Summer Concert 2024
|
|
Conductor: Oliver TillLeader: Tina BowlesSoloist: Matthew Wilsher (Clarinet)Programme:
Funds were raised for Brains Trust, who support people living with brain tumours. https://brainstrust.org.uk/ |
 |
Programme Notes
Dominic McGonigal - Cathedral Symphony
Dominic McGonigal trained as a chorister, then read music at King's College, Cambridge and sang bass in King's Chapel Choir. He has combined a career in music business with performing and conducting, and more recently composing. He won the Palimpsest Competition to create a work for performance in Canterbury Cathedral with 'Ave Maris Stella Takes Flight'. and this was released on Signum Classics in September 2023.Last year, Oliver Till invited him to write a piece for the LMO's 70th anniversary year; this started out as a fanfare, then the work grew into a symphony! Dominic writes: "The inspiration for the form and structure comes from cathedral architecture. The West Door of Lincoln Cathedral with its triple tympanum. The Nave of Bayeaux Cathedral, a passacaglia of arches. The Choir of Beauvais Cathedral rising to the heavens (it is still the tallest stone built Choir in the world). And, finally, The Tower of Mechelen Cathedral, a tour de force of architecture and sound."
Ruth Gipps MBE (1921 - 1999) - Clarinet Concerto Op 9
The world premiere of Ruth Gipps' Clarinet Concerto took place on 2nd November 2019 at the church of St James's on Piccadilly, given by the orchestra she founded, the London Repertoire Orchestra. The soloist was Peter Cigleris. The work had been written in 1940 when she was only 19 as a present for her husband-to-be Robert Baker, a professional clarinettist.
Ruth Gipps was born in Bexhill-on-Sea. A child prodigy, she performed her first composition at the age of 8 then went on to study oboe, piano and composition at the Royal College of Music. Her compositions were Romantic in style and included five symphonies, seven concertos and many chamber and choral works. Later she taught at Trinity College London, the Royal College of Music, and then Kingston Polytechnic. In 1967 she was appointed Chairwoman of the Composer's Guild of Great Britain.
Camille Saint-Saëns (1835 - 1921) - Symphony No 3 ("Organ")
This symphony is known for its thundering organ theme which dominates the finale. The theme itself appears in various guises throughout the symphony. The symphony was commissioned by the Royal Philharmonic Society in London and premiered on 19th May 1886 at St James's Hall, conducted by the composer. It became one of the first widely praised symphonies by a French composer.
Saint-Saëns was born in Paris. From an early age he was outstanding in a wide range of subjects and made his concert debut on the piano at the age of 10. He was admitted to the Paris Conservatoire at 13 then at 22 he became organist at the Madelaine, the most prestigious position in France. His best-known works include the Danse Macabre, the opera Samson and Delilah, The Carnival of the Animals, and his "Organ Symphony".
Thanks to Mary Dentschuk for these programme notes.
The Concert Soloists
 |
Matthew Wilsher - ClarinetMatthew is a versatile chamber, orchestral and solo clarinettist who studied at the Royal Academy of Music and Bordeaux Conservatoire.Based in London, he has worked with renowned conductors such as Sir Mark Elder and Semyon Bychkov and plays with estememed orchestras including the London Sinfonietta and Philharmonia. He is also principal clarinet for various opera companies, a champion of new music, and a founding member of 'Hold the Drama', an Arts Council-funded group exploring mental health through musical works. |
 |
Paul Roberts - OrganPaul studied organ and piano at the Royal College of Music and Oxford University. After a career teaching music, he had a change of direction and was ordained priest in the Church of England, serving latterly in a South London parish.In retirement he has been able to focus on his musical career, as assistant organist at his parish church, as continuo player with the local early music group, and as accompanist to the Kingston Choral Society. He loves anything to do with trains. |
The Concert Charity
Brainstrust (registered charity No 1114634) https://brainstrust.org.uk/ provides personalised support and resources that help people with a brain tumour and their loved ones live the life they want after diagnosis. They work with people in the clinical setting to secure the best possible care for people with a brain tumour and they campaign to solve real issues, because they understand what challenges people with a brain tumour face.
Their brain tumour support is available to everybody affected by any type of brain tumour.
The Concert Players
Conductor: Oliver TillFirst Violins
- Tina Bowles (Leader)
- Rachel Barbanel
- Marnie Breadin
- Mary Dentschuk
- Steve Dobson
- Katina Laoutaris
- Catherine Menon
- Lucinda Platt
- Steve Rowlinson
- Katy Theodore
- Nichola Blakey (Principal)
- Ursula Antolik
- Leila Boushehri
- Mark Bullard
- Susan Grayeff
- Aytaç Mevlit
- Eve Naftalin
- Gerry Shortall
- Catherine Sides
- Jan Toporowski
- Bronwen Whitaker
- Geoffrey Irwin (Principal)
- Tom Boswell
- Talia Boylan
- Nigel Franklin
- Rachel Gibson
- Jamie Masters
- Josephine Tsakok
- Josh Salter (Principal)
- Hilary Evans
- Libby Fogg
- Shirley Franklin
- Xin He
- Janet Hermann
- Charlotte Youngs
- Darren Edwards
- Francois Moreau
- Dominic Nudd
- Mo Talukder
- Nick Ibba
- Natalie Ryan
- Graeme Scott
- Mo Talukder
- Sumitra Lahiri
- Ming Li Kong
- Adrian Hall
- Lindsey Glen
- Ian Merryweather
- Rita Porzi
- Louise Johnston
- Rosalind Hedley-Miller
- Rachel Hurst
- Simon Ashdown
- Tom Brett
- Susie Hubbard
- Julie Rooke
- Glyn Jones
- Ian Preston
- Charlotte Webb
- Chris Dicken
- Peter Gough
- Rob Heath
- Stephen Brassett
- Stuart Delve
- Sharon Moloney
- Robert Allan
- Dan Chappell
- Paul Roberts
