What's On at Royal Birmingham Conservatoire

CLASSICAL

WHAT’S ON

FRI 4 MAY PETER AND THE WOLF WITH SIR LENNY HENRY

SUMMER 2018 0121 331 5909 | BCU.AC.UK/CONCERTS /RoyalBirmCons

@BirmCons

Birmingham City University

FRI 6 APR

TUE 10 APR

COFFEE, CAKE AND CADENZAS 1pm The Piano Bar, New Alexandra Theatre FREE ADMISSION

Mariano García

ANNA VIENNA HO (PIANO) 10.30am Recital Hall

COFFEE CONCERT R O YA L B I R M I N G H A M C O N S E R VAT O I R E

New Alexandra Theatre hosts our finest chamber musicians for an intimate lunchtime concert.

Please note that the Piano Bar is on the first floor of the venue with access via stairs only.

MON 9 APR

£10 (£8) I n c o n j u n c t i o n w i t h G r e a te r B i r m i n g h a m C h a m b e r s o f C o m m e r c e

Director Luan Shaw Anna Vienna Ho piano The programme includes three beautiful water themed solo pieces by Ravel and Liszt, three impressionist preludes by Debussy, and one of the greatest masterpieces of Wagner: Tristan und Isolde.

Xiaofen Song

BRIDGE, HAYDN, BARBER 12.10pm Recital Hall

Rose Redgrave

M I D DAY M U S I C

FREE ADMISSION Yue Yu viola Bridge Lament for Two Violas Dolma Chiodak trumpet Joanne Sealey piano James Gribble narrator Weber Variations In F for Trumpet and Piano Anthony Plog Animal Ditties for Trumpet, Piano and Narrator Roman Kosyakov piano

XIAOFEN SONG (PIANO) 12.10pm Recital Hall

M I D DAY M U S I C

WED 11 APR

THU 12 APR

LINES/REDGRAVE/MCCARTHY TRIO

ANIMA DUO

8pm Organ Studio

6pm Organ Studio

£10 (£8)

£5 (£2.50)

Timothy Lines clarinet Rose Redgrave viola Eliza McCarthy piano

Mariano García saxophone Aniana Jaime Latre piano

COMMUTER CONCERT

R O YA L B I R M I N G H A M C O N S E R VAT O I R E

£10 (£8) I n c o n j u n c t i o n w i t h G r e a te r B i r m i n g h a m C h a m b e r s o f C o m m e r c e

Haydn Sonata in E minor Barber Sonata Op.26

MON 9 APR

COMPOSERS’ PLATFORM 7pm The Lab £2 Frontiers presents a concert of exciting new works by Conservatoire composers. This concert will feature a wide range of styles, utilising the layout of the LAB to its maximum.

Xiaofen Song piano Immerse yourself in 19th century Romanticism with piano repertoire transcribed by Franz Liszt from Schubert’s lieder, leading to Mussorgsky’s Pictures at an Exhibition.

PROFESSIONAL PERFORMANCE SHOWCASES

Hear the fruits resulting from a series of workshops as three of this country’s finest chamber musicians première seven new works by composers from Royal Birmingham Conservatoire, featuring new works by James Abel, Luke Harrison, Millicent James, Henryk Golden, Ka Kwok, Oliver Mack and Kailan Barton-Porter.

These concerts feature our Advanced Postgraduate Diploma students – performers at the highest level of study, who are already launching their professional careers.

Programme includes Schumann, Bernstein, de Falla, Prokofiev and Saint-Saëns.

Saxophonist Mariano García and pianist Aniana Jaime Latre, performers and professors at the Music Conservatoire of Aragón in Zaragoza, formed AniMa DUO in 2010 with the aim to deepen, broaden and seek to surpass the boundaries imposed by chronology to chamber music repertoire for saxophone and piano.

JOINT TICKET OFFER £12 (£10) FOR BOTH CONCERTS 2

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THU 12 APR

London Bridge Trio

SONGWRITERS’ CIRCLE 7pm The Lab

TUE 17 APR

THE ASHLEYAN OPERA PRIZE EMERGING DIRECTORS

7pm Recital Hall

£2

£8 (£6)

Hear original songs from Royal Birmingham Conservatoire students in a relaxed gig in the Lab. Enjoy a mixture of popular music styles, with full band line ups contrasting with intimate acoustic songs.

Hear the impressive talents of future opera stars as they compete to win this award. Open to Royal Birmingham Conservatoire postgraduate vocal students, each candidate will perform a programme of operatic arias, including one recitative, as they demonstrate their vocal prowess.

FRI 13 APR

WED 18 APR

ROYAL BIRMINGHAM CONSERVATOIRE WIND ORCHESTRA

DUOPHONICS EMERGING DIRECTORS 12.10pm Boult’s Bar and Restaurant, Level 0, Royal Birmingham Conservatoire

6pm Concert Hall £10 (£8)

TUE 17 APR

Conductor Keith Brion

LONDON BRIDGE TRIO

Programme to include: Sousa Showing Off Before Company Sousa Selections from Chris and the Wonderful Lamp Sousa Ballet: The Sisterhood of the States World-renowned expert on the music of John Philip Sousa, Keith Brion leads Royal Birmingham Conservatoire’s Wind Orchestra through pieces that will subsequently be recorded in the fantastic acoustic of the new Concert Hall.

