé Trio from the Royal Opera Orchestra and Trio con Spirito. Soloists have included Ben Hancox, Camilla Pay, Elinor Gow, Jane Wisely, Robin Morrish and Paloma Kouider from Paris.
We will for ever be grateful to everyone who has helped and entertained us over the years.
 ‘Gaudeamus igitur’
Egerton Music Festival is
a registered charity, number 1104268
The Aims and objectives of the Festival as defined in its constitution are:
(a) to promote, improve, develop and maintain public education in and appreciation
of the art and science of music in all its aspects by the holding
of music festivals and other musical  events in the Parish of Egerton,
Kent and by other such ways as the Charity through its Executive
Committee shall determine from time to time;
(b) to utilise in the locality the proceeds of the music festival to promote
the learning of music in all its forms by young musicians, or such
other areas as the Executive Committee shall determine from time
to time.
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