5 reasons to join us to celebrate the 150th birthday of Cheltenham’s most famous son

A once in a lifetime community event, The Holst 150 Birthday Party, is taking place on the 21st of September 1-6pm in Imperial Gardens and you are invited to join the free celebrations!

Why should you add this date to your calendar and prepare to party? Read on to find out...

1. Celebrate a composer loved by fans across the world

Gustav Holst was an English composer, arranger and teacher. He was born in Cheltenham in 1874. You can still visit his birthplace at Holst Victorian House, a museum celebrating Victorian life, located on Clarence Road near Pittville Park. His music continues to resonate with audiences worldwide, captivating listeners with its timeless beauty and enduring relevance. His most famous work, The Planets, is one of the best-known pieces of classical music ever written.

2. Enjoy free live music from classical to folk

Whether you're a fan of symphonies or folk tunes, this event has something for everyone. Enjoy live performances from the Cheltenham Philharmonic, Silver Band, and more, as you relax in the spectacular Imperial Gardens.

1.00 pm Cheltenham Silver Band and percussion workshops

1.55 pm Edward Derbyshire – Holst: A poetic and musical journey  

2.15 pm Montpellier Brass Ensemble ​​​​​​

2.45 pm Gary Branch, Piano

3.15 pm Kingsley Brass 

3.30 pm Nethra Academy of Performing Arts

4.30 pm  Cheltenham Improvisers Orchestra

5.10 pm Charlton Kings Choral Society

5.30 pm Cheltenham Philharmonic Orchestre - Strings

5.55 pm Finale CK Choral Society accompanied by Cheltenham Philharmonic Orchestra

Cheltenham Silver Band

The Silver Band will be playing extracts from Holst’s Moorside Suite, the only piece he composed specifically for brass band, music inspired by Holst and a few favourites from their summer programme. In association with Holst Victorian House, the Band recently ran a series of percussion workshops for the After School Club at the Cornerstone Centre in Whaddon, and we are delighted that the youngsters will be joining them on stage in a performance of Mars from The Planets.

To find out more about the band, visit www.cheltenhamband.co.uk 

Montpellier Brass Ensemble

A brass group based in Cheltenham. The players are drawn from across the region and share a passion for brass chamber music of all genres, from Baroque to Ragtime.

The afternoon programme will feature four masterpieces by Gustav Holst, each arranged for brass. Experience the dynamic and richly textured "Suite No. 1" arranged by Chris Mowat, and the lively "Jig" from "St Paul’s Suite" brought to life by Roger Argente. "A Moorside Suite," with its evocative melodies, is beautifully arranged by Ian Jones, while the stirring "Thaxted" ("I Vow to Thee, My Country"), arranged by Jock McKenzie, resonates with patriotic fervor. These arrangements highlight Holst’s genius and the expressive power of brass, promising an unforgettable musical journey.

To find out more about the band visit their Facebook page.

Gary Branch

Gary will be playing music by Holst for solo piano including his Toccata and Nocturne. 

Gary has broadcast on BBC radio and on television, including on the BBC’s ‘Great Railway Journeys’ at Finchcocks Musical Museum, focusing on a Broadwood and Sons square piano and its link to Queen Victoria and Prince Albert; this was first broadcast in January 2016. 

Gary has been delighted to collaborate with Holst Victorian House, including two concerts with Greg Tassell as part of the Broadwood & Sons Holst Festival and recording and video projects. 

At present, he holds the post of Director of Projects at the Finchcocks Charity for period keyboard instruments. He is also the Piano Historian and Pianist in Residence for Coach House Pianos where he regularly presents the event ‘Discovering the World of the Piano’. 

Kingsley Brass

Kingsley Brass will be bringing a 15-minute set of music by Holst or inspired by him. Generously funded through the Simon Kingsley Memorial Fund.

Discover more about Kingsley Brass.

Nethra Academy

Nethra Academy of Performing Arts (NAPA) will perform a programme of Indian dance.  There couldn’t be a more appropriate way of celebrating Gustav Holst’s life-long interest in Indian culture which had a significant influence on his music and his outlook, stimulated initially by the Anglo-Indian presence in Cheltenham, later developing into a close study of Indian texts.  He even taught himself Sanskrit and was inspired to write the Hymns of the Rig Veda and the opera Savitri, which was based on part of an ancient Sanskrit epic, among other compositions reflecting Indian musical influence. 

