Monday, December 31, 2007
Happy New Year!
I write on the verge of 2008...I thought I should get one final post in before the New Year, seen as I've been neglecting my duties for a couple of months!
Since November I've had numerous performances as soloist, chamber and orchestral musician, including two lunchtime concerts at the RAM of Sibelius' little known Septets, and notably the world premiere performance of Leif Segerstam's Symphony No. 173 (yes, that is right!)'...Launching Thoughts into Nexties...', or whatever they are! It featured a solo trumpet line, with an accompaniment of sizeable orchestral forces, two pianos (one with the composer conducting!) and lasted approximately 25 - a bit of a marathon, but well worth it.
Most of the 1st week of November, however, was taken up as I performed with the LSO in three concerts - two at the Barbican and one at the Salle Pleyel, Paris! Although John Adams and Varese aren't two of the easiest composers to perform, it was a pleasure for me to be part of the wonderful, inspiring brass section, under conductor Krystian Jarvi, and the concerts were all very well received.
In addition to my regular weekly tuition from Prof. James Watson and Robert Farley (Nat), I also had the pleasure of performing Jolivet's Concertino for two visiting clinicians, Kristian Steenstrup (Royal Danish Academy), and James Wilt (Associate Principal - LA Philharmonic), when they were in town, not to mention some more fabulous lessons with Visiting Professor Howard Snell.
With my teaching in Oxford still going strong (a few of my pupils took exams this term), there was also the usual mix of choral society concerts, graduation ceremonies (for King's College, London and University of Central Lancashire), and weddings - not to mention a few Messiahs on both modern and period instruments, including one with the Elysian Baroque Orchestra in Kemble (where I returned home at 5am the next morning - I must remember to thank the train company for that...).
In early December, I also had the privilege of performing the Arutjunjan Trumpet Concerto with the Westmorland Orchestra in Kendal, with conductor Barry Sharkey. With a large and appreciative audience in attendance, it really was a lovely occassion, and I received some wonderful hospitality from a couple whose son (Peter Lawrence) is a first class trumpeter, composer and arranger based in Germany (I have ordered some of his stuff and its great...www.pledition.com)
Soon after I was in Manchester for rehearsals at my alma mater (Chetham's School of Music) with accompanist Nick Oliver, for an audition for the Manchester Midday Concert Society at the Bridgewater Hall (Fasch Concerto, Legende and Schelokov Scherzo). Christmas Eve a letter arrived stating that I'd won one of the lunchtime recitals that the society promotes, at the Brigewater Hall in the 2009/10 season...something really to look forward to!
Having returned from Manchester, it was back to the University of London Symphony Orchestra as principal trumpet in their termly concert, featuring Elgar: In the South and Walton: Symphony No. 1, under conductor John Forster. Again, a real treat, just a shame the accoustic in the church wasn't a little better (the first trombone and horns (in front!) were particularly strong, other than that...anyboday's guess!!)
A few days later it was back to the RAM and Duke's Hall for a special performance for HM The Queen, with the RAM Brass Soloists, performing a variety of suitably regal music for her visit, where she also presented the Queen's Medal for Music to composer Judith Weir. A bit of a hair-raising occassion (I guess these things always are) but fortunately it all went to plan.
Having returned home for my Christmas break, I attended the Brass Semi Finals of the BBC YM 2008 at the RWCMD, Cardiff. With 6 out of the 8 players from Chets, it was no surprise that the standard was so high, with some superb playing...the only unfortunate thing was that there was no trumpet at this stage of the competition, something which will have to change surely for next time! One performer deserves particular mention: trombonist Peter Moore. Suffice it to say that aged 11, and a BBC YM Brass Finalist this February, he has the world at his feet. If you ever have an opportunity to hear this kid - do. It is awesome to hear, and perhaps even more unbelievable to watch such a small, unassuming chap strutting his stuff. And the best thing? He goes to Chets :) !
Well, I hope 2008 holds many good things for all readers, and I also have some exciting things on the radar in the first few months of the year...chamber concerts with Sinfonia Cymru (Stravinsky's Solider's Tale), two solo contests at the RAM, the premiere of a new work by composer Hugh Brunt, auditions for the Stuttgart Festivalensemble, Britten-Pears Baroque and modern orchestras and Verbier Festival Orchestra, The Brass Collective 10-piece residency in Aldeburgh, competitions, recordings and concerts with QuintEssence, orchestral gigs with the London Contemporary Orchestra and ULSO (Alpine Symphony!), ROSL solo competition, and (fingers crossed!) the start of recording for my debut album! Unfortunately I have had to turn down the opportunity to play with EUYO this Easter, but I have several things to make up for it, including a prospective Strauss recording and concert with the RAM Symphonic Brass under James Watson...it promises to be one heck of a term! Did I mention academic work...no, though not!
Posted by Huw Morgan
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