West-Country based voice and piano partnership Penelope Appleyard and Jonathan Delbridge perform creative and entertaining recital programmes on historical themes. They are currently focussing on domestic music of the Regency era.
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Frequently to be found in period costume, chauffeuring 209 year old Broadwood square piano Lady Catherine around the UK in a Skoda estate, Penelope and Jonathan perform their semi-theatrical programmes 'Sense & Musicality' on the theme of Jane Austen and Music, and 'A Musical Kind of Little Wilderness' about Jane and the great outdoors.
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With research and original scripts by Penny, they are delighted to be appearing in festivals, concert series and at historic sites nationwide, aiming to bring the domestic music of the past to life and to new audiences.
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They have commissioned 'Ode to Pity', a rare song setting of an Austen poem by composer Donna McKevitt, written especially for 'Sense & Musicality'. This was released alongside two further Austen related singles (Song from Burns and Robin Adair) in September 2025, with a launch concert at Bath Abbey as part of the Jane Austen Festival.​ They given an online talk entitled ‘A Song for Jane’ about the commission for lecture series Jane Austen & Co and have been featured in articles for Continuo Connect and Interlude HK. Penny gave an interview on her research into Jane Austen for The Thoroughly Good Classical Music Podcast and their recordings have been played on BBC Radio3.
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They have performed twice at Jane Austen's House, and made a guest appearance at their online birthday party for Jane on her 250th anniversary. Their festive programme ‘Jane Austen’s Christmas Gaiety’ was written for the online concert series LIVE from London which was viewed across the world and featured guest narrator, Classic FM presenter
Zeb Soanes.
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Read more about the performers below...
Penelope Appleyard
​“Blessed with a voice of pristine clarity” Penelope is known for the purity and agility of her voice, and versatility between styles. She has performed both as a soloist and ensemble singer in recital, concert and early opera at prestigious venues internationally, and has worked with numerous groups including The Monteverdi Choir, The New London Consort, The Taverner Consort, Ex Cathedra, Arcangelo, the AAM, and OAE, and appears on numerous recordings. She is one fifth of acclaimed quintet Apollo5, with whom she has a busy international performing and recording schedule and for whom she arranges new repertoire. Passionate about historical English song, chamber music and singing with period instruments, she co-founded soprano duo Fair Oriana (with whom she has released album ‘Two Voices’ and appeared at festivals including at Vienna’s Konzerthaus and The Three Choirs Festival among others) and most recently, The Little Song Party. She enjoys researching and devising entertaining programmes to bring historic music to new audiences, and to this end she has loved delving into the musical world of Austen. She was recently invited to sing at the Global Jane Austen Conference at Southampton University with Ensemble Hespiri, and to give a talk on Jane Austen and music for online lecture series Jane Austen & Co. In 2018 Penelope recorded her debut solo album, ‘Handel’s ‘Neun Deutsche Arien,’ to critical acclaim. She has appeared as a soloist on BBC Radio3 and been featured in Interlude HK Magazine. When not performing she teaches singing and flute from home and internationally online. Penelope graduated with Distinction from The Royal Birmingham Conservatoire, and was awarded Honorary Membership in 2019.
Jonathan Delbridge
Jonathan Delbridge is a versatile musician well known for his exciting and varied concert programmes on both piano and organ, now including his beautifully restored Broadwood Square Piano (1814). He has performed at a wide range of venues from the Royal Albert Hall and Birmingham Symphony Hall to his own village Church in Somerset, being a champion for professional music making in the local areas of his rural home county. Jonathan has a special interest in English piano music and was recently awarded a Fellowship from the National College of Music for his thesis entitled ‘A Study of the Piano Music of George Frederick Pinto’ and as a result has been styled “one of the greatest experts on this composer alive today”. He has recently produced a disc entitled ‘The Story of the Square Piano’, featuring music that explores the history and prominence of these instruments. As an organist he has made regular broadcasts for the BBC form Truro Cathedral and performed with virtuoso Carlo Curley. Jonathan is in particular demand as an accompanist, having worked with leading professional soloists including internationally renowned trumpeter Crispian Steele-Perkins, bass-baritone Stephen Varcoe, bass Arwel Huw Morgan and clarinettist/saxophonist David White. In August 2024 Jonathan launched the South Somerset Music Centre, a dedicated concert space and home to his extensive music teaching practice, where he organises a programme of concerts, workshops, masterclasses and other events.
