The Merlin Music Society

For 42 years the Merlin Music Society, a charitable society based in Monmouth has provided live classical music of a standard typically available only in the cities. It has been recognised as one of the foremost music societies in the country as a whole.

Past performers include: John Lill, Richard Rodney Bennett, Ian Bostridge, Julius Drake, Pascal Rogé, Freddy Kempf, Ailish Tynan, Llyr Williams; the BBC National Orchestra of Wales, the European Community Chamber Orchestra, the English Symphony Orchestra, the Orchestra of Welsh National Opera; Garden Opera; the Wallace Collection, I Fagiolini, the Boyan Ensemble of Kiev; the Endellion String Quartet, the Belcea String Quartet, the Kungsbacka Trio, Kit and the Widow.

Membership of the Merlin is by annual subscription, which is, in effect, a season-ticket, and it is chiefly on the basis of season-ticket sales that the Society is able to function, since the revenue they generate is already secured at the beginning of the season.

For students following academic courses, Merlin offers a valuable live resource, principally in western classical music, but also in world music, an increasingly important element in GCSE and A level specifications. We have in recent years had immensely successful concerts by Nass Marrakech (the music of North Africa) and Asian Music Circuit (North Indian classical music).

Many of our performers have given masterclasses to pupils from Monmouth’s three secondary schools.

Merlin Music Society events can be see in the events calendar .

More information can be obtained from the Socielty's website here .