Discover more about NAPA

Cheltenham Improvisers Orchestra

The orchestra will present a performance titled 'Revealing a Holst Melody via Indian Classical Raga Progressions'. This will feature their resident sitar player Dinesh Patel who has researched Gustav Holst's interest in astrology and has found striking similarities within Indian classical music and Sanskrit. As a homage to Holst our performance will incorporate a 'cantus firmus' or Raga drone continuum incorporating elements of ascending scales found in Jupiter as well as dramatic themes referring to Mars, both taken from the famous Planets Suite. The music will be inventive, surprising and highly original.  

Discover more about Cheltenham Improvisers Orchestra.

Charlton Kings Choral Society

This popular group will be singing a few songs from their repertoire plus a finale rendition of I Vow to Thee my Country accompanied by Cheltenham Philharmonic Orchestra

Discover more about the Charlton Kings Choral Society.

Cheltenham Philharmonic Orchestra

Cheltenham’s oldest orchestra, inaugurated in January 1895 with the purpose of “bringing to the notice of the Cheltenham musical public, works which had not been performed in the town, or were but little known”. CPO continues in this tradition, performing in Cheltenham and the surrounding area every 2-3 months and are always delighted to welcome new players.

The CPO string players will be playing Holst’s St Paul’s Suite and ‘I Vow to Thee my Country’ from Holst’s Planet Suite and Elgar’s Serenade for strings.

Discover more about the Cheltenham Philarmonic Orchestra.

3. Unleash your creativity in the art zone

From 2-5 pm families can explore different art and craft workshops, including cut-out lyrebirds, paper planets, mural making and print making. These drop-in workshops are great for all ages and are both doable, quick and fun.

Holst fans are also invited to discover a multi-sensory experience zone of creative technology, exploring our interconnected cosmos through sight & sound art, inspired by the incredible life & musical journey of Gustav Holst.

Meet the artists:

Artist and illustrator, Imogen Harvey Lewis, will be welcoming guests to create their own beautiful Lyrebird sculpture to decorate both indoor and outdoor spaces.

Using a template, easy cutting, paint-pens and pattern, this drop-in workshop is great for all ages.

Discover more – Imogen Harvey Lewis.

Create paper planets - To celebrate ‘The Planets’, which was written by Gustav Holst between 1914-1917, there will be a fun, drop-in family crafting activity where all ages are welcome to create one, or several, of the planets in the solar system. 

Using paper and card, make a planet puppet, solar system garland or 3D decoration with local crafter and creative workshop host, Helen Nightingale. This informal, walk-up activity will be fun for all the family and will be a chance to get creative and talk more about some of Holst’s most famous work.  

Discover more – Helen Nightingale Creates.

Giant Holst Doodle - Something magical happens when we draw together. Join in, no matter what your age and let's see where our imagination takes us as we all create a collaborative portrait capturing Holst and his music.

Discover more – Gemma Hastilow.

Letter press - Come and ink up your own Holst 150 poster to take away with you, with print maker Andy Kinnear

Discover more – GPC (gpchq.co.uk)

5. Take a multi-sensory journey through our interconnected cosmos

Inspired by the remarkable life and musical legacy of Gustav Holst. Embark on a mind expanding, multi-sensory journey through our interconnected cosmos at the Holst Spaceship Earth by Play.Labz. This is best described as a pop-up play-lab zone, where community collaboration, creative technology and art collide.

Explore the Holst Victorian House through DIY VR goggles, inspired by Holst's 19th-century stereoscopic viewer and hear Gustav Holst's voice for the first time! Brought to life using cutting-edge cybernetic software and electronically recorded Holst family DNA from Imogen Holst and Ernest Cossart. Feel an experimental 8-bit chiptune rendition of Mars (The Bringer of War) through SubPac haptic bass technology, celebrating the 110th anniversary of this iconic and powerful musical movement.

Enjoy Holst's playtronica flower synth. Magically create electronic music sounds by interacting with touch, flowers, and water, forging a cosmic connection with nature.

Experience Holst Spaceship Earth and be a Pollinator Planet Creators - Be the change by creating wildflower mini natural planets that provide vital habitats for pollinators, and earthlings.

Discover more – Holst Spaceship Earth

For more details visit - The Holst 150 Birthday Party. Download the event poster here.