Magnificent Oxford: OFA fetes city’s splendour

The “brightest and the best” in music, theatre, dance and art will celebrate ‘Magnificent Oxford’ at the Oxford Festival of the Arts (OFA) this summer. Each event in the festival – which was founded by Magdalen College School, Oxford (MCS) in 2009 – has been carefully curated to showcase something special about the city.

In a fitting tribute to Oxford’s musical tradition, the three foundation choirs of Magdalen College, Christ Church College and New College will come together to perform Bach’s Magnificat alongside other grand choral works, including Bach’s much-loved Brandenburg Concerto No 4, at the Town Hall. Meanwhile, the Haydn English Orchestra will, for the first time, play in Oxford, performing pieces inspired by his time in the city; while the Oxford Philharmonic Orchestra will perform ‘Handel in Oxford’ at the Sheldonian, hailing another great composer’s association with Oxford.

Oxford Philharmonic Orchestra © Nick Rutter

For jazz lovers, award-winning saxophonist and rapper Soweto Kinch will stage his new album Soundtrack to the Apocalypse at the Festival Hall. The BBC Big Band, joined by Iain Mackenzie, one of the UK’s finest jazz and big band vocalists, will close the festival on a high note, with their sparkling Simply Swing programme. And in an OFA coup, contemporary choral ensemble the ORA Singers will perform during an evening interspersed with interviews with acclaimed composer and baritone Roderick Williams.

Away from music, dancers from the Aakash Odedra Company will bring their boundary-pushing choreography to Oxford, based on the songs of the nightingale; meanwhile, for one night only, the city’s favourite improvised comedy group The Oxford Imps, will be joined at the Festival Hall by fellow locals Jericho Comedy. Local bands and musicians will brave ‘open mic’ at the Festival’s Hub, open daily for refreshments, box office and entertainment at its usual spot in the MCS Rose Garden.

Magdalen College School, Oxford Rose Garden

Four shows of The Three Musketeers will run at the Oxford Playhouse, performed by a cast of MCS pupils, who have worked with professional fencers to prepare the stage-craft for their sword fights. A pupil-led crew will also work alongside professionals from the Playhouse on the technical production. The MCS Field Play also makes a return – this time, with The Merry Wives of Windsor; as will the magical Madrigals on the River.

With a resident population of over 163,000 in Oxford alone, and countless more workers and tourists visiting every day, the city means many different things to many different people. The festival, in collaboration with Photo Oxford and Oxfordshire Artweeks, received over a thousand photos to an open call for a unique exhibition – What is YOUR Oxford? – showing at Pembroke Art Gallery. The Oxford Museum will hold Our Oxford: 50 Years, 50 Stories; while the Oxford Art Society will be presenting work from Young Artists of Oxford, at Magdalen Road Studios.

Dreaming of kickflips by Stuart Bebb

Amongst these gems, the festival is curating other exhibitions, including IN FLUX, by Oxfordshire-based artist James Gemmill at Pembroke College, and two other photographic exhibitions: the work of Erica Longfellow: Oxford Inverted (Pembroke Art Gallery), and Recurring Dreams of Oxford by Bharat Patel at the Westgate Centre.

Once again, Oxford’s leading arts venues have leant their support for the festival – with three new and unusual sites this year: St Mary the Virgin Church Iffley, The Church of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Beckley, and St Bartholomew’s Chapel Bartlemas. They all join the festival’s listings in 2025, bringing a fresh perspective on the city beyond.

Disappearance of Worlds by Chantal Meza

Discussion and debate have long been a part of the festival’s DNA, and with Oxford providing a safe haven to many who have been displaced this year’s festival will stage a series of conversations with eminent speakers on human rights, asylum and sanctuary. Centred around an arresting exhibition, Disappearance of Worlds, by Mexican painter Chantal Meza, the series will be opened by Will Gompertz – Director of Sir John Soane’s Museum, and journalist and writer- in conversation with Chantal. Other speakers throughout the exhibition period will include: Hair Reedman, incoming co-director of Asylum Welcome; Baroness Jan Royall, Principal of Somerville College, and representing City of Sanctuary; and Gareth Owen, Former Humanitarian Director, Save the Children. MCS Master Helen Pike will close the festival speaker series in a conversation with Dame Joan Bakewell – journalist, presenter, peer, and President of Birkbeck University, who herself has been named Humanist of the Year.

Helen Pike, Master, Magdalen College School, Oxford, said: “Oxford is magnificent in so many ways – and the festival has certainly succeeded in bringing the brightest and the best in music, theatre, dance and art to honour its brilliance. With Oxford centre stage, this year’s packed programme of daily events across the city and its surrounds offers something for everyone. The Oxford Festival of the Arts is a highlight of my year and I am delighted that MCS is once again key to bringing this exciting celebration to the city.”

Dr Michelle Castelletti, Director of the Oxford Festival of the Arts, said: “How does one celebrate the magnificence of our glorious city? Its dreaming spires, its extraordinary history, its rich cultural tapestry, its coveted innovation and research, its hold on to splendour and tradition, its music, its art, its peoples? The festival this year is attempting to slice through this colourful kaleidoscopic world to present the multi-layered world that is Oxford. We have all made this city our home. How lucky are we?!”

The Oxford Festival of the Arts runs between 1st May and 23rd July, full details are available online.