Hannah Marcinowicz saxophone,
John Reid piano

Our Countess of Munster concert is the hugely talented Hannah Marcinowicz. She will play a programme including re-workings of Bach's Sonata in G minor BWV 1020, Debussy's Syrinx and the evergreen Scaramouche by Milhaud.

John Reid studied at Clare College, Cambridge and at the Royal Academy of Music with Michael Dussek. He has also taken lessons in song interpretation with Malcolm Martineau and Rudolf Jansen.

A regular visitor to festivals and music clubs across the UK, in recent seasons he has given recitals at Wigmore Hall, Bridgewater Hall, Queen Elizabeth Hall and Purcell Room, the Concertgebouw Amsterdam and in Italy, Switzerland, Germany and the Middle East with artists including Joan Rodgers, Alexander Baillie, Alison Balsom, Jennifer Pike, Sarah Williamson, the Barbirolli Quartet and William Bennett, as well as with duo partners tenor Nicholas Mulroy, violinist Thomas Gould and flautist Adam Walker. He is pianist with both the contemporary music group Radius and the Aurora Orchestra and has made first recordings of music by York Bowen (works for two pianos, with Michael Dussek for Dutton Epoch), Rhian Samuel and Charles Camillieri. He is an Associate of the RAM, and his many awards have included the 2003 Kathleen Ferrier and Maggie Teyte Accompaniment Prizes and the 2004 Gerald Moore Award.

Hannah Marcinowicz has an impressive musical pedigree - Purcell School, a First from the Royal Academy of Music, awards from just about everyone - Martin Musical Scholarship, Leverhulme Trust, Countess of Munster Musical Trust, Craxton Memorial Trust - followed by postgraduate studies in Paris. She has worked with the LSO, LPO, Philharmonia, London Concert Orchestra and Northern Sinfonia. A recital at the Wigmore Hall in April 2009 puts a real quality stamp on her career as does acceptance on the Countess of Munster Recital Scheme, Live Music Now! and the Philip and Dorothy Green Award for Young Concert Artists.

I know we will be in for a stunning evening - don't take my word for it -come and hear her and her similarly talented pianist. For a preview, just tune into her website and dream away. It is great that Pat Elton has signed her up for Music for Life and she will be in some of our local primary schools in the days leading up to this concert -there is a rumour that she has a pink saxophone! As for repertoire, the saxophone is not over-endowed with its own music as it was only invented in 1841, but there are a number of great exponents across various genres so we can expect arrangements, original masterpieces, moody, swing, versatility and virtuosity -in fact a bit of everything for everybody.

She has won a hatful of awards, is happy in orchestral, recital or big-band mode and is a fabulous communicator.

Compagnia d'Istrumenti

Dan Edgar & Nia Lewis violins, Ailsa Reed recorders, Tim Smedley cello, Peter Seymour harpsichord.

Les Goût Réunis–The Tastes Reunited.

The musical ideal of mixing the diverse national styles of the Baroque era was initially championed by Georg Muffat, who made his musical and political beliefs clear in his preface to Florilegium Primum (1695): ‘as I mix the French manner with the German and Italian, I do not begin a war, but perhaps rather a prelude to the unity, the dear peace, desired by all the peoples.’

This programme brings together music for varying combinations of recorder, strings and continuo by the polystylists of the baroque era, including music by Muffat, Couperin, Purcell and Telemann.

This will be Baroque playing of the highest order.

Graham Barber — organist, pianist and lecturer

Since his debut in London at the Royal Festival Hall in 1979, Graham Barber has been recognised as one of the world’s leading concert organists. He has given concerts in major venues in Britain, Europe, the Far East, the States and Australia, and has been widely broadcast.

Recent concerts have been in Prague, Leipzig, Braga, Lisbon, Coimbra and Adelaide. Reviewing his first recording in 1975, the Sunday Times described him as a ‘technically brilliant, musically mature organist.’

He has made CDs on many English, German and Dutch organs and has been described in Gramophone magazine as ‘one of the organ world’s finest recording artists.’ The magnificent organ in the photograph is that of Saint Bartholomew’s, Armley for which Graham led the restoration campaign.

Directed by Penny Stirling

Yorkshire Young Musicians offer a showcase of the many talents within the organisation. Youngsters from the Yorkshire and Humber region attend this new Centre of Advanced Training (supported by the DCSF's Music and Dance Scheme) at centres in Leeds and Hull.

A partnership with Opera North, Leeds College of Music and the local Music Services ensures that some of the region's most talented young musicians have access to the highest quality teaching and support to ensure that their aspirations for a career in music bear fruit.

Today's concert will feature a wealth and variety of talent from these young musicians. Amongst many others Stephanie Libby, flute (one of our Peter Chase Awardholders) will be playing. Will you spot a star of the future?

YYM website

“Summer is a comin’ in”

A programme of light secular choral music from different periods inspired by the summer and directed by David Howard.

A very welcome return for this popular group.

The group sings mostly a capella (unacompanied) music from the sacred and secular repertoire from early music to the present day. During most concerts there will be items for one or more voices with piano/organ accompaniment. The male section enjoy singing male voice quartet music and most concerts feature a ‘barbershop’ section.

A tribute to Stefane Grappelli

John Etheridge acoustic and electric guitars
Christian Garrick violin
Malcolm Creese bass
Dave Kelbie rhythm guitar

This quartet is a working band. Since recording their first CD ‘Sweet Chorus’ they have chalked up nearly 150 live performances in a rhythmic cohesion and creative flow that is evident from the fiirst bar.

Dave Kelbie’s rhythm guitar is a joy in itself, firm but relaxed, clearly executed but never obtrusive.

Chris Garrick is simply the most accomplished and expressive jazz violinist on today's jazz scene. consistently inventive.

Malcolm Creese is one of the most in demand bass players around. A virtuoso who never overplays, his handsome broad bass sound underpins the quartet.

As an improviser John Etheridge will go fearlessly where he has never gone before bringing a constant sense of adventure and surprise to the music. As a solo guitar performer he gives a delicate reading.