MON 16 APR

CHOPIN, TURRIN, VIZZUTTI 12.10pm Recital Hall FREE ADMISSION Catherine Pollit trumpet Joanne Sealey piano Ryan Richards trombone*

M I D DAY M U S I C

12.10pm Recital Hall

FREE ADMISSION Director Oliver Farrow M I D DAY M U S I C

£10 (£8) David Adams violin Kate Gould cello Daniel Tong piano Fanny Mendelssohn Piano Trio in D minor, Op.11 Schumann Piano Trio in D minor, Op.63 The London Bridge Trio is one of Britain’s leading chamber ensembles, known for their deeply nuanced and searching interpretations. The trio originally formed in 2002 as the London Bridge Ensemble and they continue to prioritise strong, composer-led programmes with the option to collaborate with regular guest artists. Their name reflects an admiration for English music of the early twentieth century, which forms part of the group’s varied repertoire and is represented by their hugely successful Frank Bridge recordings.

Oliver Farrow synth/electronics Daniel Kemshell guitar Daniel Cippico bass Chithrinie Nirupama sitar Anna Olsson violin Millicent James cello Gwilym Jones drums This performance will exhibit the latest point in a process involving improvisation assisted with sonic piano and quasi-notated scores. The musical tastes of each individual player is explored against a backdrop of noise, ambience and drone.

THU 19 APR

VIDA GUITAR QUARTET 6pm Organ Studio

COMMUTER CONCERT

£5 (£2.50) Bach (arr. M. Eden) Brandenburg Concerto No.3 in G major, BWV 1048 Howard Skempton Bach variation for four Guitars (written for the Vida Guitar Quartet) Mendelssohn (arr. N. Cartledge) Prelude and Fugue No.4 Adam Gorb (arr. M. Eden) Yiddish Dances The VIDA Guitar Quartet brings together four guitarists of exceptional artistry and “unerring musical instinct” (Gramophone). VIDAʼs ability to “conjure up an orchestral palette of colour and effects” (Classic FM) combined with their “exquisite tonal and dynamic control” has firmly established them as a passionate and masterful ensemble who sparkle with “vitality and spontaneity” (Acoustic).

Tonight the quartet celebrates the launch of their new CD, Bachianas, featuring music inspired by Bach.

THU 19 APR

CAMERATA CHOIR 7.30pm St Alban’s Church, Highgate FREE ADMISSION. Retiring Collection Conductors Tian Yi Koh King Chan Darrel Chan

Allan Vizzutti Cascades Joseph Turrin ‘Fandango’ Duo*

Camerata Choir Arvo Pärt Bogoróditse Djévo Rachmaninov Bogoróditse Djévo Schubert Mass in G major Bruckner Christus Factus Est Tallis Salvator Mundi Weelkes Hosanna to the Son of David

Connor Wilcox piano Chopin Sonata in B minor Op.58

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VIDA Guitar Quartet

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5

Peter Donohoe

THU 19 APR

ORKEST DE EREPRIJS R O YA L B I R M I N G H A M C O N S E R VAT O I R E

9pm The Lab I n c o n j u n c t i o n w i t h G r e a te r B i r m i n g h a m C h a m b e r s o f C o m m e r c e

£10 (£8) Marije van den Berg bass flute Programme to include: Willem Breuker De Verdubbelaar (The Duplicator) Raphaël Languillat Studie super Flagellationem Mary Finsterer Red Green Blue Martijn Padding Slow landscape with thunder (Bass Flute Concerto)

THU 19 APR

PETER DONOHOE MOZART PIANO CYCLE R O YA L B I R M I N G H A M C O N S E R VAT O I R E

7.30pm Concert Hall I n c o n j u n c t i o n w i t h G r e a te r B i r m i n g h a m C h a m b e r s o f C o m m e r c e

£20 (£15)* Mozart Sonata in B flat major K570 Mozart Sonata in F major K280 Siciliano Funèbre Mozart Sonata in B flat major K281 Amoroso Mozart Sonata in E flat major K282 Mozart Sonata in B flat major K333 Linz In the years since his unprecedented success as Silver Medal winner of the 1982 7th International Tchaikovsky Competition in Moscow, Peter Donohoe has built an extraordinary worldwide career, encompassing a huge repertoire and over forty years’ experience as a pianist, as well as continually exploring many other avenues in music-making. He is acclaimed as one of the foremost pianists of our time, for his musicianship, stylistic versatility and commanding technique.

After his exceptional recital in February, Peter Donohoe returns with his second of four all-Mozart concerts taking place at Royal Birmingham Conservatoire in 2018.

*3 for 2 offer.

Buy tickets for 2 remaining Peter Donohoe Mozart recitals, and receive a ticket for the 3rd, free.

Peter Donohoe also appears at Royal Birmingham Conservatoire on 17 May and 13 June.

Orkest de Ereprijs are one of the most dynamic and renowned new music ensembles in Holland. Functioning very much as a collective, its line-up includes wind, brass, electric guitars and percussion. This concert features a tantalising mix of music from composers with which they have a close association, such as Martijn Padding, featured composer at last year’s No Frontiers Festival.

FRI 20 APR

MON 23 APR

LUNCHTIMES AT BMAG THE GENIUS OF THE BACH FAMILY: MOTETS

MOZART, DEBUSSY, RACHMANINOV

12.30pm The Round Room, Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery

FREE ADMISSION

FREE ADMISSION

Kate Gilbert soprano Jon French piano

Conductor Darrel Chan Johann Sebastian Bach is undisputedly one of the most well-known and important composers in music history, yet he came from a big family tree of composers. Today we explore some lesser known, yet beautifully written motets by the Bach family, and also including JS Bach’s masterpiece Jesu, meine Freude.

M I D DAY M U S I C

Mozart Non mi dir from Don Giovanni Debussy Proses Lyriques No. 3 De Fleures & No.4 De Soires Rachmaninov Op.34 No.1, ‘The Muse’ & No.10, ‘I remember that day’.

Katarzyna Deja violin Ken Lim Myn Chyh piano Enesco Sonata No.3 in A minor ‘Dans le caractere populaire roumain’ Op.25

Orkest de Ereprijs gratefully acknowledges the support of The Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in London.

