As winter gives way to spring, Sounds of Blossom returns to Kew Gardens, allowing visitors to immerse themselves in the beauty of nature and celebrate this much-anticipated seasonal spectacle. Once again, the Gardens will be brought to life with new compositions created by composers from the Royal College of Music, reflecting the vibrance and energy of nature, and highlighting Kew’s world-renowned magnolia and cherry blossom collections.
Around Kew’s blossom hotspots, colourful flowering trees will be enhanced by evocative soundscapes. The vibrant hues of the blooms will be complimented by compositions which evoke the rhythms and energy of springtime, as well as offering visitors the opportunity to pause and reconnect with nature at this special time of the year.
Spring at Kew Gardens is a spectacular season, as trees begin to flower and a kaleidoscope of bulbs including crocuses, daffodils and tulips start to bloom. Amidst Cherry Walk and Asano Avenue, visitors can see clouds of cherry blossom alongside naturalised tulips, set against the backdrop of the iconic Temperate House. Other must-visit locations include the Japanese Landscape, where a great white cherry (Prunus ‘Taihaku’) grows next to the Gateway. This species was thought to be extinct until the 1920s when an English plant collector, Collingwood Ingram, matched a tree growing in Sussex to a Japanese painting of a white cherry. Princess Walk will also be transformed by the annual spectacle of magnolias in bloom, with a plethora of pastel shades coming to life alongside the soundscapes.
As well as live weekend recitals, a blossom-inspired afternoon tea will also be available in The Botanical Brasserie for the duration of the festival. Pre-booking is recommended, particularly for Mother’s Day and Easter weekend.
Sophie Shillito, Creative Programme Manager at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew says: “Sounds of Blossom is a wonderful opportunity for us to celebrate the wonder of springtime across the Gardens, and we’re delighted to be collaborating with the Royal College of Music again this year to bring seven brand-new compositions to Kew. The benefits of spending time in nature and listening to music are well documented, so it’s fantastic to be able to combine these elements and allow our visitors to immerse themselves in all that the season has to offer.”
Professor Jonathan Cole, Head of Composition at the Royal College of Music, adds: “I’m thrilled that once again we’re collaborating with Kew Gardens on their Sounds of Blossom Festival. This project provides our students with an amazing opportunity to explore the deep connections between music, nature, wellbeing and listening within the stunningly beautiful environment of Kew Gardens. To have one’s music listened to by thousands of people continually over a period of three weeks is an extraordinary privilege for any composer and we’re deeply grateful to Kew for enabling this partnership to take place.”
The Royal College of Music’s internationally respected composition faculty works closely with students to explore what it means to be a composer in today’s society, with distinctive courses such as Composition for Screen. The collaboration with Kew is one example of many links with artistic organisations, film schools, studios and industry professionals across the globe.
The Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew is dedicated to harnessing the power of plants and fungi to end the extinction crisis and secure a future for all life on Earth. With Kew’s world-leading research, global partnerships and beloved gardens – home to the world’s most diverse collections of plants and fungi – Kew is using its trusted voice to shape policy and practice worldwide. As a charity, Kew relies on the critical support of its visitors, not only to sustain the gardens, but to protect global plant and fungal biodiversity for the benefit of our planet and humanity.
Sounds of Blossom admission:
- Entry to Sounds of Blossom is included when purchasing a ticket to Kew Gardens.
- The best value tickets can be booked in advance via kew.org.
- £1 entry for recipients of Universal Credit, Pension Credit, Asylum Applicants with a valid ARC card and Legacy Benefits
Live Weekend Recitals
14th/15th March – Roselle String Quartet Roselle String Quartet
21st/22nd March – Ormonde Wind Quintet
28th/29th March – Cordelia String Quartet Cordelia Quartet
3rd/4th April – Versa Winds
5th/6th April – Levanto Wind Trio Chamber Group
Royal College of Music student composers
Muhamad-William Cannon
Muhamad-William Cannon is an Indonesian-born composer whose works have been performed by the Chetham’s Symphony Orchestra, including performances at Manchester’s Stoller Hall and Carole Nash Hall.
Jamie Smith
Composer Jamie Smith collaborates closely with performers and explores spaces to shape organic musical experiences. His work has been performed by the BBC Concert Orchestra as part of the BBC Proms 2024.
Xiaoxuan Gao
Xiaoxuan Gao is a Chinese composer whose music draws inspiration from the human mind, emotional experience, and inner soundscapes, exploring layered thought and moments of raw, direct expression. Through immersive sonic forms, she transforms interior perception and feeling into vivid musical narratives.
Josh Clark
Awarded the Royal College of Music’s Clifton Parker Award, Josh Clark writes music for film and concert contexts, blending acoustic instruments with electroacoustic elements to create immersive soundscapes. He is currently composing a commission for the Winchester Chamber Orchestra.
Huixin Zhang
Twice composing and performing for the Royal College of Music Consort 21 project, Chinese composer Huixin Zhang explored the integration of electronics with Baroque instruments. Working primarily with synthesisers in Ableton Live, Zhang creates sound worlds that extend beyond natural acoustics, focusing on music’s capacity to calm, heal, and foster deep listening.
Felix Sladen-Jewell
Felix Sladen-Jewell explores new ways of creating music, often using unexpected elements and unconventional scores. These approaches bring spontaneity and energy to his work, which has been performed by several leading musicians.
Alexander Lea
Working across instrumental and electronic media, Alexander Lea blurs boundaries, reimagining arts of the past within contemporary digital contexts. He has been awarded the H R Taylor Charitable Trust Scholarship.
About Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew
The Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew (RBG Kew) is a world-renowned charity and global centre for plant and fungal science, education, conservation, and horticulture. We work to tackle biodiversity loss and climate change through innovative research, our living collections and influential partnerships.
We welcome more than 2.5 million visitors each year to Kew Gardens, London’s largest UNESCO World Heritage Site, and Wakehurst, our wild botanic garden in Sussex, home to the Millennium Seed Bank. Our year-round programme of exhibitions, festivals, learning experiences and events brings our work to life, inspiring visitors of all ages to connect with and care for the natural world.
Funded through a mix of philanthropy, commercial activity, and government support, we are committed to widening access to nature and creating a thriving planet for all, powered by plants and fungi
About the Royal College of Music
Founded in 1882, the Royal College of Music (RCM) is a world-leading music conservatoire where 900 undergraduate and postgraduate students are taught in a creative environment informed by heritage and driven by innovation. In 2025 the Royal College of Music was ranked the Global No. 1 institution for Performing Arts and Music for the fourth year running in the QS World University Rankings by Subject.
RCM graduates forge extraordinary careers across the global music landscape. Many also thrive in diverse roles across the wider creative sector and beyond, showcasing the versatility and impact of an RCM education.
The Royal College of Music has trained some of the most important figures in music including composers and performers such as Sir Thomas Allen, Benjamin Britten, Samuel Coleridge-Taylor, Dame Sarah Connolly, Sir Colin Davis, Gustav Holst, Lord Lloyd Webber, Sir Neville Marriner, Anna Meredith MBE, Mark-Anthony Turnage and Ralph Vaughan Williams.
As a leading centre for innovation and research, students benefit from the Royal College of Music Library with manuscripts by Mozart, Elgar and Holst and the Royal College of Music Museum with over 14,000 musical items, and on-site collections. Our flourishing Junior College and community programme enables hundreds of talented young students from diverse backgrounds to access high-quality music education.
