1. Green Dragon Guild of London – Upcoming Concerts:
Of Bestiaries & Bishops, Wednesday 23 September, 7.30 pm
Of Carols & Chimeras, Friday 20 November, 6.30 pm
Venue: St-Sepulchre-without-Newgate
“Exhilirating” – come along to hear our unique professional medieval music group in the heart of London.
Tickets for our concerts are here, and you can read all about the group here: Green Dragon Guild of London.
2. Green Dragon Guild Poetry Prize 2026 – Fantasy & Historical Fiction
Are you a UK‑based fantasy or historical‑fiction author or poet writing original lyrics suitable for musical setting? Submit a short work relating to the theme “Chimeras” for a chance to win:
- A cash prize of £100
- Your work set to music by composer David Yardley and performed by professional musicians at our concert “Of Carols & Chimeras” on Friday 20 November 2026
- Complimentary tickets to the concert
- Standard 50% royalties from any of our future performances or recordings of the musical work that uses your lyrics
Closing date for entries: Wednesday 29 July 2026
Previously published or unpublished works may be entered.
Submit your entry by email to greendragonguild@cantab.net with the subject line:
“Green Dragon Guild Poetry Prize – Competition Entry”.
Full Details and terms and conditions are here: Green Dragon Guild Poetry Prize 2026.
Plus other upcoming Performances:
– I’ll be performing in London and elsewhere in the UK throughout 2026. Check back for updates or better yet, join the mailing list by emailing me at talisman@cantab.net, or by filling out the contact form: Mailing List.
3a. THE LOST CODEX OF AVALON VOL II-ORDERS AVAILABLE!
3b. THE LOST CODEX OF AVALON – ORDERS AVAILABLE!
A unique medieval and fantasy collaboration between composer and performer David Yardley and some of Australia’s finest musicians from the Sydney Chamber Choir, The Song Company and Pastance, along with guest contributions by renowned New York-based medieval ensemble Concordian Dawn, under the direction of Christopher Preston Thompson, and by renowned medieval organist Cristina Alis Raurich.
Inspired by his lifelong immersion in authentic medieval sound, Yardley’s compositions conjure lost music of the mythic isle of Avalon, from Arthurian legend. The two albums journey through Yardley’s settings of long-forgotten medieval sacred and secular texts, whose original music has not survived, as well as his musical settings of fantasy poetry and contemporary Australian works.
A video with the stunning sound of The Song Company rehearsing my music is available here.
Click here to order the new albums. They come in CD and/or in digital format, and include a detailed album booklet.
4. Album Reviews! The Lost Codex of Avalon Volumes I & II
Thank you to the amazing sold-out crowds that came to Sydney and Canberra album launches! Delighted to share these fantastic reviews of my new albums:
a. The Weekend Australian – 4.5 Stars (Vincent Plush) – “David Yardley has been sharing his passion for medieval music and realms of fantasy, bringing both into the contemporary imagination… created by Yardley himself… along paths which wend between ancient folklore and modern fantasy”.
b. – Sounds Like Sydney (Victoria Watson) – “one is swept back in time and into an alternate
world of mystery and archaic beauty”
c. – Canberra CityNews (Rob Kennedy) – “The wonder, mystery and magic of Yardley’s
medieval inspirations is a joy for the ear”
“Transcendent Medieval-Inspired Music For Modern Times” – Read the review here: https://www.classikon.com/cd-review-yardleys-transcendent-medieval-music-for-modern-times/
Join the mailing list to receive notice of new events!
Some of the great musicians I currently work with or have worked with in the past – visit their websites and see what they’re about:
The Song Company
The leading professional vocal ensemble in Australia
Cristina Alís Raurich
Renowned medieval organ scholar and performer
Anne Casey
Award-winning poet and writer – winner of the inaugural Published Fantasy Authors Competition
Pastance
Medieval and Renaissance instrumental wizards, from Sydney, Australia
Aneleda Falconbridge
Fyne and Nice Workes – songs, poetry, brewing and more
Southwark Cathedral, London
Incredible historic cathedral in the UK with a stellar choir
Besalu Medieval Music Course, with Mauricio Molina
World-wide medieval musicians descend every year on Besalu for these exceptional music courses
St Thomas 5th Avenue, New York City
One of the most famous Episcopalian churches in New York, with one of the best choirs in the world
Church of the Transfiguration, New York City
Beautiful, historic church and a hub of early musicians in the city
UN Chamber Music Society
Ensemble of musicians committed to high-quality classical performance and the values of the United Nations
The Pocket Score Company
Canberra-based professional quartet
The Choir of Jesus College, Cambridge
Superb choir at the University of Cambridge, UK
The Sydney Chamber Choir
One of Sydney’s foremost choirs
The Renaissance Players
World-renowned medieval ensemble based in Sydney, Australia
Luminescence Chamber Singers
Ensemble of young professional singers in Canberra, Australia
Emma Griffiths
Soprano in Canberra, Australia
Gaita
Edinburgh-based medieval music duo
Tobias Cole
One of Australia’s foremost countertenors
Winsome Evans
The inspiration for a generation of medieval musicians in Australia and beyond
David Drury
Leading organist and conductor/director
Daniel Hyde
Formerly director of the Choir of Jesus College Cambridge
Edward Wickham
Director of the Clerks’ Group, I had the privilege to sing in the Cambridge Medieval Music Group, led by Edward
Ian Blake
Canberra-based musician/recording artist/all-round great musician!
Harold Gretton
Outstanding guitarist, we’ve performed English lute songs together