Music lover has enjoyed Cheltenham Music Festival for 80 years

A woman who attended the first edition of a long-running music festival has said it is “enormously important” to the community as it celebrates its 80th anniversary.

Elizabeth Jacobs was 12 years old when she went to Cheltenham Music Festival with her parents in June 1945, and still attends now, aged 92.

The line-up for Cheltenham Music Festival 2025 has included workshops for children, a BBC Concert Orchestra performance honouring 80 years of spy movie soundtracks, and free events in various cafes, bars, and shops.

Jack Bazalgette, the festival’s artistic director, said its history and audience, and the town of Cheltenham itself, is what makes the event, which runs until Saturday, so special.

Ms Jacobs still has the flyer for the first Cheltenham Music Festival 80 years ago.

“The planning would have happened before hostilities finished,” Ms Jacobs said.

“[I was] really fortunate in that my parents were music lovers and, when the music festival arrived, they took me as a young teenager.

“I sat with them in Cheltenham Town Hall listening to big orchestral sound.”

“I think [the festival] is enormously important,” Ms Jacobs added.

“It heartens me and particularly the opportunities that get offered, for instance, when there’s big orchestral pieces, that require a children’s choir.”

A collection of photographs taken by Ms Jacobs at Cheltenham Music Festival throughout the years has been turned into a book.

Mr Bazalgette said looking back at programmes from past events and seeing names who have performed over the years is “inspiring”.

“With that comes an audience who really know their stuff and are keen to explore new things,” he said.

“But I think there’s something so special about Cheltenham. It’s a beautiful place to come in the summer… the town is just well set up for a music festival.

“We’re going strong – we’ll be here in the next 80 years, no doubt.”