William Shield Festival | The Legacy of Shield’s Songs

Events List

Saturday 17th October | 1:30 pm to 2:30 pm

A LIVE Lit & Phil Event | FREE

William Shield  | Image source copyright free

Saturday 17th October | 1:30pm

Community Music Whickham & Swalwell and the Lit and Phil are proud to announce the 2026 William Shield Festival, an annual series of musical concerts to celebrate the life and times of this great, but often overlooked, local musician of yesteryear.
William Shield was born in Swalwell in 1748 and rose to the position of Master of the King’s Musick and was principal violinist at the Royal Opera House in Covent Garden. He is buried at Westminster Abbey. Events to celebrate the life and times of this local lad done good will take place in Swalwell (Shield’s birthplace), Newcastle upon Tyne and Whitley Bay.

A talk by John treherne MBE

His career has included lecturing appointments at all North Eastern Universities, heading Gateshead’s outstanding Music Service for over 30 years, and performing throughout Europe and the Americas as a specialist performer on period keyboard instruments.

He is active as a composer; his output includes symphonies and concerti, children’s musicals, orchestral movements and many songs both for adults and younger children, many of which were published.

The legacy of Shield’s songs in popular culture, focusing on a manuscript in Northumberland Archives. Amelie has carried out fascinating research into the music and times of William Shield and has made many important discoveries in this field. She is making a welcome return to the Festival.

For details of the whole festival including the Operas please download the leaflet here

The William Shield festival is grateful to Mr A. England for his unfailing support.

A LIVE Lit & Phil Event | FREE

(If you would like to book for this event, please click the link provided)