Coffee Concerts

 

Flautist Vicky Rockport organises our Saturday lunchtime concerts which take place monthly. The performers include seasoned professionals as well as musicians at the start of their careers.

 

Ticket prices are kept very low to ensure that nobody is excluded on financial grounds, and complimentary places are available for local groups such as Penge Dementia Café. Coffee, tea and biscuits are served on arrival to create a warm and welcoming atmosphere.

 

Vicky was keen to extend the sense of welcome to the performers. The life of a performing musician can be very lonely with long journeys, few opportunities to see friends, and frequently no financial reward whatsoever. Aspiring musicians have no choice but to take part in the London recitals scene (unpaid) to gain experience of performing to an audience and to get their names known. After undertaking many many years of training and costly tuition, this situation does not seem right and Vicky was determined to demonstrate that a better way is possible.

 

Our performers are greeted personally, have opportunities to rehearse in the venue beforehand, and receive as much financial reward as is possible for us. Clearly we have to cover costs of rental, heating, “Performance Rights” certification and insurances, but after that we pay the performers. Therefore the larger the audience, the more the performers receive. This business model encourages the performers themselves to engage in the all-important process of advertising and bringing people along.

 

Such is the warmth and appreciation of our audiences that performers feel encouraged to bring out more unusual repertoire. For example a concert (November 2025) of contemporary minimalist piano music was extremely popular. A wide range of musical styles has been celebrated at our Coffee Concerts.

 

Contact Vicky on pengelunchtimeconcerts@gmail.com

 

Open Mondays

 

The concept behind Open Mondays is similar to that of an ‘open mic’ event, except that there is no microphone and no backing track; all the music is acoustic. Uniquely at this event, learners and improvers take their place alongside highly qualified professionals. Anyone who wishes can perform simply by booking a slot with Jess Blake, our charismatic organiser and event host. Jess has a magical ability to encourage musicians at any stage in their development and enable them to give of their best.

 

Open Mondays have proved to be very popular with soloists and with small choirs and groups. People have been inspired to form new musical associations, to resume playing or singing after many years, and to begin taking lessons again. Retired professional musicians love to take the opportunity to continue making music, while Jess especially welcomes children and young people.

 

As well as piano, flute, organ, guitar and vocal music, we enthusiastically welcome a wide variety of instruments including violin, cello, trumpet, clarinet, euphonium, and a guitar strung to quarter tones.

 

The musical styles we have heard include:

 

 Ancient

 Renaissance

 Baroque

 Classical

 Romantic

 Twentieth century

 Contemporary

 Minimalism

 Folk music

 French chanson

 World music

 Singer-song writer compositions and arrangements

 

Contact Jess on Pengeopenmondays@gmail.com

​

 

Organ Concerts (aka Recitals)

 

The venue hosts a deeply expressive three-manual organ that is well known among local organists. Alan Langridge arranges two recitals each year which are included in the Coffee Concert series. The organ can also be heard at the Open Monday events where Alan’s performances have become quite a feature - audience members are encouraged to gather round to watch him at work.