Morton Feldman

FRI 20 APR

ORCHESTRA OF THE 21ST CENTURY R O YA L B I R M I N G H A M C O N S E R VAT O I R E

7pm Concert Hall I n c o n j u n c t i o n w i t h G r e a te r B i r m i n g h a m C h a m b e r s o f C o m m e r c e

£10 (£8) Conductor Daniele Rosina Programme to include: Works by Martijn Padding, Tom Allan, Rosie Tunley, Emily Abdy, Georgia Denham, Thomas Earl, Cam Athanasiades, Anna Olsson, Fang Fang and composition tutors from Royal Birmingham Conservatoire.

Orchestra of the 21st Century is a unique project in which our own Thallein Ensemble joins forces with Orkest de Ereprijs from Holland, to create a radical re-imagining of the orchestra. Our composers have been working closely with the performers, and this evening you can hear the extraordinary results.

Orchestra of the 21st Century has been made possible with the kind support of The Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in London.

“

M A G N I F I C E N T LY E C L E C T I C TIME OUT

”

SAT 21 APR

FLATPACK FILM FESTIVAL Royal Birmingham Conservatoire

R O YA L B I R M I N G H A M C O N S E R VAT O I R E

I n c o n j u n c t i o n w i t h G r e a te r B i r m i n g h a m C h a m b e r s o f C o m m e r c e

Flatpack Film Festival takes over venues across Birmingham every spring and this year comes to Royal Birmingham Conservatoire. With a mixture of films, performances, contraptions and surprises, Flatpack aims to show people things they might not have otherwise seen.

JOINT TICKET OFFER £15 (£10) FOR BOTH ORKEST DE EREPRIJS CONCERTS 6

12.10pm Recital Hall

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MON 23 APR

MORTON FELDMAN’S CRIPPLED SYMMETRY 7pm Recital Hall £10 (£8) Richard Craig flute Damien Harron percussion Philip Thomas piano Morton Feldman’s late, extended work Crippled Symmetry, for the unusual combination of flutes, percussion and piano/celeste, is a sustained exploration of patterns and repetition/variation. Over approximately 90 minutes, the music quietly unfolds, richly and deceptively complex. This is a rare opportunity to hear it performed live by a trio of musicians brought together for this piece.

7

Arthur Bocaneanu

Fu-Min Tseng

TUE 24 APR

Infinite Opera Company

THE DORIS NEWTON MUSIC CLUB PRIZE 7pm Recital Hall £8 (£6) The culmination of the nine categories of the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire Prizes (Woodwind, Guitar, Brass, Saxophone, Piano, Percussion, Recorder, Strings and Vocal), The Doris Newton Music Club Prize allows the winners of each of these nine sections to compete for this highly respected final award.

Enjoy seeing the cream of this year’s prize winners demonstrating their talents as they vie to be crowned the overall winner.

THU 26 APR

ROYAL BIRMINGHAM CONSERVATOIRE CHAMBER CHOIR AT ASHBOURNE

M I D DAY M U S I C

7pm St. Oswald’s Church, Ashbourne £17.50 (£5 for under 25s) Please call 01543 263304 or email claire@tetley.org to book Director Paul Spicer Callum Alger organ

TUE 24 APR

TUE 24 APR

FU-MIN TSENG (PIANO)

ARTHUR BOCANEANU (PIANO)

10.30am Recital Hall

COFFEE CONCERT

12.10pm Recital Hall

R O YA L B I R M I N G H A M C O N S E R VAT O I R E

£10 (£8)

M I D DAY M U S I C R O YA L B I R M I N G H A M C O N S E R VAT O I R E

£10 (£8) I n c o n j u n c t i o n w i t h G r e a te r B i r m i n g h a m C h a m b e r s o f C o m m e r c e

Fu-Min Tseng piano Sebastian Wyss violin Matthew Johnstone viola Jonathan Madden cello This programme contrasts three delicate transcriptions from Bach’s Cantata and Chorale Preludes, with the great C minor Piano Quartet by Brahms.

I n c o n j u n c t i o n w i t h G r e a te r B i r m i n g h a m C h a m b e r s o f C o m m e r c e

Enjoy two bold statements by Bach and Schumann, united by the improvisatory element; both works of extraordinary emotional power and boundary-breaking expressive freedom.

PROFESSIONAL PERFORMANCE SHOWCASES

Britten Rejoice in the Lamb Leighton Crucifixus pro nobis MacMillan If ye love me Leighton God’s Grandeur Leighton Let all the World JS Bach Jesu, meine Freude BWV227 Paul Spicer Sounding Music (world première) Works performed will be largely a capella and for this concert, Paul Spicer has composed a specially commissioned piece that aptly celebrates the work and achievement of Abbotsholme Arts Society.

This concert is supported by the Edward Saunders Legacy.

These concerts feature our Advanced Postgraduate Diploma students – performers at the highest level of study, who are already launching their professional careers.

