NEW Sinfonia Concert
NEW Sinfonia presents concert in aid of Hope House Hospices on Sunday 29th January 2012 at the Pafilwn Llangollen Pavilion starting at 7.30 pm . Features an exciting programme of Mendelssohn: Hebrides Overture, Mozart: Sinfonia Concertante, Vaughan Williams: Rhosymedre and Beethoven: Symphony No.8.
We are delighted that the second stage of our exciting new journey is to be in Llangollen at the International Pavillion. We welcome highly acclaimed violinist Daniel Roberts (who hails from Denbigh) and violist Charlotte Bonneton who play with the Castalian String Quartet, recent Royal Overseas League Chamber Music Award Winners. Our leader for this concert is Mikhail Gurevich, himself an outstanding violinist with the London Haydn String Quartet. The concert features a performance of a special piece ‘Rhosymedre’. This hymn tune was written by Welsh Anglican Priest John David Edwards who named his tune after the village where he was vicar from 1843 to 1885. Vaughan William described this as his favourite hymn tune and was inspired to orchestrate it.
Young musicians raising money for the young people of Hope House Children’s Hospices.
Rehearsals with the Huddersfield and Slaithwaite Philharmonic Orchestras
On Tuesday 10th January I was rehearsing again with the HPO, working on Polish composer Witold Lutoslawski’s Concerto for Orchestra. It is written in three movements and is regarded as a crowning achievement of folkloristic style in his music. The concert on Saturday 4th February 2012, also includes Verdi Force of Destiny Overture and Tchaikovsky’s Nutcracker.
On Sunday 15th and Monday 16th January I will be working with the SPO in their final rehearsals for Mahler’s Symphony No.3; a truly amazing work! Their concert is on the 21st January 2012. Two concerts not to be missed.
Conductor to the Orchestra of Square Chapel, Halifax
After a hugely successful New Years Gala Concert on Sunday 8th January 2012, I am delighted to announce that I have been invited to conduct the orchestra on a permanent basis.
Orchestra of Square Chapel is the resident orchestra at Square Chapel Centre for the Arts, Halifax. A mixture of professional, semi-professional and gifted amateur players, the orchestra has a reputation for innovative programming. Moving assuredly from Bach and Beethoven to Berkeley and Arthur Butterworth, the orchestra has several world premiere performances to its credit. Orchestra of Square Chapel were recently to be heard on Radio 3 as part of the Listen Up Festival of British and Contemporary Composers.
Trafford Music Service Christmas Concerts
In my work for the music service I work as a violin/viola teacher, string workshop leader, vocal coach and conductor. Over the weekend of the 10th and 11th December we have our annual Christmas Concerts. On Saturday 10th from 10am at the Robert Boult Theatre Sale, the Stretford and Urmston Music Centre children will be performing. I conduct the String Ensembles at both centres and teach violin/viola at Stretford Music Centre.
Secondly, the Trafford Youth Orchestra’s Concert day starts from 3pm again at the Robert Boult Theatre on Sunday 11th December. The Junior String Orchestra which I conduct will play at 3pm. We will be performing music by Beethoven, Shostakovich and Kathy Blackwell. The orchestra is continually growing in size with children regularly progressing to the more advanced Sinfonia and Philharmonic Orchestras.
Cantorion Rhos Choir 30th Anniversary
It’s a special year for the choir. We have given two concerts over the last week at Bangor-on-Dee Church and the Maelor School Penley in N.E Wales, showcasing local singers Hannah Priestley and Conal Sayers at Bangor, and then with Ruth Betteridge of the RNCM. Hannah and Conal are both auditioning for music colleges and are new members to the choir. The choir have progressed rapidly with this concert experience and we are now in great shape for our special anniversary concert at the Stiwt, Rhos on Saturday 3rd December at 7pm. We welcome international acclaimed soloists Camilla Roberts and Roland Wood. The choir will be joined by a small ensemble for a performance of Vivaldi’s Gloria before singing with Camilla and Roland in the second half. It promises to be a special night not to be missed!