A haven where Classical Music and Whisky come together, hosted by Whisky Enthusiast Dr Naomi Belshaw. Inviting guest artists, composers, conductors and the classical music industry to share their favourite music to pair with the exciting world of whisky.
From Polyphonic Fantasias to Cask-Strength Rebels: Daniel Kidane
In this episode of Whisky High Notes, host Dr. Naomi Belshaw sits down in the Soho Whisky Club in central London with acclaimed British composer Daniel Kidane. Once a first-study violinist, Dan shifted his creative focus to composition, writing works now performed by major orchestras worldwide—including his celebratory piece Awake, premiered at the Last Night of the Proms in 2019.
11 Sept 2026
Whisky High Notes - Ben Cooper Live from the Three Choirs Festival (Part 4)
Whisky High Notes special from the Three Choirs Festival: I share a lunchtime with Three Choirs Festival Worcester Festival Chair, Ben Cooper (also known as one of the experts on the BBC's Bargain Hunt). Ben picks his musical highlights from the upcoming 2027 Worcester festival and we discover there is very little Ben does not like to drink!
Featuring special whiskies from Benromach, Lindores Abbey Distillery and Ludlow Single Malt Whisky.
15 Aug 2026
Whisky High Notes - David Francis Live from the Three Choirs Festival (Part 3)
Whisky High Notes special from the Three Choirs Festival: I share a morning with Three Choirs Festival Chief Executive David Francis. David picks his favourite pieces from across the 2026 Gloucester festival while we are still at the festival.
Featuring special whiskies from Benromach, Lindores Abbey Distillery and Ludlow Single Malt Whisky.
7 Aug 2026
Whisky High Notes - Liz Kenny Live from the Three Choirs Festival (Part 2)
Whisky High Notes special from the Three Choirs Festival: I share a morning with Lutenist Liz Kenny, one of the foremost lutenists across Europe. Who is about to perform at the Three Choirs Festival. She chooses some iconic works from the concert she is about to perform later, which celebrates the work of John Dowland.
Featuring special whiskies from Benromach, Lindores Abbey Distillery and Ludlow Single Malt Whisky.
31 Jul 2026
Whisky High Notes - Gavin Higgins Live from the Three Choirs Festival (Part 1)
Whisky High Notes special from the Three Choirs Festival: I share an afternoon with composer Gavin Higgins, a real rising star in classical music and associate Composer of the Three Choirs Festival He chooses some quite iconic works from the first weekend of the festival
25 Jun 2026
From Hypnotic Minimalism to Hot-Climate Casks: Ben Hogwood
Episode 4 features my afternoon with music expert Ben Hogwood, who works at the large label group Naxos, working with a huge array of Classical artists and is also a journalist in his own right, interviewing and reviewing music at Arcana FM (https://arcana.fm/).
Please do go watch the new Episode and discover some iconic music choices and ones that have even been sampled in electronic music from 'The Orb!'
When my guest Ben Hogwood shared his deeply meaningful music choices, I paired them with a dram of Glenfarclas 10, inadvertently unlocking a beautiful coincidence that linked my choice of whisky straight to his own wedding day memories!
28 May 2026
From Fairy Distance to the Japanese Grain: Dobrinka Tabakova
In Episode 3, Dobrinka shares some very powerful music that has influenced her own writing over the years, from a Japanese composer inspired by Western Classical Music to a German composer and director who explores colonialism in Africa and early wax cylinder recordings. I pair some very delicate and also powerful pieces with everything from grain whisky to a boutique independent bottling worth the wait.
Please do listen to the music in the Episode Here (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=coaHvp1cQB0&list=PLOzc9n705cDW-LUhiArGY6jTB0TggUNuO)
29 Apr 2026
From the Dorchester to the Smoky Abyss: Dan Shilladay
Dan Shilladay, today's Guest on Whisky High Notes, is a violist, and a keen chamber musician. He is a founder member of the Berkeley Ensemble, a flexible group of winds and strings specialising in twentieth and twenty-first century British music.
Here is Dan’s Music Playlist
Spotify (https://open.spotify.com/playlist/6yjPxsfZPhWwT2pcbsTWT5?si=56mAJkzhQiGqVqk6aH-MHw)
Apple (https://music.apple.com/gb/playlist/whisky-high-notes-2/pl.u-XkD00pruDNWy6r)
Naomi Belshaw, the host, and Dan spend the afternoon uncovering stories of £1 pound concerts in Birmingham and Music banned by Classic FM! Naomi pairs a range of whiskies from Scotland, Sweden, and Yorkshire.
26 Mar 2026
From Kings Place to the Isle of Harris: Sam McShane
Sam McShane, today's Guest on Whisky High Notes, is Artistic Director at Kings Place in London, where she leads a vibrant programming team and shapes the artistic vision of one of the UK’s most dynamic multi‑arts venues
here is Sam’s Music Playlist
Spotify (https://open.spotify.com/playlist/6yJtHJKBqG5ymB6UxmAyL3?si=NiOP3cH_TJaPfTFvd5QRFg&pi=YAx0XwHbQYu9_)
Apple (https://music.apple.com/gb/playlist/whisky-high-notes-1/pl.u-4JommaDuajyPoV)
Naomi Belshaw, the host, and Sam spend the afternoon hearing about Sam's journey as a Classical Music Programmer and the music that has great meaning to her throughout her career, from learning the French Horn to programming at Kings Place in London, Manchester Camerata, and the Royal Scottish National Orchestra. Naomi pairs a range of whiskies from across Scotland, from trusted independent bottler whiskies right through to some of the newest distilleries in Scotland.
22 Mar 2026
Trailer for Series 1 Episode 1 of Whisky High Notes
Just a trailer ahead of the first episode being launched on the 26th March with Sam McShane, Artistic Director of Kings Place, London.
A haven where Classical Music and Whisky come together, hosted by Whisky Enthusiast Dr Naomi Belshaw. Inviting guest artists, composers, conductors and the classical music industry to share their favourite music to pair with the exciting world of whisky.
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