JOINT TICKET OFFER £12 (£10) FOR BOTH CONCERTS 8

BOOK NOW VIA WWW.BCU.AC.UK/CONCERTS OR 0121 331 5909

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THU 26 & FRI 27 APR

ENTANGLEMENT! AN ENTROPIC TALE 7pm The Lab

EMERGING DIRECTORS R O YA L B I R M I N G H A M C O N S E R VAT O I R E

£10 (£8) I n c o n j u n c t i o n w i t h G r e a te r B i r m i n g h a m C h a m b e r s o f C o m m e r c e

Librettist Roxanne Korda Composer Daniel Blanco Albert Conductor Rita Mikhailova Producers Roxanne Korda, Daniel Blanco Albert Director Aleksandar Dundjerovic & Infinite Opera Infinite Opera Company Roxanne Korda soprano Gina Baker soprano Charlotte Sleet mezzo-soprano Shiyu Zhang soprano Miles Taylor bass Boglárka György violin Edwin Podolski viola Tom Pickles cello Arjun Jethwa flute Kaethe Uken clarinet Daniel Blanco Albert trumpet Stefanos Politsakis piano/repétiteur

Entanglement! An Entropic Tale is a divulgation opera describing the mysteries of our universe (and of many others) with the distinctive sense of humour only a nihilist character such as Entropy can have. At the same time, the impossible love story of an electron and a positron, who are stuck in a quantum quandary about their possibilities, arises during the unstoppable and chaotic destruction of our known universe…

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SAT 28 APR

MON 30 APR

TUE 1 MAY

CHAMBER MUSIC SATURDAYS 12pm Library of Birmingham

ANDREW HAMILTON NMC PORTRAIT DISC LAUNCH CONCERT

THE STUART CAMERON SMITH AMERICAN SONG PRIZE

FREE ADMISSION

7pm Organ Studio

7pm Recital Hall

An exciting series of concerts given by some of the best musicians from Royal Birmingham Conservatoire’s chamber music department. Children very welcome.

£10 (£8)

£8 (£6)

Juliet Fraser soprano Maxime Echardour percussion Eliza McCarthy piano Andrew Hamilton violin/voice

A prize donated in memory of Stuart Cameron Smith, who for many years taught at Birmingham Conservatoire as a vocal coach and was an inspiration to generations of students. He possessed a formidable knowledge of the song repertoire. This competition is allied with the English Song Prize, each taking place on alternate years.

SUN 29 APR

ROYAL BIRMINGHAM CONSERVATOIRE PRESENTS: THE BIRMINGHAM PHILHARMONIC CONCERTO COMPETITION

To celebrate the launch of Andrew Hamilton’s first portrait disc being released on NMC, internationally renowned musicians Juliet Fraser, Maxime Echardour and Eliza McCarthy perform the song cycle To The People and epic piano work O.A.I.R. whilst the composer himself will perform the recent a.

4pm Concert Hall I n c o n j u n c t i o n w i t h G r e a te r B i r m i n g h a m C h a m b e r s o f C o m m e r c e

£15 (£12)

Forest Labyrinth

Three of Royal Birmingham Conservatoire’s rising stars play concertos accompanied by the Birmingham Philharmonic Orchestra, competing for the coveted Birmingham Philharmonic Concerto Prize. With a £1,500 prize fund to play for, the stakes are high. In this fantastic concert we also ask you to choose your favourite performance – but will you agree with our international adjudicator’s choice?

M I D DAY M U S I C

See www.bcu.ac.uk/concerts for further programme announcements.

12.10pm Recital Hall FREE ADMISSION Jonathan Madden cello Robert Markham piano Strauss Sonata in F for Violoncello Op.6 Seb Wyss violin Edward Leung piano Strauss Violin Sonata Op.18

TUE 1 MAY

FOREST LABYRINTH EMERGING DIRECTORS

£8 (£6)

STRAUSS M I D DAY M U S I C

6pm Organ Studio

COMMUTER CONCERT

£22 (£15)

Conductors Josef Javora & Giannis Giannopoulos Royal Birmingham Conservatoire Conductors’ Ensemble

Conductor Christopher Houlding Narrator Sir Lenny Henry Royal Birmingham Conservatoire Pops Orchestra

In the 1940s, Aaron Copland was commissioned to write a ballet on an American theme; Appalachian Spring was the result, and a few years later he recreated the suite for chamber ensemble that we hear this evening. Wagner’s Siegfried Idyll, however, was written as a birthday present for his wife and first performed for her on Christmas morning in 1870.

Director and producer Veronika Tabakova Roxanne Korda soprano Rosemary Wilkes soprano Maja Pluta violin Anna-Maria Olsson violin Kate Allsop recorder Weining Pi MyoSpat armband

Bernstein Wonderful Town: Overture Copland Rodeo: Hoe-Down Prokofiev Peter and the Wolf Elfman Spiderman Williams Star Wars: Yoda’s Theme – Throne Room and Finale Don’t miss this opportunity to hear Sir Lenny Henry, Chancellor of Birmingham City University narrating Prokofiev’s classic story Peter and the Wolf.

After a lunchtime performance for an audience of schoolchildren there is an extended evening concert also including a variety of music by great American composers.

SAT 5 MAY

COFFEE, CAKE & CADENZAS

Dive into the sound of nature and explore the mysterious paths of the Forest Labyrinth. Unlock your full creativity and shape your own adventure!

BOOK NOW VIA WWW.BCU.AC.UK/CONCERTS OR 0121 331 5909

R O YA L B I R M I N G H A M C O N S E R VAT O I R E

7pm Concert Hall

£5 (£2.50)

1pm Piano Bar, New Alexandra Theatre FREE ADMISSION

Come to charge yourself with joy, peace and inspiration from the nature and find the real pathway of the labyrinth called life.

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PETER AND THE WOLF WITH SIR LENNY HENRY I n c o n j u n c t i o n w i t h G r e a te r B i r m i n g h a m C h a m b e r s o f C o m m e r c e

Programme to include: Copland Appalachian Spring: Suite (13 instruments) Wagner Siegfried Idyll

1.30pm The Lab

MON 30 APR

FRI 4 MAY

THU 3 MAY

CONDUCTORS’ ENSEMBLE

R O YA L B I R M I N G H A M C O N S E R VAT O I R E

Sir Lenny Henry

Please note that the Piano Bar is on the first floor of the venue with access via stairs only.

