4 pm, Sunday 16th July 2017
St Barnabas, Beckenham
Verdi: The Force of Destiny – Overture
Mahler: Rückert Lieder Soloist: Jake Muffett
Brahms: Symphony No. 4 in E minor
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Jake Muffett – BaritoneJake Muffett was born in Grantham, Lincolnshire where he attended The King’s School Grantham. Jake graduated from the University of York with a BA (Hons) in Music and received an MMus in vocal performance from the Guildhall School of Music and Drama. Jake is currently continuing his postgraduate studies on the opera course at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama where he receives vocal tuition from John Evans. His studies are generously supported by The Laurin & Arthur Glaze Trust, The Countess of Munster Musical Trust, Serena Fenwick, the Grantham Music Club and the Grantham Choral Society. Jake recently made his major London solo debut at the Royal Albert Hall in Orff’s Carmina Burana with the English Festival Orchestra, The Really Big Chorus and Bob Chilcott. Jake was also part of the 2016 Glyndebourne Festival chorus where he understudied the role of Fiorello in Il barbiere di Siviglia and performed a principle role in Glyndebourne Youth Opera’s production of Lewis Murphy’s A Garden Dream. Jake was one of the 2014-2015 Monteverdi Choir apprentices and has performed with the group on a regular basis since completing the apprenticeship and has also appeared as a soloist with the group on various occasions. In September 2017 Jake will be singing the title role in Mozart’s Don Giovanni with British Youth Opera conducted by Lionel Friend.
4 pm, Sunday 21st May 2017
Smetana: The Bartered Bride: Overture
Prokofiev: Peter and the Wolf Narator: Grace Dunn
Mussorgsky: A Night on the Bare Mountain
Humperdinck: Hansel & Gretel: Prelude
Grieg: Peer Gynt: Suite No. 1
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4 pm, Sunday 26th March 2017
Vaughan Williams: Five Variants of ‘Dives and Lazarus’
Korngold: Violin Concerto Soloist: Fenella Humphreys
Tchaikovsky: Symphony No. 6 in B minor
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FENELLA HUMPHREYS – VIOLINWith playing described in the press as ‘unforgettable’ and ‘a wonder’, violinist Fenella Humphreys enjoys a busy career combining chamber music and solo work. She has broadcast for the BBC, Classic FM, and German, Canadian, Australian and Korean radio and TV. A champion of new and unknown music, a number of eminent British composers have written works for Fenella. During 2014/15 she premiered a set of 6 new solo violin works by leading British composers including Cheryl Frances-Hoad, Sally Beamish and Sir Peter Maxwell Davies, with performances at Aldeburgh, The Forge, and St. Magnus and Presteigne Festivals as well as a 2-CD recording for Champs Hill. Both discs have been released to critical acclaim, chosen by BBC Music Magazine as Instrumental disc of the month (October 2015 and January 2017) with 5 Star reviews, and Gramophone Magazine Editor’s Choice. Concertmaster of the Deutsche Kammerakademie, Fenella also enjoys guest leading and directing. Her teachers have included Sidney Griller CBE, Itzhak Rashkovsky, Ida Bieler and David Takeno, studying at the Purcell School, Guildhall School of Music and Drama, and the Robert-Schumann- Hochschule in Düsseldorf graduating with the highest attainable marks. Fenella plays a beautiful violin from the circle of Peter Guarneri of Venice, kindly on loan from Jonathan Sparey. www.fenellahumphreys.com
4 pm, Sunday 4th December 2016
Mozart: Idomeneo Overture Elgar: Cello Concerto Soloist: Sarah Westley Nielsen: Symphony No. 4, ‘The Inextinguishable’
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Sarah Westley – CelloSince being awarded the title of BBC County Young Musician of Hereford and Worcester, Sarah has enjoyed a busy international career as a freelance orchestral, chamber and solo cellist. Her orchestral experience is extensive, having toured as principal with The Soloists of the Royal Opera House Covent Garden and Brandenburg Sinfonia, with The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, London Concert Orchestra, Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra and with Birmingham Royal Ballet. As a chamber musician, Sarah has travelled the world performing recitals with cruise lines and performs internationally with The Crystal Palace String Quartet. As well as her classical experience, she has recorded, toured and performed with Tinie Tempah, Elton John, Kylie Minogue, Michael Ball, Andrea Bocelli, MIKA, Jeff Beck and Katy Mellua, and has performed as principal and soloist in London’s West End shows. Sarah has also performed on Strictly Come Dancing, X-Factor, and toured and recorded with the Grammy nominated show ‘Inala’ with Ladysmith Black Mambazo. In addition to her performing career, Sarah is an active teacher and trained workshop leader and was recently awarded her PGDE and Qualified Teacher Status. Sarah completed her degree at Trinity College of Music, studying with Joely Koos and Tim Gill, and her Postgraduate Diploma and LRAM teaching diploma at The Royal Academy of Music with Josephine Knight and baroque cello under Jennifer Ward Clark.