Boost your mood with classical music this Spring

After what seems like the longest time, the Festivals are so very nearly back to delivering our work on a more traditional timescale. Our Sunday Series has just been launched for Spring 2023 and we have a host of fantastic international artists set to perform in Harrogate at our Sunday morning concerts next year. We can’t wait!

The Festivals deliver right around the year, but this particular season of classical music has been part of the portfolio since 1991. Over the last few decades, we’ve always had an eye on spotting young talent as part of our Young Musicians platform and we’re excited to be welcoming back some of our Young Musician Alumni. Pianist Ashley Wass, now Director of the Yehudi Menuhin School joins us to launch the start of the series, and we’re offering a platform for another alumnus of the young musician series Michael Foyle; performing with his brand new ensemble in Trio Balthasar fresh from their Wigmore Hall debut. BBC Proms favourite Jeneba Kanneh-Mason joins us, along with Young Musician of the Year winner Coco Tomita.

These internationally acclaimed artists performing here in Harrogate offer the opportunity to hear some amazing music performed live on our doorstep but there’s a host of benefits to make the most of listening to classical music on Sundays in spring. With the forecast looking like we might need all the help we can get, here’s five big reasons why you should come along:

1.Reduce Stress – yes, listening to classical music helps reduce your blood pressure and scientists believe that as the music tempo can echo the human heart it can also ease stress.

2. Improve your sleep – listening to 45 minutes of classical music can help your sleep patterns improve. You get a full 90 minutes of music at the Sunday Series, so expect a super snooze.

3. Sparks creativity – classical music can boost your creativity and indeed helps you supercharge your brainpower. Those taking tests with classical music in the background scored higher.

4. Boosts memory – as someone who has got to the stage in their life of forgetting words, I clearly need to listen to more, but classical music increases brain wave activity that is directly linked to memory.

5. And most importantly it makes you happy –  it increases your dopamine, activating your reward and pleasure centre. During the short, dark days in the winter I think we could all do with some dopamine!

So come along, try something new this spring. Improve your wellbeing, support live music and feel better. You can book your tickets for the Sunday Series online here or call our Box Office on 01423 562303.

Sharon Canavar, CEO of Harrogate International Festivals