From millstone to moorland, city to grassland
woven together are we…
Voices of the Peaks is a new large scale choral suite which celebrate 75 years of the Peak District National Park. Premiering at Buxton International Festival on 11th July 2026, the piece sits alongside an exciting wider project where co-composer Hannah will walk the 95 Ethels, capturing the landscapes, personal reflections, and conversations with people connected to the Peaks – spanning nature, heritage, creativity, access, and community.
At its heart, Voices of the Peaks is a celebration of place, people, and the shared human need to connect – to landscape, to history, and to each other.
About the music
Voices of the Peaks, co-composed by Hannah Brine and Jenni Watson, draws on a range of stylistic influences, reflecting our relationship with the remarkable Peak District landscape and exploring its natural beauty and rich history.
Rooted in the geography and heritage of the Peaks, the work draws on local folklore, environmental themes, and historical narratives – including the Kinder Trespass, the story of Eyam, the Nine Ladies stone circle, and the lives of those who have shaped access to the land, such as Ethel Haythornthwaite.
Musically, it blends contemporary choral textures with accessible, emotive writing, inviting both singers and audiences into a shared experience of awe, connection, and belonging.
The suite comprises of six pieces:
❋ Where Two Rivers Meet has an uplifting feel, its rolling quavers and lilting melodies, reflecting the meeting of two rivers that once shaped the local mill industry.
❋ Sunday Rebellion is a driving, high-energy movement in 7/8, bringing together the folklore of the Nine Ladies Stone Circle and the pivotal Kinder Trespass of 1932.
❋ Mother Mountain is our take on a secular prayer, inspired by stargazing on Mam Tor and
the quiet awe of the natural world
❋ This Old Stone is a soulful reflection on how our local stone is shaped and smoothed over time, echoing our own journeys through life.
❋ What Part Of The Earth Am I? is a bright, folky movement in 6/8 that encourages us to notice the details of the natural world around us, while posing an important question for us all.
❋ These Rolling Hills is a love song to the land, celebrating the feeling of returning home to the Peak District countryside.
With thanks to those who carved our right of way
who made the path before us in their day…
About the premiere
On 11th July 2026, Voices of the Peaks will premiere at the Buxton International Festival. 150 voices from three community choirs – High Peak Singers, Bollington Singers and Didsbury Singers – will come together for the concert, which will be at 11:30am at St Johns Church, Buxton. Tickets cost £12 (£6 concessions) and are available from the Buxton International Festival website.
Climb to the top of the world
You’ll see the wonder if you brave the cold
Creative Showcase
As part of the Voices of the Peaks project, choir members from High Peak Singers, Didsbury Singers and Bollington Singers have been creating art, poetry and photography themed around the Peak District in order to capture and celebrate the beautiful landscape. Below is a showcase of their work, some of which was created in a series of member-led workshops. We are so grateful to every choir member who has shared their creative talents and inspiration with us.
Voices of the Peaks – Creative ShowcaseAbout the walk
Alongside the composition, Hannah Brine is undertaking an ambitious accompanying project: walking all 95 Ethels (hills over 400m in the Peak District). Named after Ethel Haythornthwaite (amazing campaigner, activist and poet) the Ethels are the Peak District’s equivalent of the Wainwrights or the Munros. This epic journey will be documented through filmed episodes capturing the landscapes, personal reflections, and conversations with people connected to the Peaks – spanning nature, heritage, access, and community.
Hannah’s walking companions include
Andy Miller – Author of A Year on the Ethels
Anita Sethi – Author, writer and journalist
Catherine Parker Heath – People of the Peak
Dave Toft – Chair of the Hayfield Kinder Trespass Group
Derbyshire Young Walkers
Ellie Smith – National Trust
Jo Bell – Archaeologist, poet and industrial historian
Ken Reece – Author of Walking the Peak Way
Mary Muir – Arts Derbyshire
Richard Hawks – GM Ringway
Robbie Carnegie – Moors for the Future Partnership
Ruth George – Independent County Cllr (Whaley Bridge & Blackbrook)
Yvonne Witter – Peak District Mosaic
Ethels Walks – Video Diary
There is grit and there is courage
There is heart and there is hope
About the crowdfunder
We had hoped to secure external funding for the Voices of the Peaks project through Arts Council England. Unfortunately, like many creative projects, our application was unsuccessful. The costs involved are significant, and much of this has so far been funded personally.
We are hoping to raise money via crowdfunding to help with:
- Curating our own ‘online gallery’- celebrating the creative talents of our choir members, giving them a moment in the spotlight and helping to create project legacy
- Professionally recording the work with the choir, including audio engineering, mixing and mastering
- Additional rehearsals
- Coordination, planning and administration of the wider creative project
Of course, there is absolutely no obligation to contribute, and your support in simply cheering us on and sharing the journey already means a huge amount. But if you are in a position to make a donation, of any size, we would be deeply grateful.
If you are a business or organisation who would like to support the project, we’d love to chat further about partnership and what we could offer. Do get in touch.
In the short term, this project is bringing our community new connections, vitality and a shared sense of adventure.
In the long term, we hope it will open exciting new doors for our choirs and the Voices of the Peaks music itself – from future performances and creative collaborations to, hopefully, returning to perform again at the Buxton International Festival, and beyond.
Thank you so much for your support.
And I wonder, after all this time
What part of the world am I?
About the composers
Jenni Watson is a UK composer and multi-instrumentalist whose music focuses on emotional connection and an approachable aesthetic, blending genres and exploring intricate musical layering. Her music has been heard on BBC Radio 3 and Scala Radio, with albums and sheet music available at www.jenniwatson.com.
Hannah Brine is a singer, songwriter and award-winning choral conductor, and founder of multiple UK choirs. She has performed at venues including the Royal Albert Hall and Barbican, and is known for her expressive, collaborative approach, bringing singers together to create vibrant & engaging performances.