Richard J Birkin’s Vigils 10th Anniversary Performance at The Wardwick Was a Mesmerising Evening of Contemporary Music in Derby

On Saturday 2nd May 2026, contemporary composer Richard J Birkin transformed The Wardwick inside Derby Museum and Art Gallery into something completely removed from the chaos of a Saturday night city centre. Presented by Dubrek Studios, the special performance celebrated the 10 year anniversary of Vigils, with Birkin performing alongside a stunning string quartet in one of the most atmospheric live music experiences Derby has seen this year.

Walking into The Wardwick, it immediately felt like the perfect setting for the music we were about to hear. The historic building carried a calmness and weight that resonated with the sound before a single note had even been played. The stage sat in the middle of the room, surrounded on all sides by the audience, creating an intimate and immersive environment where everybody felt connected to the performance.

The entire evening was beautifully lit, subtle enough to preserve the atmosphere while casting the performers in a warm glow that suited the music perfectly. Every sound inside The Wardwick seemed to hang in the air. The acoustics gave the evening a haunting beauty, making it easy to become fully immersed in the experience.

Support came from Yay Maria, whose stripped-back performance proved to be a captivating opening to the night. Accompanied primarily by ambient piano arrangements and delicate vocals, her songs felt deeply personal from the very beginning. She told stories through her music, touching on subjects including trans rights and personal experiences, including one particularly moving song inspired by the death of a trans girl.

Her vocals were mesmerising inside the vast yet intimate surroundings of The Wardwick. At times softly whispered and fragile, at others carrying more force and emotion, the dynamic shifts worked beautifully with the gradual build of the songs themselves. There were moments where her phrasing carried a slight jazz influence, with raspy undertones that gave the performance even more character.

The final song, Dance With Me, was especially striking. Beginning softly and delicately before building into something far more powerful and abrupt, it showcased the emotional range of both her songwriting and performance. It was a wonderful start to the evening and perfectly prepared the room for what was to come next.

When Richard J Birkin took to the stage with the string quartet, the atmosphere shifted instantly. From the opening moments, it was difficult to take your eyes off him. His performance carried the audience into another world entirely, each piece unfolding slowly and drawing people deeper into the music.

Performing material from Vigils in full alongside other compositions, Birkin demonstrated exactly why he has earned such a respected reputation within contemporary and atmospheric music circles. His piano work alone was beautiful, but with the addition of the string quartet, the compositions gained even more depth and emotional weight. Every note reverberated around the room perfectly balanced, surrounding the audience from every direction.

There were moments of pure ambience and stillness, followed by darker electronic textures and subtle rhythmic elements that added tension and atmosphere. Some passages felt dreamlike and weightless, delicate piano melodies floating over shimmering strings, while other sections introduced harsher electronic touches and dramatic percussion that completely altered the emotional landscape of the performance.

One of the evening’s most memorable moments came when Yay Maria returned to the stage to perform alongside Birkin and the quartet. The collaboration was stunning. Beginning as a beautifully atmospheric and gradually building piece, the track eventually introduced heavier electronic beats and hard-hitting drums that created a dramatic wall of sound beneath the vocals and strings. The contrast between the delicate vocals and the darker electronic edge gave the performance incredible intensity.

Throughout the evening, Birkin moved effortlessly between piano, guitar and electronic elements, showing not only technical ability but an exceptional understanding of composition and atmosphere. This was my first time seeing Richard J Birkin perform live, and honestly, I was transfixed throughout. He is clearly a master of his craft, capable of blending contemporary classical music, ambient electronics and cinematic textures into something deeply emotional and immersive.

A personal highlight was Isaac’s Dream of Tired Streets, a beautiful composition performed with remarkable delicacy and care. It captured everything that made the evening so special, emotional without becoming overwhelming, subtle while still carrying enormous depth.

One of the most fascinating aspects of the night was the silence in the room during the quieter passages. At several points, you could have heard a pin drop. Occasionally, faint sounds from outside drifted into the performance, a passing car, distant voices, taxis moving through the city centre, and somehow it only added to the experience.

Outside, Derby was alive with the usual Saturday night energy, bars full, club queues forming, traffic moving endlessly through the streets. Yet inside The Wardwick there was complete stillness. For a couple of hours, the venue became a peaceful centre within the city, filled with soft yet powerful music that completely absorbed everybody in attendance.

Some people sat close to the performers in chairs, while others positioned themselves further back on the floor, taking in the music from a distance. No matter where you stood in the room, the sound carried beautifully. Moving around the venue only reinforced how perfectly suited The Wardwick was for this kind of performance. Every corner of the building felt filled with the music.

This was far more than simply a concert. It was an experience that demanded complete attention and rewarded it fully. Between the stunning setting, the immersive acoustics, the emotional performances and the flawless combination of piano, strings and electronics, Richard J Birkin’s Vigils anniversary performance was one of the most captivating and atmospheric live events Derby has hosted in recent memory.

What a wonderful night.

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