Music Inspired by Literature: The Compositions of Richard Stoker

Join us for a free concert for all the family presenting music for orchestra, choir and band inspired by literature and framed around the music of Richard Stoker, an English composer and Professor at the Royal Academy of Music.

Musicians from the University of Surrey and the town of Guildford perform excerpts from Stoker’s opera, Johnson Preserv’d, reimagining the final meeting of Samuel Johnson and James Boswell, joined by professional singers.

The programme also includes Stoker’s song settings of texts by Shakespeare and Ralph Waldo Emerson, solo and chamber music, pieces composed specifically for children and even some popular music!

When not composing, Stoker also appeared as an extra in many well-known films, so we’ll close our concert with a medley of music from Pirates of the Caribbean.

You'll have the opportunity to get closer to the instruments, meet the musicians and share your experiences about the music you hear. All ages welcome, recommended children from 7+.

This event is part of Being Human Festival, the UK’s national festival of the humanities, taking place 5-14 November 2026. Led by the School of Advanced Study, University of London, in partnership with the Arts and Humanities Research Council and the British Academy. 

For further information, please see beinghumanfestival.org

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