Joyful end of year celebration on Hampstead Heath Sunday 5th July 2026

The currently small number of BBCM people were supported by ex-BBCM students to whom we are very grateful; especially to Francesca di Cecio, David Franklyn, Lesley Larkum, Juliette Majid, Sophia Ivanetic and Jatinder Sehmi. And, as last year, it was good to see Scipio Zamparo too. In addition, we guested Virág Muzslai from the Liszt Institute (Hungarian Cultural Centre in London) and we hope that she enjoyed participating.

Report: Francesca di Cecio
Pictures: Lesley Larkum, Konstanze (Konni) Rietsch, James Rudd
Captions: Agnes Kory

Agnes is looking for a suitable spot on the Heath; Scipio and David look on

Each year we sing Bartók’s Játék (Game) and each year we play the candlelight game which Bartók used for his composition.

Francesca di Cecio writes:
At the 2026 end-of-year gathering on a sunny July Sunday, Hampstead Heath rang with enthusiastic voices spanning all the generations of BBCM musicians. With an audience of occasional curious passers-by and several birds that were often keen to join in the music-making, we settled in a shady spot by the pond for our afternoon of harmonies and rounds. As a former class member returning after several years, it was truly a delight to see BBCM friends and familiar faces, as well as to meet new participants. Singing the traditional BBCM pieces was, in a way, also like greeting old friends, whether accompanying the young children as the teddy and the tailor in their Kodály performance, or filling out the harmonies in the Ode to Joy. In the adults' part of the afternoon, we also sang pieces by Bach and Bartók – music that is truly good for the soul, and quite a challenge at times! No matter how difficult the harmonies, Agnes' insistence on the musicality of the performances was unwavering. It has always been a deep pleasure to benefit from her instructions as to the shaping, ebbs, and flows of the music. It was a magical afternoon that I feel lucky to have been part of and will carry with me for some time.

All together: young and old, current and former BBCM people

See you next year; hopefully at this lovely spot of Hampstead Heath