Fenlandia Presents: Martin Cousin – Glatton (2024)

Stewart Howe is the founder of Yaxley Festival, a free community event that has attracted 35,000 visitors annually and has helped grow numerous third-sector organisations across the UK and internationally. His unorthodox approach to tackling social issues has led to collaborations with figures such as Lord Bird of The Big Issue, including the creation of the Social Echo project. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Stewart established a support hub in industrial premises just outside Peterborough, delivering voluntary aid to thousands of local residents in partnership with local authorities. He also played a key role in launching The Making of Black Britain project, now hosted on Google Arts & Culture. Stewart currently serves as Chair of the Friends of Peterborough Museum and Art Gallery, a charity dedicated to supporting the city’s museum.

Professor Peter Fribbins is a composer whose instrumental music is performed, broadcast, and recorded internationally. He studied with Hans Werner Henze in London and Italy, at the Royal Academy of Music, and at Royal Holloway and Nottingham universities. He is Professor of Music at Middlesex University and Artistic Director of the Sunday series of London Chamber Music Society concerts at Kings Place. From Autumn 2025, Peter Fribbins brings his acclaimed programming to St John’s Waterloo, launching a new season of Sunday concerts showcasing national and international ensembles. 

Rebecca Jackson is an experienced events strategist and project director with a strong track record of delivering creative, community-focused programmes across the UK. She has helped to deliver major cultural events and festivals, developed Peterborough’s first social investment initiative for the non-profit sector, and championed emerging talent through her leadership of the Young Artists Network. Her work combines strategic vision, imaginative programming, and a deep commitment to place-based engagement.

Martin Cousin – Piano Recital at St Nicholas’, Glatton (2024)

Held in the historic setting of St Nicholas’ Church, Martin Cousin delivered a compelling exploration of Beverley Nichols’s musical world. As one of Britain’s finest pianists, Cousin presented a meticulously crafted programme including Nichols’s own compositions alongside works by Rachmaninov, Demessieux, Elgar, Delius, and Chopin—most notably the Chopin Nocturne in E-flat Op.9 No.2 and Ballade No.3 in A-flat Op.47.

His interpretations reintroduced the rare repertoire of Beverley Nichols—writer, society figure, and former Glatton resident—not only reviving historical interest but also showcasing Cousin’s refined technique and expressive range.

Brother Tree Sound & Ben Goldscheider – World Premiere at St Giles’, Holme (2024)

At the Church of St Giles in Holme, Fenlandia presented the world premiere of The Fens by Peter Fribbins, set alongside Beethoven’s String Quartet in F minor Op.95 ‘Serioso’, Glazunov’s Horn Quintet Op.11, and Mendelssohn’s String Quartet in A minor Op.13.
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This performance brought together the accomplished string ensemble Brother Tree Sound (Anna de Bruin, Thea Spiers, Peter Mallinson, Julia Graham) and renowned horn soloist Ben Goldscheider, whose distinguished career includes appearances with top orchestras and solo engagements. The new work by Fribbins—whose family roots lie in Fenland—echoed local heritage through its movements, reflecting medieval Peterborough Cathedral, the Great Northern Railway, and the legacy of the floating church.

Cara Berridge – Solo Cello at Norman Cross Art Gallery ( 2024)

The series culminated in an enchanting evening at the Norman Cross Art Gallery (on the former Napoleonic prisoner-of-war site), featuring a solo cello recital by Cara Berridge, founding member of the acclaimed Sacconi Quartet. Berridge, performing on a rare 1781 Nicolaus Gagliano cello (on loan from the Royal Society of Musicians), offered a repertoire of J. S. Bach (Suites Nos. 2 & 3), Gaspar Cassadó, Pablo Casals, and Dvořák’s Humoresque. 

A versatile musician active in chamber orchestras, film and TV soundtracks, Berridge’s performance exemplified both technical mastery and emotional nuance. A pre-concert prosecco and strawberry reception added a refined social element to this exquisite cultural experience