28. Cedars Hall

Where: Wells Cathedral School, Wells, Somerset Opened: 2016

Seats: 350

Cedars Hall was designed by London architect Eric Parry Architects, the firm behind the 2008 ‘renewal’ programme at London’s St Martin-in-the-fields and the recently completed

Opera Terrace at the Royal Opera House.

The striking Cedars Hall sits at the heart of Wells Cathedral School, and takes its name from both the ancient tree that dominates the immediate landscape, and Cedars, a Grade Ii*-listed Georgian pile that serves as the music school’s nerve centre. Behind its sweeping facade sits a clean-lined concert hall named after Michael Eavis, a former student and the founder of the nearby Glastonbury Festival. Its recital space is designed with a chamber music acoustic in mind and has already attracted the likes of pianists Stephen Hough and Mitsuko Uchida. But alongside its intimacy is a capacity for larger events – the stage can accommodate up to 60 performers.

Live performance is just a part of Cedars Hall’s role – complementing the private school’s impressive music curriculum are state-ofthe-art recording facilities and additional teaching and practice spaces for its talented young musicians.