Lunchtime recitals in the glorious setting of Wymondham Abbey have long been a feature of Wymondham Music Festival. Over the years we have built up a growing and loyal band of followers who obviously welcome the break in the middle of the day for a little musical entertainment. We aim for variety and accessibility, and this year is no exception.
All the recitals start at 13:10 and last for roughly 50 minutes. No tickets are required - there will be a retiring collection after each one to help us cover our costs.
NORFOLK YOUNG MUSICIAN 2010
Friday 2 July
Thomas Isaac, cello, accompanied by Jonathan Wortley, piano
Sixteen-year-old Thomas Isaac won the coveted Norfolk Young Musician competition in January. He began the cello aged six and currently studies with Sally Wortley, winning an Associated Board prize in 2006. He also plays trombone, piano and bass guitar and is a member of Norwich School Senior Jazz Band, Wymondham Youth Orchestra and a quartet ‘Gateway Players’. He has played solos with Pulham Village Orchestra and taken part in master classes with Alexander Baillie and the lead cellist of the Academy of St Martin in the Fields.
Jonathan Wortley is a solicitor for whom the piano is a major feature of his life. He plays in ensembles, accompanies singers and instrumentalists, and has performed concertos and solo recitals around the UK.
The programme will include Brahms’ Sonata in E minor and the third Bach cello suite.
DUO ABRAZO
Friday 9 July
Rob Nijboer, guitar and Marian van der Heide, soprano
Dutch Duo Abrazo specialises in Spanish and South American music. Their programme will be a mix of songs and guitar solos. Colourful and passionate compositions from De Falla, Rodrigo, García Lorca and Granados contrast with lyrical and intimate pieces for solo guitar and songs by South Americans Piazzolla, Falù and Blasquez.
Rob Nijboer studied with Willem van Lier at Groningen Conservatory and continued his studies with John Mills and John Williams. He plays in several ensembles and has given recitals in The Netherlands, UK and Spain.
Marian van der Heide also graduated from Groningen. She has a wide repertoire, medieval, baroque and romantic, and played the leading role in Menotti’s opera The Telephone. As a member of the acclaimed ensemble Super Librum she has recorded several CDs.
GLORIOUS GERSHWIN
Monday 5 July
Karen Harries, mezzo-soprano, William Fergusson, piano
Karen Harries studied with Jeffrey Davies in Norwich gaining her LLCM diploma in 2004. Singing has taken her round the world performing in operas and concerts. Her latest role was in Meditations by Ken Hÿtch. Karen is a member of the Association of Teachers of Singing, British Voice Association and Incorporated Society of Musicians.
William Ferguson is an extraordinarily gifted pianist who studied performance and composition at the University of East Anglia (UEA). As a performer he approaches a wide repertoire from a contemporary perspective and is in great demand as a soloist and accompanist. He has recently made a CD of his own work.
Their programme will feature songs of George and Ira Gershwin including ‘Someone to watch over me’ and ‘They can’t take that away from me’.
TONALLY DIFFERENT
Tuesday 6 July
Anne May, contralto and David Berwick, piano
This duo specialise in keeping alive British traditional songs and airs. The programme will include delightful music by Vaughan Williams, Percy Grainger, Cecil Sharp and George Butterworth. Interspersing the songs will be piano solos from the classical and light classical repertoire.
David is an organist, choral director and composer with several recently commissioned works. Anne taught music and French for many years. They are both former members of the North of England Festival Chorus, and have sung in Ripon Cathedral, York Minster, and Harrogate International Centre. They are also active participants in Royal School of Church Music events.
ORGAN RECITAL
Wed 7 July
Peter O’Connor, Organist of St Andrew's Church, Hingham
Peter was born in Oxford and got his first organist post at 18. He was Organ Scholar of King's College, London, graduated in 2000 and then moved to Dublin where he became Organ Scholar of St. Patrick's Cathedral. He combined this role with teaching piano and researching seventeenth century English Baroque Music. He subsequently worked for four years at Trinity College, Dublin as a Lecturer in Keyboard Skills and the History of Music.
Peter was Director of Music at St. John's Church, Stanmore for 14 months before relinquishing it to pursue freelance work and his post as Organist of St Andrew's Church, Hingham.
His programme will contain great celebratory works that are well suited to the Abbey's instrument - including Mendelssohn's most dramatic sonata, Buxtehude's innovative Toccata, Bohm's lyrical Chorale Prelude, Bach's most joyous Prelude and Fugue and Langlais' celebratory 'Fete'.
PINEWOOD SAXOPHONE QUARTET
Thursday 8 July
Martin Thomas soprano has played in many genres from punk to Puccini and has soloed with Norwich Pops and Wymondham Symphony Orchestras and with 78 RPM.
Anna Parker alto studied at the Royal College of Music. She teaches music and woodwind in Norfolk schools.
Martin Eaton tenor trained in the army and played in the Royal Artillery Staff Band. He is highly regarded on the jazz circuit.
Christine Godfrey baritone studied Woodwind Instrument Making and returned to set up Top Joint in Norwich. She also teaches and plays with Wymondham Symphony Orchestra and Norwich Music Group.
This talented group play in styles from medieval to rock via Bach, jazz and contemporary pieces. Their wide range of sounds create a unique experience for the listener.
‘Baroque to Broadway’ sums up their programme which climaxes with The Celtic Suite by Gavin Whitlock.
registered charity no 1081375
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