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11

Emily Sun Sampad Asian Spring

TUE 8 MAY

EMILY SUN (VIOLIN) 12.10pm Organ Studio

M I D DAY M U S I C R O YA L B I R M I N G H A M C O N S E R VAT O I R E

£12 (£10) I n c o n j u n c t i o n w i t h G r e a te r B i r m i n g h a m C h a m b e r s o f C o m m e r c e

Emily Sun violin Jennifer Hughes piano Mozart Violin Sonata No.1 in G major K301 Fauré Violin Sonata No.1 in A major Op.13 Igor Frolov Concert Fantasy on themes from Gershwin’s Porgy and Bess Enjoy an inspirational performance from two rising stars on the international chamber music scene in our intimate Organ Studio.

Featuring:

MON 14 MAY SUN 6 MAY

BRAHMS, FAURÉ, TOMASI

SAMPAD ARTS & HERITAGE PRESENTS ASIAN SPRING DANCE EXTRAVAGANZA

12.10pm Recital Hall

4pm Concert Hall

Doris Kuo violin Ella Lee piano

£12 (£10) Tickets can be booked via 0121 446 3232 or www.macbirmingham.co.uk This special 20th edition of Sampad’s hugely popular showcase features a lively, colourful celebration of South Asian dance.

Come and experience an afternoon of striking classical Kathak and Bharatanatyam, energetic folk dance, exhilarating Bhangra, thrilling contemporary Bollywood moves and more… from some of the most exciting dance groups in the country!

PART ONE

M I D DAY M U S I C

FREE ADMISSION

Brahms Sonata No.3 in D minor for violin and piano

Sir Lenny Henry narrates Peter and The Wolf

Nitin Sawhney: India and Me

Peter Donohoe Mozart Piano Cycle

Thallein & Jennifer Walshe

Barry Wordsworth

Jess Gillam

Jian Wang

Flatpack Film Festival

Gabriela Liandu soprano Kehan Chen piano Fauré Chanson d’amour Op.27, No.1 Fauré Automne Op.18, No.3 Fauré En sourdine Op.58 No2 from Cinq Mélodies de Venise Tom Pilsbury trombone

…and many more

Naulais Monologue for solo Bass trombone Tomasi Être ou ne pas être – Bass trombone and trombone quartet 12

BOOK NOW VIA WWW.BCU.AC.UK/CONCERTS OR 0121 331 5909

www.bcu.ac.uk/opening-festival

Birmingham City University

R

oyal Birmingham Conservatoire presents 15 months of incredible concerts and events. Featuring Sir Lenny Henry, Julian Lloyd Webber, Peter Donohoe, Nitin Sawhney, Jennifer Walshe, Orkest de Ereprijs, Flatpack Film Festival, Supersonic Festival and many more, we invite the world to experience music in our brand new, state-of-the-art venues.

This is a celebration of music and arts focusing on classical, jazz, world music, spoken word, new music, film and multi-disciplinary work.

Part One of the festival (April – June) is listed here, with further programme announcements to be made via www.bcu.ac.uk/opening-festival. Part 2 begins September 2018.

DATE

EVENT TITLE

TIME

PRICE

PAGE NO.

DATE

EVENT TITLE

TIME

PRICE

PAGE NO.

10.04.18

ANNA VIENNA HO (PIANO)

10.30am

£10 (£8) *Joint ticket offer £12 (£10)

2

17.05.18

NOCTURNAL AFTER JOHN DOWLAND:

6pm

£5 (£2.50)

17

XIAOFEN SONG (PIANO)

12.10pm

£10 (£8) *Joint ticket offer £12 (£10)

2

17.05.18

PETER DONOHOE MOZART PIANO CYCLE PART 3

7.30pm

£20 (£15)

17

26.05.18

CATALOGUE D’EMOJIS

8pm

£12 (£10)

18

28.05.18

JIAN WANG, JIAXIN LLOYD WEBBER AND JULIAN LLOYD WEBBER WITH ORCHESTRA OF THE SWAN

1:30pm (Pre-show talk) 2:30pm show

£22 (£15)

19

13.06.18

PETER DONOHOE MOZART PIANO CYCLE PART 4

7.30pm

£20 (£15)

21

18.06.18

BCMG: NEW WORK

7.30pm

£10 (£8)

23

21.06.18

YU-TZU KUNG (PERCUSSION)

6pm

£5 (£2.50)

26

22.06.18

THALLEIN ENSEMBLE WITH JENNIFER WALSHE

6.30pm

£12 (£10)

26

22.06.1824.06.18

SUPERSONIC FESTIVAL: MOOG LAB

See website

See website

27

23.06.18

NITIN SAWHNEY: INDIA AND ME

7pm

£25

27

25.06.18

FITKINWALL

12.10pm, 6pm & 8pm

Free admission, £5 (£2.50) & £10 (£8)

28

26.06.18

JESS GILLAM (SAXOPHONE)

12.10pm

£12 (£10)

29

29.06.18

BARRY WORDSWORTH WITH ROYAL BIRMINGHAM CONSERVATOIRE SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA

7pm

£15 (£10)

29

10.04.18

BRITTEN’S TREASURE FOR GUITAR

19.04.18

PETER DONOHOE MOZART PIANO CYCLE PART 2

7.30pm

£20 (£15)

6

19.04.18

ORKEST DE EREPRIJS

9pm

£10 (£8)

6

20.04.18

ORCHESTRA OF THE 21ST CENTURY

7pm

£10 (£8)

6

21.04.18

FLATPACK FILM FESTIVAL

See website

See website

7

24.04.18

FU-MIN TSENG (PIANO)

10.30am

£10 (£8) *Joint ticket offer £12 (£10)

