Lake District Summer Music (LDSM) is best known for its international festival and academy each August.
Founded in 1985 by Renna Kellaway, a South African-born pianist and teacher, LDSM was listed as one of the "Ten Truly Festive Festivals" in the world by the Daily Telegraph in 2010. It combines a festival - principally focussed on chamber music - with summer school programmes: one for emerging professional musicians and another for younger string players. The Chilingirian Quartet have been resident artists since inception.
Kellaway received an MBE in the 2009 New Year's Honours for services to music and is married to Sir John Manduell CBE, former Director of the Cheltenham Music Festival and Principal of the Royal Northern College of Music.
Alumni of the International Summer Music Academy have included Nicola Benedetti, Nikolaj Znaider, Jennifer Pike, Steven Osborne, James Rhodes, the Sacconi and Belcea quartets, as well as The Pether Trio.
The organisation has been a Regularly Funded Organisation of Arts Council England and South Lakeland District Council.
In recent years, LDSM has extended its work beyond the summer. A 4x4 Composer Residency, held in the spring or early summer, gives four emerging professional composers opportunity to compose works for an established ensemble, led by a leading British composer. Lead composers of previous projects are Nicola LeFanu, Martin Butler, John Casken and Robert Saxton. 4x4 Alumni have included John Habron, Benjamin Wallfisch, Paul Mealor, David Bruce and Phillip Cooke.
An Autumn Music from a Foreign Land project introduces the music and musicians of different continents through creative workshops and performances.