A few months ago I was invited to an evening with the Philharmonia Orchestra’s Composer’s Academy. Like most orchestras the Philharmonia run a number of ‘talent development’ programmes, one of which is focused on young composers. Arthur Keegan with whom we ran a delightful concert last summer based on Arthur’s and others’ settings of Thomas Hardy poems*, was one of their beneficiaries last year. It was a most enjoyable evening and very exciting to hear the composers’ new works which will be recorded in due course.
However, during the the evening I got chatting to Linda Biney, the Philharmonia’s Talent Development Manager. (She was wearing some very classy earrings so we bonded immediately over earrings, whatever about the music!) Linda manages not only the Composers’ Academy Project but a similar programme for budding orchestral musicians. Known as the MMSF Instrumental Fellowship Programme, it has been around since the 1960s and is designed for musicians specifically aiming to become professional orchestral players.
Successful fellows get mentoring and coaching from members of the orchestra, paid project work, the chance to observe the orchestra in rehearsal and the occasional chance to play with them, the chance to join fellow players in their alumni scheme – and – recital opportunities. So Linda is always on the look out for recital venues for them.
The programme does have a standing arrangement with the Foundling Museum who host one recital a month (in fact I was at an amazing tuba recital with MMSF fellow James Tavares on Thursday) but she is always on the look out for other venues. And what better a venue for debut recitals for budding orchestral musicians than Hampstead Lane? So….
Starting in May we will be hosting occasional lunchtime concerts showcasing some of this year’s MMSF Fellows.
First up on Wednesday May 15th, viola player Carys Barnes who is currently studying for an Artists Masters in Advanced Instrumental Studies at Guildhall School of Music and Drama. Meanwhile she is on trial for principal viola with Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra and Slovak Sinfonietta and tutti positions with Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra and RTÉ Concert Orchestra.
I am just waiting for her to tell me what she is going to play for us and then I will put up a booking page. But the concerts will start at 1pm** and will cost £15 a ticket to include a glass of wine.
Then on Tuesday June 24th harpist Aisha Palmer will be joining us. Having graduated from the Royal Academy of Music with a BMus First Class Honours, and won herself a large clutch of awards, Aisha is now starting her Master of Arts under Catrin Finch.
More details of this concert as soon as I have them.
Meanwhile……
* Arthur, the Ligeti Quartet, Lotte Betts Dean and James Stirling have now recorded all those amazing setting of Hardy poems (by Gerald Finzi, Benjamin Britten, Imogen Holst, Ivor Gurney, Robin Milford, Kerry Andrew and Arthur himslf) and they are having a launch concert at St George’s Bristol on June 13th. If there is any way you might be in Bristol on June 13th (I am hoping to be) you can book tickets here – and Arthur says he will look forward to seeing you in the bar afterwards!
** For those who might want to drive to our lunchtime concerts, parking is free after 12 noon on Residents’ Parking on the Camden side of Hampstead Lane (the south side nearest the heath, the same side as number 33). It is NOT free on the Haringey side of Hampstead lane (the north side) until 2pm. Beware!
Other upcoming concerts – and please see our new ‘Upcoming events’ page.
Monday April 8th
Bassett Horn Ladies of the Vauxhall Band.
This concert is now sold out but we have a waiting list in case we get any returns.
Thursday 16th May – Hampstead Lane
Declan Hickey – solo guitar recital. For more details see this post and Declan’s site; to hear him play go here – and –
To book, go here.
Sunday 26th May – Highgate Society lunchtime concert
Anna Scott sings and plays Americana classics. For more details and to book go here.
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