8

24.04.18

ARTHUR BOCANEANU (PIANO)

12.10pm

£10 (£8) *Joint ticket offer £12 (£10)

8

26.04.18 & 27.04.18

THE INFINITE OPERA COMPANY PRESENT ENTANGLEMENT! AN ENTROPIC TALE

7pm

£10 (£8)

9

29.04.18

ROYAL BIRMINGHAM CONSERVATOIRE PRESENTS THE BIRMINGHAM PHILHARMONIC CONCERTO COMPETITION

4pm

£15 (£12)

10

04.05.18

PETER AND THE WOLF

7pm

£22 (£15)

11

SIR LENNY HENRY WITH ROYAL BIRMINGHAM CONSERVATOIRE POPS ORCHESTRA

08.05.18

Not only will the festival see international stars grace the stage, but we will also focus on the rising stars and grass roots of the local music scene, as per the Conservatoire’s commitment to nurturing talent and providing a hub for performing arts in the city.

EMILY SUN (VIOLIN)

12.10pm

£12 (£10)

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MORE INFO AT WWW.BCU.AC.UK/OPENING-FESTIVAL

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Juan Pablo Honorato

THU 17 MAY

PETER DONOHOE MOZART PIANO CYCLE R O YA L B I R M I N G H A M C O N S E R VAT O I R E

7.30pm Concert Hall I n c o n j u n c t i o n w i t h G r e a te r B i r m i n g h a m C h a m b e r s o f C o m m e r c e

£20 (£15)*

COMING SOON: PART T WO

Mozart Sonata in C major K330 Mozart Fantasie in C minor K475 Mozart Sonata in A minor K310 ‘Sonate Dramatico’ Mozart Sonata in C major K309 Mozart Fantasie in D minor K397 Mozart Sonata in D major K311 Masterful pianist Peter Donohoe returns for the third of four all-Mozart recitals.

Part two of our Opening Festival kicks off in autumn 2018 with appearances from acclaimed baritone Roderick Williams, award-winning cellist Laura van der Heijden and the Festival of Children’s Literature featuring The Gruffalo Road Show with Julia Donaldson.

*3 for 2 offer.

Buy tickets for 2 Peter Donohoe Mozart recitals, and receive a ticket for the 3rd, free.

Peter Donohoe also appears at Royal Birmingham Conservatoire on 19 Apr and 13 June.

Many more acts to be announced via www.bcu.ac.uk/opening-festival soon. /RoyalBirmCons

COMING SOON

@BirmCons

TUE 20 – FRI 23 NOV

BIRMINGHAM INTERNATIONAL PIANO CHAMBER FESTIVAL Royal Birmingham Conservatoire

THU 17 MAY

NOCTURNAL AFTER JOHN DOWLAND: BRITTEN’S TREASURE FOR GUITAR 6pm Organ Studio

COMMUTER CONCERT R O YA L B I R M I N G H A M C O N S E R VAT O I R E

£5 (£2.50) I n c o n j u n c t i o n w i t h G r e a te r B i r m i n g h a m C h a m b e r s o f C o m m e r c e

Juan Pablo Honorato guitar This programme explores the development of original music for guitar through its colours and technique during the mid-20th century. In France and England, Roland Dyens and Benjamin Britten transformed and developed guitar music in individual ways while the works of Brazilian composer, Villa-Lobos, influenced both European styles.

ROYAL BIRMINGHAM CONSERVATOIRE, 200 JENNENS ROAD, BIRMINGHAM, B4 7XR

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The first Birmingham International Piano Chamber Music Competition takes place as part of the Piano Chamber Music Festival at Royal Birmingham Conservatoire.

Featuring: Katya Apekisheva, Esther Hoppe, Robin Ireland, Alice Neary, Christoph Richter, John Thwaites, Daniel Tong, London Bridge Trio, Gould Trio students of Royal Birmingham Conservatoire and more.

For more information, visit www.bcu.ac.uk/pianochamberfest18

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FRI 18 MAY

SAT 26 MAY

LUNCHTIMES @BMAG

THE MARIO LANZA OPERA PRIZE

12.30pm The Round Room, Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery

2.30pm Recital Hall

FREE ADMISSION

£10 (£8)

William Crawford guitar Emily Hopper harp

Prepare to be enthralled by the skill and virtuosity our musicians display as they compete to win this esteemed prize.

Programme includes Debussy, Paul Lewis, Calvin Harris and Frank Ocean.

Generously sponsored by the Mario Lanza Society, our undergraduate and postgraduate singers rise to the challenge of presenting two contrasting operatic arias.

SUN 20 MAY

YOUNG STRINGS PROJECT CONCERT 3pm Concert Hall

Catalogue d’Emojis

JUNIOR ARTISTS

£8 (£6) Director Lucy Akehurst

I n c o n j u n c t i o n w i t h G r e a te r B i r m i n g h a m C h a m b e r s o f C o m m e r c e

£22 (£15) Jian Wang and Jiaxin Lloyd Webber cellos Julian Lloyd Webber conductor

SAT 26 MAY R O YA L B I R M I N G H A M C O N S E R VAT O I R E

MON 21 MAY

8pm The Lab

KAPUSTIN, SCRIABIN

£12 (£10)

I n c o n j u n c t i o n w i t h G r e a te r B i r m i n g h a m C h a m b e r s o f C o m m e r c e

M I D DAY M U S I C

FREE ADMISSION Kuan Hua Li piano Yu-Syuan Li flute Fritz Chung cello Kapustin Trio for Flute, Cello and Piano Op.86

Scriabin Cinq Preludes pour Piano Op.16

SAT 26 MAY

CHAMBER MUSIC SATURDAYS

JIAN WANG, JIAXIN LLOYD WEBBER AND JULIAN LLOYD WEBBER WITH ORCHESTRA OF THE SWAN R O YA L B I R M I N G H A M C O N S E R VAT O I R E

CATALOGUE D’EMOJIS

Stefanos Politsakis piano

MON 28 MAY

2.30pm Concert Hall

Hear talented young players performing as the culmination of their time with the Junior Conservatoire Young Strings Project.

