A relaxed concert designed for older people and those living with dementia, but open to all, is coming to Swanage in Dorset, filled with music to evoke memories and fuelled by tea, coffee and cake!
The Teatime Trio – musicians from the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra (BSO) – will be holding one of its famous Cake Concerts at The Mowlem on Thursday 5th March 2026 in partnership with rural arts charity Artsreach.
The BSO’s Teatime Trio brings classical and popular music to a relaxed social setting at Pine Martin Grange in Sandford
Evoking memories of the past
This is one of a series of Cake Concerts being held across Dorset during spring 2026. A concert at Pine Martin Grange in Sandford near Wareham recently attracted around 50 people.
Cake Concerts are designed to bring live classical and popular music into informal, social settings where audiences can enjoy tea, coffee, cake and good company.
They are carefully adapted to create a comfortable environment, with audiences welcome to come and go as they please.
Music is specially chosen to evoke memories of pleasant past experiences, the musicians introducing the pieces they play, and talking, singing along and even dancing are actively encouraged.
Home made cake is an integral part of the performances
“A social setting with tea and cake”
Debbie Evans, chair of Artsreach, said:
“Artsreach are working hard with the BSO to extend the accessibility of live music within local rural communities. This series of concerts opens up the opportunity to enjoy glorious music without being restricted by disability.
“It is well documented that music can remind people with dementia of past experiences and enable them to better communicate and connect, but accessing an evening concert can prove particularly challenging for those living with dementia.
“Cake Concerts are informal chamber performances in relaxed environments, combining a classical repertoire in a social setting with tea, coffee and cake, specifically developed for people living with dementia, but open to all.
“We know and see first hand in our Cake Concerts how the power of music connects people with each other and with loved ones in the moment – we are frequently told by carers how enjoyable they have found it to be able to attend with their parents and see the enjoyment on their faces.”
Cellist Kate Keats chats to one of the audience at a Cake Concert
“Experience the joy of live music”
Debbie added:
“We rely on a team of volunteers to put these events together. Artsreach is a charity which receives grants from Dorset Council and the Arts Council – and with these concerts we would like to acknowledge specific grants from the Britford Bridge Trust – but our work depends 100 percent on volunteers.
“Cake Concerts are open to everyone, whether living in the community or in care and residential homes, to ensure that everyone can experience the joy of live music.
“The BSO’s Teatime Trio perform on the flute, harp and cello, to share a selection of works including popular classical hits and light film music, while audience members enjoy refreshments and a slice of cake.
“We encourage our audience to chat about the music and sing along, we even provide booklets with the lyrics to the songs we play – our musicians love nothing better than when everyone joins in!
“We are delighted to be able to bring these concerts to Purbeck, and if anyone would like to know more about the work we are doing to extend accessibility at our concerts, please get in touch with Artsreach through our website.”
The audience is encouraged to take an active part in the concert
Tapping their feet and singing along
At Pine Martin Grange, the concert opened with a Spanish dance by Moritz Moszkowski and Johann Sebastian Bach’s String Quartet No. 3, which includes the famous Air on a G String, before moving into familiar tunes that had many audience members tapping their feet and singing along.
The trio featured cellist Kate Keats, who names Shostakovich as her favourite composer, flautist Owen Bailey, whose flute has a tin head joint which is nearly 150 years old, and harpist Eluned Pierce, who has spent her life travelling with a harp so large that it takes up all of the space in the back of her van.
Tunes included a medley of songs from The Sound of Music, Singin’ in the Rain, Fly Me to the Moon, Cheek to Cheek, What a Wonderful World and the apt Tea For Two.
Eluned Pierce shared stories of her beloved harp with the Cake Concert audience
“Pedalling like mad!”
Harpist Eluned Pierce said:
“Cake Concerts are dementia friendly but not dementia exclusive. For those feeling isolated or lonely, the concerts provide a wonderful and welcoming environment in which to socialise with others as well as providing a daytime musical experience.
“People can come along, listen to the beautiful music and then share a couple of slices of cake and a good chat too.
“It is a very relaxed performance, we like to tell our audience about the music we perform and the instruments we play.
“For example, my harp has seven pedals, so I am not just playing with my fingers, but also with my feet – there is a lot of fancy footwork going on! Although I may look graceful on the surface, we are like swans and paddling, or pedalling, like mad below the water!”
Tea, coffee and cake was enjoyed during a half time break
Theatre, dance and story telling
Artsreach is a Dorset-based rural touring agency arts charity that brings professional theatre, music, dance and story telling to village halls across the county, supported by volunteers and public funding from Dorset Council and Arts Council England.
Further Cake Concerts are planned across Dorset throughout March 2026.
Members of the audience are encouraged to sing along, and even dance to the music
Further information
- More about Cake Concerts and other events is on the Artsreach website
