We end our season on a high with six talented musicians from the National Youth Jazz Orchestra. They took us through a short history of jazz with their Legends of Jazz programme, explaining some of the background and jazz standards on the way. Although we have had little jazz at the society in the past, this concert brought in new faces, who hopefully will return! …. and converted some of the more regular members of our audience for whom jazz music was a relatively new experience. As one of the audience said – Follow that! You can find out more about this concert here
Our March concert also brought a welcome return for the Kammerphilharmonie Europa. This chamber ensemble wowed the audience with their playing, despite some confusion when they ‘swopped’ the order of the programme and played a piece by Suk when the programme suggested they would be performing Bach! The trumpeter was a particular favourite and the second encore – a medley of famous tunes – was a wonderful end to this superb concert. Read more about this concert here
For our February Concert, we welcomed back Matthew Scott, a clarinettist, who had really impressed us with his virtuoso performance two years ago. This time, Matthew also brough his ‘friends’ from the Ensemble Mirage. The large audience was treated to a wonderful concert, with clarinet quintets from Mozart and Brahms and Rhapsodic Quintet by Howells. Another fantastic concert, further details of which can be found here!
The first concert of 2019 also brought a first for the society with the Magnard Ensemble – a trio of oboe, bassoon and piano. Despite a scant repotoire for this comination of instruments, the audience found it an interesting and enjoyable concert. It was good to see some new faces in the audience, who were obviously interested to hear this combination of instruments. Further details of the concert can be found here.
December brought the accomplished harpist, Louise Thomson, to Scunthorpe. Despite a traumatic experience when her harp was damaged in setting up, Louise managed to borrow a harp and continue to provide us with a brilliant recital. You can read all the details of the harp and the music here .
Our November concert on 9th November was very different with the Solem String Quartet playing Haydn, Bartok and Beethoven. Our audience gave this exciting young quartet rave reviews, with a number being converted to an appreciation of Bartok’s music. You can find our more about this concert here.
Our 2018 – 2019 concert season launched with the exciting young pianist, Florian Mitrea who provided a stunning performance of works by Beethoven, Prokofiev and Liszt. He was justly rewarded with a standing ovation and left the audience amazed at his skill and viruosity in performing three such complex and demanding pieces in one programme. Such a talented young man! Photos and review of this concert are available here. STOP PRESS in December 2018: Florian’s first CD, Following the River: Music Along the Danube, has been voted the most loved album in a competition organised by Romanian Radio. Congratulations, Florian!
The AGM, in September, was very well attended and members thoroughly enjoyed the performance by our Joint President, Ann Airton together with Kevin Ormond, a baritone, which included the Songs of Travel by Vaughan Williams and some folk songs. Thanks were given to Dena Clatsworthy for her many years of service on the committee as she retires and ‘Congratulations’ to Ron Hill who has chalked up 40 years as a member of the society!