Music at Haddon – Ocho (Choral Octet)

Ocho (Spanish for 8!) is a Derbyshire-based vocal ensemble which sings a very wide range of repertoire from sacred music, through the romantic Victorian era, Gershwin, to modern popular music.  The ensemble was formed in 2013 and each of the signers has considerable choral experience, coming together to produce a unique and beautiful sound.  We give them a very warm welcome in this, their first year of singing at Haddon, and we’re sure visitors will thoroughly enjoy Ocho’s programme.

Children’s Free Guided Tours

Our children’s free guided tours are a fun activity focussing on some of the fascinating and quirky aspects of Haddon’s history and the lives of the people – both family and staff – who have lived here over the centuries. Learn about the spitboy’s job in the medieval kitchens; discover whether the Elizabethans had baby-walkers for their toddlers; imagine preparing for a morning lesson with your swordmaster . . .

Wildlife Walk: The Butterflies of Haddon Medieval Park

The Medieval Park at Haddon Hall is a rare treasure, comprising 187 hectares of organic ancient pasture, woodlands, water meadows and river banks.  Largely untouched for over 900 years with a diverse range of habitats, it is home to an incredible variety of wildlife.  A recent survey found 20 different butterfly species fluttering around our flowers, grasses and trees, including the Wall Brown and Small Heath, both priority conservation species.

In these two exclusive events renowned butterfly naturalist Steve Orridge will take you behind the scenes into the private parkland that surrounds Haddon Hall.  For approximately 3 hours, walking at a gentle pace with plenty of opportunities for observation and photography, he will escort you around the different habitats within the Medieval Park to discover and appreciate its rich butterfly life.

Steve Orridge is a keen naturalist who has been involved in butterfly surveys since 2013, working with East Midlands Butterfly Conservation and the Derbyshire Wildlife Trust.  Steve has been involved in walking transects within Haddon Medieval Park since 2020 and knows the habitats here very well.  He is passionate about sharing his love of butterflies and the natural world with others.

Please note that this walk takes place within the unspoilt, natural landscape of the Haddon Medieval Park.  There are few paths, the terrain is uneven in places and may be wet and/or muddy.  For your safety and comfort you are advised to wear walking boots or other stout footwear and to have warm clothing available with you to wear if required on the day of your visit.

If you come on one of our Parkland Walks you can also visit the Hall and Gardens on the same day at a discounted price.   After enjoying your walk, simply visit our Ticket Office and show proof of your Parkland walk booking to purchase your discounted ticket.

Music at Haddon – Vocalium

Vocalium draws together singers from across Britain who share a love of Tudor and contemporary sacred and secular music.  The choir currently has 25 members, all of whom sing with other choirs of significant local and national reputation, including the BBC Symphony Chorus and Leeds Philharmonic Choir.  Whilst these prestigious choirs provide an opportunity to perform large works,  choir members enjoy the opportunity Vocalium offers to sing a more specialised and intimate repertoire, and explore less familiar works from around the world.

Music at Haddon – Laura-Rose Gee – Harp

Laura-Rose is a 22 year old Derbyshire award-winning harpist.  Laura is currently studying to be a psychotherapist and encourages creative approaches during therapy sessions.  Laura has performed with her harp for weddings, corporate and charitable events for over 15 years, covering a wide range of music from classical to modern.  She has performed globally, for live television performances in addition to performing for a number of celebrities.  Laura-Rose will give a varied performance and give parents and children the opportunity of asking questions and “having a go” on the harp.

Music at Haddon – A Quartet of Young Derbyshire Talent

This afternoon we’re delighted to welcome four outstanding young musicians who are members of two of Derbyshire’s Music Centres.  These are: twelve year old Ben Giliker (violin);  fifteen year old Ella Gummow (harp); 18 year old Emily Holt (flute) and Catherine Smith (clarinet) who has just graduated from the Trinity Laban Conservatoire.  Each player will perform some of their favourite pieces in The Long Gallery, and this promises to be a very special highlight for today’s visitors to Haddon.