The project offers tuition to beginners as young as three years old. Teaching takes place both individually and in groups following the Suzuki method.

12.10pm Recital Hall

Kurt Rampton

Jian Wang

Created by Michael Wolters and Paul Norman Cobalt (Kate Halsall and Fumiko Miyachi) Paul Norman and Michael Wolters I usually travel by [railway car]. I want to see a [helicopter]. I need to go to a [tractor]. I have always wanted to go to a [Japanese castle]. I have booked a [desert island]. I came across a [satellite]. Tonight I’m leaving by [roller coaster]. I got lost in a [canoe]. The whole experience was very [horizontal traffic light]. We just wanted to watch the [sunrise].

THU 31 MAY

Elgar Serenade for Strings Op.20 Haydn Cello Concerto No.1 in C major Vivaldi Concerto for Two Cellos in G minor RV531 Elgar Introduction and Allegro for Strings Op.47

GOLDBERG VARIATIONS

Orchestra of the Swan presents a very special Bank Holiday Monday concert as they are joined by the exceptionally talented Jian Wang and Jiaxin Lloyd Webber with Julian Lloyd Webber taking up the baton as guest conductor.

Kurt Rampton organ

1.30pm Pre-concert talk

6pm Organ Studio

COMMUTER CONCERT

£8 (£6) JS Bach Goldberg Variations BWV 988 Be part of a metaphysical journey in a rare performance of JS Bach’s monumental Goldberg Variations. Performed on the organ, prepare to be ‘revived in spirit’.

Jiaxin Lloyd Webber

FRI 1 JUN

COFFEE, CAKE AND CADENZAS 1pm Piano Bar, New Alexandra Theatre

In this [ticket] event you will [headphone] and [eyes] [woman], [woman], [musical keyboard] and [bearded person], [bearded person] following Messiaen’s example of cataloguing [bird], [musical notes] and turn emojis into an evening of [musical score], [woman dancing] and all sorts of other [pita sandwich].

FREE ADMISSION

Please note that the Piano Bar is on the first floor of the venue with access via stairs only.

12pm Library of Birmingham FREE ADMISSION 18

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19

B I R M I N G H A M I N T E R N AT I O N A L

PIANO FESTIVAL I N C O N J U N C T I O N W I T H R OYA L B I R M I N G H A M C O N S E R VATO I R E C H A M B E R M U S I C F E S T I VA L MON 11 JUN

TUE 12 JUN

MIKHAIL KAZAKEVICH (PIANO)

THE FITZROY QUARTET

12.10pm Recital Hall

M I D DAY M U S I C

M I D DAY M U S I C

12.10pm Concert Hall £10 (£8)

A recent and hugely respected addition to Royal Birmingham Conservatoire’s Keyboard Faculty gives a programme based around Liszt transcriptions.

Beethoven String Quartets Op.18 No.3 & 4

JULIAN JACOBSON LECTURE RECITAL: ‘WALDSTEIN’ SONATA 3.30pm Recital Hall

Y O U N G A RT I S T R E C I TA L

7.30pm Concert Hall I n c o n j u n c t i o n w i t h G r e a te r B i r m i n g h a m C h a m b e r s o f C o m m e r c e

Paul Badura-Skoda

PAUL BADURA-SKODA (PIANO)

THE SYLVIA CLEAVER CHAMBER MUSIC PRIZE

7pm Concert Hall

4.30pm Recital Hall

Born in Vienna in 1927 and a pupil of Edwin Fischer, Paul Badura-Skoda comes from the heart of European culture.

It is an enormous privilege to welcome him here this week.

£15 (£12)

BBC RADIO 3 PIANO SHOWCASE £8 (£6) Domonkos Csabay piano Beethoven “Eroica” Variations Op.35 Luigi Carroccia piano Chopin Nocturne in B Op.62, No.1 Chopin Polonaise-Fantasy in A flat Op.61 Pascal Pascalev piano Skryabin Sonata No.9 Op.68 “Black Mass”

£20 (£15)*

Daniel Lebhardt piano

Peter Donohoe CBE, Vice-President of Royal Birmingham Conservatoire, celebrates his 65th birthday by concluding his Mozart Sonata Cycle using the Conservatoire’s new Bechstein Concert Grand Piano.

Mozart Sonata in C major K545 ‘Sonate Semplice’ Mozart Sonata in F major K533 Mozart Sonata in D major K576 ‘Hunt’ Mozart Adagio in B minor K540 Mozart Sonata in A major K331 ‘Turkish’

Bartók Piano Sonata (1926) Liszt Dante Sonata

*3 for 2 offer. Buy tickets for 2 Peter Donohoe Mozart

NATALIA TRULL (PIANO)

recitals, and receive a ticket for the 3rd, free.

Peter Donohoe also appears at Royal Birmingham Conservatoire on 19 Apr and 17 May.

CHEN SHUHUA (PIANO) & CHEN JIAFENG (VIOLIN)

THU 14 JUN

9.45pm Concert Hall

1pm Organ Studio

£10 (£8)

£8 (£6)

Chopin Barcarolle Op.60 Wanghua Chu Jasmine Fantasia & Two Folk Songs Beethoven Sonata for Piano and Violin No.1 in D major Beethoven Sonata for Piano and Violin No.7 in C minor

The internationally acclaimed Atéa Quintet is the foremost British Wind Quintet of their generation. As the Associate Ensemble in Residence at the Birmingham Conservatoire and Quintet in Residence at the Purcell School, they mentor some of the finest up and coming musicians in the country.

