Our next concert includes the Norfolk Rhapsody by Vaughan Williams, Borodin’s exciting Symphony 2 and Brahms Violin Concerto. The atmospheric Vaughan Williams piece continues our theme of having an English component to each of our concerts this year.
Kay Stephen is our soloist for the Brahms. Don’t worry that she is playing the viola in the pic. She plays both!
Kay Stephen (violin and viola) was born in Aberdeen and completed her undergraduate studies at the RSAMD with Katie Hull and Andrew Berridge (viola), graduating with a 1st class honours and top of her year in 2009. During her time there she was awarded many prizes including the Mabel Glover string quartet Prize, as 1st violinist in the Nova quartet, and the Bessie Spence prize for her performance of the Walton violin concerto (1st movement) with the RSAMD symphony orchestra. She was privileged to perform chamber music alongside musicians such as the Brodsky and Maggini quartets and Ilya Gringolts; under the baton of Vladimir Ashkenazy, Martyn Brabbins, Ilan Volkov and Gary Walker, and participated in apprenticeship schemes with the Orchestra of Scottish Opera and the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra with whom she is now on trial.
As the inaugural recipient of the Riga Heesom Award and the 2009 winner of the Ruth Waddell Memorial Prize, Kay was able to enter first year of the Masters Programme at the RNCM, where she studies with Pavel Fischer and viola with Michael Gurevich. Since arriving in October she has gained the highest violin mark in her orchestral audition, resulting in numerous leading opportunities and won a place on the BBC Philharmonic’s professional experience scheme.
Kay is grateful to the Robert Nicol Trust who also support her studies.
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Happy New Year to everyone from the SPO. The committee spent an enjoyable (?) 3 hours yesterday chewing over a host of matters, many of which were fairly tedious! We did, however, start to think about dates, venues and programme for next season. Watch this space to be kept up to date. Next year is the centenary of Benjamin Britten’s birth and there is a move for all the Sheffield orchestras to include pieces by him in their schedule and we would like to join in. Other possibilities ‘in the mix’ are Shostakovitch 12, Rachmaninov piano concerto 3, Scheherazade, and Mahler 5 (yes, your eyes do not deceive you). None of this is official, but there is no harm in speculating.
We have also been invited to play in the Botanic Gardens again.
It should be an amazing ride.
D.
PS. The following dates and venues have now been booked, so players should put them in their diaries.
10th November 2012. Ecclesall Church
15th December 2012. Christmas Concert. Victoria Hall
16th March 2013. Ecclesall Church
8th June 2013. Victoria Hall
July ‘In the Gardens’ Concert. Date to be confirmed.
PPS. The rehearsal schedule is now online. Click the appropriate line in the top left corner of the blog.
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Whats the point of doing the blog if you can’t resort to a bit of old fashioned nepotism now and again!
SPO playing in Sheffield Botanic Gardens, July 2011 in front of an audience of 2,500. Soloists are Sardinian tenor/baritone Antonello Arca and vet student Charly Oakley.
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As Jonny Lo’s contract has been extended for another two years, now is a good time to update his profile. Here is a link to his site which contains all the latest news. http://jonathanlo.org/
Thanks to Jonny for the concert last Saturday (Nov 12th). The ‘respectful pause’ at the end was more what you expect after a requiem mass but the encore made it abundantly clear how we should have finished! There has been lots of great feedback. We are all looking forward to Borodin and Brahms.
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Our recent concert was at 7.30 on Saturday November 12th in Ecclesall Parish Church. Click on “Concert Dates”, top left of home page, for the full program.
Elgar’s ‘cello concerto provides the core of the program and we are very happy to welcome our soloist, Anna Menzies.
Anna Menzies comes from Newcastle and studied at Chetham’s School of Music and the Guildhall School. She has appeared across the UK and Europe as soloist and chamber musician, in performances ranging from concerto appearances to playing with The Who at the Royal Albert Hall. Also a composer, Anna was recently selected to have her chamber piece performed by the London Chamber Orchestra at St John’s Smith Square. She is currently finishing her Masters degree at the Royal Northern College of Music, where she is grateful for the support of the Arts and Humanities Research Council and a Richard Newitt Award. She teaches at the Yehudi Menuhin school in London.
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Apologies to all for using the Blog once again for a business post.
Following the AGM we now have a new committee and a new constitution. Chairman: Frank Edenborough, Secretary: Bev Paul, Treasurer/Blog: David Oakley, String rep: Tania Whitfield/Debbie Bettles (jobshare), Woodwind rep: Kathryn Hathaway, Brass/percussion rep: Pete Hulley, Concert Manager: Geoff Olner, Publicity: Wendy Maas. Rita Everatt continues as librarian and Helen Gibson takes on the role of membership secretary.
Good luck everyone!
D
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Click on ‘Concert Dates’ (top left of home page) for details of this year’s program.
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It’s been a busy summer and I must apologise for the lack of activity on this blog recently. Normal service will now be resumed!
The orchestra reconvenes on September 6th to start rehearsing our autumn programme which includes Elgar ‘cello concerto, Arnold Scottish dances and Grieg symphonic dances. Please excuse the uppercase but THERE IS A CHANGE OF VENUE for this rehearsal only. We will meet in Endcliffe Methodist Church (S11 8PR), conveniently located close to The Porterbrook pub on Ecclesall road at the usual time of 7.30. This is a ‘one off’. Future rehearsals will be at our usual venue, The Victoria Hall, opposite the stage door of the Crucible theatre.
I hope everyone agrees that we had a great season last year and are looking forward to another exciting year of music making. Feedback from the Botanic Gardens concert was fantastic.
If you are new to Sheffield and fancy playing with us, please read on. The wind and horn sections are complete, though there are often opportunities for bumps and deps. String players are welcome to come along to a rehearsal or two to see if we are the right orchestra for you; just turn up and make yourself known to the section leader. We are a friendly bunch! Please note that we keep the doors of the Vic hall shut during rehearsals to discourage vagrants so come a bit early when someone is available to open the doors. Also note the change of venue for our first rehearsal.
Watch out for future posts here.
D
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Welcome to new committee members, Pat Kendall-Taylor, Roberto Meoni and Nicola Elam. Nicola will be representing the woodwind section on the committee, but any orchestra member can raise any issue with anyone on the committee.
D
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Welcome to 2011. After reading, marking, learning and I-Ding all comments and views, we will be staying at the Vic Hall for the time being. The matter will be kept under review. Meanwhile Nicola (Bassoon 1) has negotiated an even better parking deal at the underground park: see her for concessionary tickets (click on her comment below).
We had excellent feedback from the Christmas concert. Now it’s a question of getting to grips with the Bernstein. The music for Chen and He’s Butterfly Lovers violin concerto is on its way.
Happy New Year to all.
D
