York Proms 2026 with West End star and Royal Opera soprano

Organisers of the York Proms have announced the line up for this year’s event which takes place on Sunday, July 26 at the Museum Gardens.

York-born Ashley Stilborn, who has played leading roles in the West End, and Jennifer Coleman, who has been singing with the Royal Opera at Covent Garden since 2025, will be taking to the stage.

Audiences can also expect big film pieces including Star Wars this year thanks to a larger instrumental line-up.

West End star Ashley Stilborn, from York, will be performing at the York Proms 2026. (Image: Submitted)

Rebecca Newman, co-founder of the York Proms, said: “I worked with Ashley in 2010 on a Bev Jones show at the Grand Opera House, when he was only about 17!

“I was so pleased to see how he went on to pursue a career in the arts and I know he will absolutely knock the socks off the audience on the night. Having the connection to York just makes it even more special.”

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After leaving his home city of York in 2011, Ashley graduated from Guildford School of Acting in 2014 with a 1st Class BA (Hons) degree in Musical Theatre and the award for Best Performance in a Musical.

He left vocational training early at GSA to join the West End cast of Les Miserables where he played the role of Feuilly and understudied and played Enjolras.

He went on to appear as Raoul in The Phantom of the Opera (Her Majesty’s Theatre) and various other roles, as well as appearing on BBC Radio 2’s Elaine Paige of Sunday.

Ashley said: “It’ll be such a special event for me to return to York to perform and especially as it’s such a well-loved event in one of the most iconic spots in York.”

This year’s guest soprano is returning for her third appearance at the York Proms.

Soprano Jennifer Coleman, who has been singing with the Royal Opera at Covent Garden since 2025, will be performing at the York Proms 2026. (Image: Submitted)

Jennifer Coleman first performed at the event in 2019 and returned in 2023, for the ‘night at the musicals’ themed show, taking on the more classic soprano songs and the finale.

Since 2025, Jennifer has been singing full time in the chorus of the world-renowned Royal Opera, Covent Garden. Before that, she was singing with the chorus at Opera Vlaanderen in Belgium.

Jennifer’s performance career spans opera, concerts, television and recitals after she graduated from the Royal College of Music.

Rebecca added: “This year we have invested a bit more into the stage show, with a larger instrumental line up to support these great singers, and also to allow us to take on some of the bigger film pieces, like Star Wars. We hope our audience enjoys it”.

Tickets must be bought in advance, and are available from www.yorkproms.com or at the Visit York Information Centre.

Attendees can bring their own picnic, including alcohol, and chairs, but refreshments will also be available on the day.