Medieval Parkland Walks

Whilst it is well known that Haddon is one of the great survivors of the Medieval age, it is less well known that its Medieval Park, which encircles the hall, has also remained largely undisturbed and is remarkable for its diversity of habitats, unaltered landscapes and stretches of ancient pasture.

Within the park today can be found many clues to its Medieval past and it is a place of exceptional biodiversity.

On our guided parkland walks, you will be escorted through this varied, ancient landscape and our guides will share with you their knowledge of the plant and animal species, some very rare, which live within it and will provide insight into how the park was managed in Medieval times for hunting, leisure, and support of the hall and its household.

If you come on one of our Parkland Walks you can also visit the Hall and Gardens on the same day at a discounted price.   After enjoying your walk, simply visit our Ticket Office and show proof of your Parkland walk booking to purchase your discounted ticket.

Music at Haddon – Rachel Spiers (soprano)

Rachel Speirs – Soprano

Scottish Soprano Rachel Speirs studied at the Royal Northern College of Music where she won the Betty Bannerman Award for French Song 2020, the Kennedy Strauss Award 2019 adjudicated by Simon Keenlyside, and was a finalist in the Elizabeth Harwood Memorial Prize 2020 adjudicated by Dame Ann Murray and Sarah Tynan.  Rachel’s recent engagements include the role of Maria Bertram in Jonathan Dove’s Mansfield Park, Mahler’s 2nd Symphony with the Opera North Chorus, Brahms Requiem with Leeds Philharmonic Chorus, English Touring Opera as Chorus for La Boheme and The Golden Cockerel, and Soprano Principal for How To Find Your Name, a schools show suitable for SEND audiences.  She recently recorded the role of Lotty in GA MacFarren’s opera The Soldier’s Legacy for Retrospect Opera, and will feature singing songs by William Alwyn and John Manduell on a disc released in July 2022 celebrating Sir John Manduell and his contemporaries.  At Haddon Hall, Rachel will sing two recitals of her favourite songs and arias, including works by Debussy, Strauss, Puccini and Ivor Novello.

Rachel Fright – Pianist will accompany Rachel for this performance

Following her performance as a Leeds Lieder Young Artist 2018, pianist Rachel Fright was awarded the Hester Dickson Duo Prize with duo partner Ted Black (tenor) to study at Oxenfoord International Summer School with Malcolm Martineau.  In the same year, Rachel was a finalist in the Patricia Routledge National English Song Competition and the British Art-Song competition as part of the London Song Festival.  Rachel performs regularly across the UK and has been featured on BBC Radio 3.  She is also a musician for Live Music Now, deputy tutor at Yorkshire Young Musicians and accompanist to Sheffield Philharmonic Chorus and King Edward Music Society, Macclesfield.

Rachel studied with scholarships to Pembroke College, Oxford and the Royal Northern College of Music, where she was taught by Stephen Savage, David Jones and Julius Drake, with whom she continues private study.  During her studies, she was supported by the Helen Mackaness Award and won several prizes for accompaniment; the Stella Bradshaw Memorial Award, the Frost/Brownson Award for Accompaniment, the Clifton Helliwell Memorial Award, the Brodsky Prize, the Alexander Young Prize and the James Martin Oncken Song prize.  In 2015, she attended the Oxford Lieder Festival Mastercourse, where she received tuition from Roger Vignoles and Imogen Cooper.  She is currently a Junior Fellow in Accompaniment at the RNCM.

Music at Haddon – Richard Haslam – Guitar

Richard Haslam is a Derbyshire born classical guitarist currently based in Manchester.  He completed a post-graduate degree in music performance from the Royal Northern College of Music, Manchester under the tutelage of Australian guitarist Craig Ogden in 2017.  Since completing his studies, Richard has given recitals, both as a soloist and also as a member of ensembles.  We’re promised a vibrant and exciting programme of guitar music this afternoon.

Music at Haddon – Melismata

Melismata is a group of twenty singers with a love of European sacred music from the late 15th to late 17th century.  The programme will include music from composers such as Byrd, Lassus, Josquin and Purcell.  We welcome members of Melismata for their first visit to Haddon Hall today.