Lunchtime concerts every Friday, raising funds for our
beautiful 204-year-old Grade II listed building
Concert: 12.30-1.15pm - £5 suggested donation on the door - cash or card
Tea, coffee & biscuits available in the church hall from 12 noon
on a pay-as-you-feel donation basis
Our Friday lunchtime concerts are diverse - mostly classical but also contemporary, jazz and folk, with many showing off our beautiful Steinway piano.
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The performers are a mixture of top local talent and touring musicians from across the globe. These affordable concerts are the perfect way to spend your Friday lunchtimes, enjoying a rich variety of music within the reverberant walls of our beautiful Grade II listed church, with your donations helping us to maintain our welcoming sacred space in the cultural heart of the city.
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Enjoy a hot drink before the concert starts, browse our craft stall selling home-made gifts and cards to raise funds for the church, and get to know your fellow concert-goers.
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Wheelchair accessible venue.
Everyone welcome.
Listings: March - July 2025​​​​​
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21st March
Maggie Grimsdell & Pam Cragg: one piano, four hands. A varied and entertaining selection of music for four hands including works by Beethoven, Amy Beach, DvorÇŽk and Weiner.
28th March
Nick Andrews (piano) continues with his annual series of "Nick plays Bach". This year’s piano recital will include the glorious 4th Partita, the rarely played 4 Duets and a spine tingling transcription or two, all presented with his usual good humour and jolly chat.
4th April
Join violinist Sophia Bartlette and pianist Benjamin Rous for Myths and Legends, a programme of evocative works inspired by timeless stories that bring myths and legends to life. Highlights include Szymanowski’s La Fontaine d’Arethuse, Bazzini’s Dance of the Goblins, and excerpts from Rimsky-Korsakov’s Scheherazade.
11th April
Lyrical and uplifting jazz from these regulars of the Brighton Jazz scene. Saxophonist Alex Bondonno returns with Joss Peach on piano, playing jazz standards from Abdullah Ibrahim, Horace Silver, Thelonious Monk and many more as well as a smattering of unexpected tunes (Soundgarden anyone?). This eclectic duo are always a hit, so come early to get a good spot!
18th April* Good Friday
Nicholas Austin (piano) will perform Mozart’s early Sonata in G, K283 and Glazunov’s technically demanding Sonata no.1 op.74.
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25th April
The Brighton Chamber Ensemble play Mozart’s dramatic Piano Quartet in G minor alongside something less familiar: the lush Spanish rhythms of the piano quartet by Joaquin Turina. ​​​​
2nd May
Gigi and Kitty Casey, the Soprano Sisters, present a varied programme of solos and duets, featuring works by Mozart, Verdi, Humperdinck, Massenet, and Brahms, alongside selections by Fauré, Quilter, and Sondheim. Highlights include “Sull’aria”, “Barcarolle,” “Dove Sono” and “I Feel Pretty.”
9th May
Violin and piano duo Ani Batikian and Roland Roberts perform Schubert’s Grand Duo in A, Suk Four Pieces and bon bons by Kreisler.
16th May - no lunchtime concert due to The Great Escape Music Festival
23rd May
Award-winning Brighton-born siblings Berniya and Riya Hamie perform an exciting programme of piano and cello music, including pieces by Haydn and Brahms.
30th May
Soprano Mercedes Gancedo and pianist Quimey Urquiaga pay tribute to their homeland, with a programme featuring songs by Carlos Guastavino and Alberto Ginastera, esteemed 20th-century exponents of Argentine chamber music.
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6th June
Pianist Rachel Fryer presents her programme: “Piano Blues - and other colours” exploring music primarily from the early 20th century influenced by jazz and light music. Programme includes works by Madeleine Dring, Hengeveld, Coleridge-Taylor and Gershwin.
13th June
Geoff Hearn (saxophone/world flutes) and Nigel Thomas (acoustic bass) are joined by guitarist and ‘soundscaper’ Hugh Bance in what promises to be an uplifting and magical experience as they perform mostly original melodic compositions and improvisations evoking peace, tranquility, hope and joy!
20th June
Internationally acclaimed pianist Chisato Kusunoki, a graduate of Oxford University and the Royal Academy of Music, will perform works by Schumann and Prokoviev.
27th June
The LIPS Wind Quintet return to Brighton Unitarian Church for the 14th time, bringing a varied and fun programme of contemporary wind quintet music.
4th July
“Across the Pond”: Sue Mileham, soprano, Simon Madge, baritone and Zhanna Kemp, piano take you on a brief tour of American music from the days of the Pilgrim Fathers' settlement to the 20th century. A programme ranging from spirituals, classical songs, opera and musical theatre by Cole Porter, Aaron Copland, Samuel Barber, George Gershwin and others.
11th July
BUC regular John Bruzon is a wonderful and versatile pianist who always presents a delightful and varied programme of piano music. This recital will include works by Scarlatti, Mozart and Liszt.
18th July
Pianist Nick Andrews is delighted to be joined by his old friend Matt Wood and his glorious Baritone voice. After many years, they will once more sing Gerald Finzi's sublime song cycle "Earth and Air and Rain" which they have both known since they were boys. There will also be some Bach I expect.
25th July
Stephen Carroll-Turner (pianist in the Kelleth Piano Trio and the Brighton Chamber Ensemble) steps out of his chamber music comfort zone for a rare solo recital of music by Mozart, Beethoven and Chopin.
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No lunchtime concerts in August - concerts will resume on 5th September.
