Recorder player Tabea Debus joins York Early Music Festival as guest artistic advisor

Tabea Debus (Photo: Kaupo Kikkas)

Recorder player extraordinare Tabea Debus is joining York Early Music Festival as guest artistic advisor. She joins the current team of artistic advisers Lindsay Kemp (music writer and producer), Peter Seymour (emeritus professor of music at the University of York and director of Yorkshire Baroque Soloists & Choir), John Bryan (emeritus professor of music at the University of Huddersfield and member of the Rose Consort of Viols) and guest adviser Mark Seow (violinist, musicologist, writer and broadcaster). Tabea Debus has been appointed to support the 2027, ’28 and ’29 festivals and steps into the musical shoes of mezzo soprano Helen Charlston.  

Born in Würzburg, Germany, Tabea Debus studied at the Frankfurt University of Music and Performing Arts and at the Royal Academy of Music. In 2023, Tabshe ea joined the recorder quartet Palisander, whose theatrical concerts are devised for audiences of all ages and backgrounds. Palisander have performed regularly at the National Centre for Early Music where they also led workshops for children and young people.   

Tabea Debus commented: “I am absolutely delighted to be joining the team of Artistic Advisers and honoured to be working alongside these wonderful colleagues to contribute to the creation of the world-renowned York Early Music Festival. I can’t wait to spend the summer festival season in beautiful York in the coming years, delighting in concerts by fabulous musicians from across the UK, and beyond.”

The York Early Music Festival was established in 1977 and is designed to celebrate York’s myriad of medieval churches, guildhalls and historic houses through historically informed music-making of the highest international standard. The festival is a central part of the National Centre for Early Music’s (NCEM) annual programme.
 The York Early Music Festival returns next year, 2027, from 2 to 9 July. Further information from the NCEM website.