Surrey Hills International Music Festival
The Surrey Hills International Music Festival (SHIMF) is a UK-based charitable organisation (Registered Charity No. 1171264) dedicated to promoting classical music through performances, educational initiatives, and competitions. Established to support emerging artists and engage communities, the festival operates within the Surrey Hills National Landscape, hosting events in venues such as West Horsley Place, The Menuhin Hall, and St Martin’s Church, Dorking[^1][^3].

Activities and programmes
The festival organises an annual programme featuring international soloists, chamber ensembles, and choirs. Recent performances have included works by Chopin, Ravel, Wagner, and Bach, alongside contemporary choral arrangements[^3][^5]. Key events in its 2025 season included:

• Choral performances of Allegri’s Miserere and Elgar’s Lux Aeterna at Holy Trinity Guildford.
• Chamber music collaborations with the Sitkovetsky Trio and Musicians from the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center.
• Outdoor walks and concerts pairing guided tours of the Surrey Hills with midday recitals[^3].

Educational initiatives
SHIMF runs several charitable projects, including:

• The String Scheme, providing music education to local schools.
• The Surrey Hills Young Composer Competition, offering platforms for emerging composers to showcase original works[^1][^5].

Governance and patronage
In 2025, the Duke of Northumberland became a patron, reflecting his advocacy for the Surrey Hills landscape and the arts[^1][^5]. The festival is supported by sponsors such as RBC Brewin Dolphin, which serves as its Concert Partner[^1].

[^1]: Surrey Hills International Music Festival website and press releases (2025).
[^3]: 2025 season programme details.
[^5]: Vantage Point Magazine coverage (April 2025).

[1] https://shimf.co.uk [2] https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/en/charity-search/-/charity-details/5092476 [3] https://shimf.co.uk/2025-season-announced/ [4] https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/en/about-the-register-of-charities?p_p_id=uk_gov_ccew_onereg_charitydetails_web_portlet_CharityDetailsPortlet&p_p_lifecycle=2&p_p_state=maximized&p_p_mode=view&p_p_resource_id=%2Faccounts-resource&p_p_cacheability=cacheLevelPage&_uk_gov_ccew_onereg_charitydetails_web_portlet_CharityDetailsPortlet_objectiveId=A12762867&_uk_gov_ccew_onereg_charitydetails_web_portlet_CharityDetailsPortlet_priv_r_p_mvcRenderCommandName=%2Ffull-print&_uk_gov_ccew_onereg_charitydetails_web_portlet_CharityDetailsPortlet_priv_r_p_organisationNumber=5092476 [5] https://vantagepointmag.co.uk/blog/the-surrey-hills-international-music-festival-starts-on-the-6th-may/