BOOK NOW VIA WWW.BCU.AC.UK/CONCERTS OR 0121 331 5909

Julian Jacobson concludes his Beethoven Sonata Lecture Recitals with the Appassionata.

7pm Concert Hall

EDWARD LEUNG, ANDREI IVANOV AND ROMAN KOSYAKOV 5pm Recital Hall

JULIAN JACOBSON LECTURE RECITAL: APPASSIONATA 2.30pm Concert Hall

£8 (£6)

R O YA L B I R M I N G H A M C O N S E R VAT O I R E

£5

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2pm Recital Hall

Y O U N G A RT I S T R E C I TA L

PETER DONOHOE MOZART PIANO CYCLE

2.30pm Recital Hall

The best chamber music ensembles in the Conservatoire compete for this coveted prize, awarded by the Birmingham Chamber Music Society.

SUSANNA BRAUN (PIANO)

£8 (£6)

JULIAN JACOBSON: LECTURE RECITAL: THE TEMPEST

£8 (£6)

THU 14 JUN

£5

FREE ADMISSION

Julian Jacobson, President of the Beethoven Piano Society of Europe, begins a Beethoven thread that runs through the Festivals, with the first of three Lecture Recitals on a single Beethoven piano sonata, The Tempest.

WED 13 JUN

THE ATEA WIND QUINTET

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BBC Radio 3 records the first showcase for exceptional pianists from Royal Birmingham Conservatoire who are all rising stars and competition winners.

FRI 15 JUN 7.30pm Concert Hall £15 (£12) Mozart Piano sonata a-moll K.310 Brahms 8 Klavierstucke Op.76 Chopin & Debussy 12 études Since winning the Silver Medal at the 1986 Tchaikovsky International Piano Competition, Natalia Trull has been a familiar figure throughout the world and is currently a Professor at the Moscow Conservatoire.

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MON 4 JUN

THU 14 – SAT 16 JUN

SCHUBERT, MASSON, CANGELOSI 12.10pm Recital Hall

MONTEVERDI: MADRIGALS OF WAR AND LOVE

FREE ADMISSION

Thu & Fri 7pm, Sat 2pm & 7pm, Crescent Theatre, Sheepcote St

Tzu-Jo Huang percussion

£16 (£13) Conductor Jeffrey Skidmore Director Matthew Sharp Vocalists from Royal Birmingham Conservatoire

Askell Masson Kim Casey Cangelosi Bad touch Keiko Abe The Wave

Monteverdi Madrigals of War and Love

Tim Smith piano Schubert 4 Impromptus Op.90

THU 7 JUN

COUPERIN SERIES RECITAL 6pm Organ Studio

COMMUTER CONCERT

£5 (£2.50)

With spell-binding intimacy, Father of Opera and Archetypal Troubadour - Claudio Monteverdi - spins epic tales of conquered hearts and lovelorn battlefields. In this staged production, iconic madrigals like Lamento della Ninfa and Tancredi e Clorinda weave together with lesser-known gems to create an Ariadne’s Thread of breath-taking music and compelling drama that traces a path to the core of what it is to love, fight, lose and overcome.

In the second of the Conservatoire’s year-long series of events celebrating the 350th year since Couperin’s birth, students from the Early Music, Vocal and Recorder departments perform his Premier concert royal, motets composés de l’ordre du Roy and pieces for one and two harpsichords from the 14th, 16th and 25th ordres.

MON 18 JUN

BCMG: NEW WORK R O YA L B I R M I N G H A M C O N S E R VAT O I R E

7.30pm The Lab I n c o n j u n c t i o n w i t h G r e a te r B i r m i n g h a m C h a m b e r s o f C o m m e r c e

£10 (£8) Programme to include pieces by; Susannah Self, Oliver Farrow, Hannah Liu, Ivan Cancialosi, Rob Roberts, Soul Zisso and Georgia Denham.

Birmingham Contemporary Music Group is one of the world’s foremost new music ensembles. Over three decades, the ensemble has commissioned over 170 pieces of music from the world’s finest composers and emerging international talent. BCMG also supports the next generation of exceptional young composers. In this special composer’s platform, the group performs the latest work from Royal Birmingham Conservatoire’s renowned composition department.

MON 18 JUN

ROYAL BIRMINGHAM CONSERVATOIRE CHAMBER CHOIR PERFORMS MACMILLAN AND GORECKI 7.30pm St Albans Church, Highgate FREE ADMISSION. Retiring collection.

OPEN DAY

James MacMillan Choral Sequence from St. John Passion, If ye love me, Hymn to the Blessed Sacrament, The Offered Christ, Sicut Cervus, Ave verum corpus, O dignissima Christi sponsa Domnine non secumdum peccata nostra Henryk Gorecki Church Songs for Holy Week and Easter

THU 13 JUN

Discover what Royal Birmingham Conservatoire has to offer.

This programme will be recorded by the Chamber Choir for Somm Recordings the following week. Seven of MacMillan’s works will be first recordings, and the choir gave the world première of If ye love me in March.

10am - 4pm

SAT 16 JUN

Our Open Days are designed to give you a real insight into student life and involve introductory talks, guided tours, open rehearsals, performances and chances to meet staff and students.

JUNIOR CHAMBER MUSIC CONCERT 7pm Recital Hall £8 (£6)

For further information, please visit www.bcu.ac.uk/conservatoire/opendays or call 0121 331 5901 or email conservatoire@bcu.ac.uk 22

JUNIOR ARTISTS

BOOK NOW VIA WWW.BCU.AC.UK/CONCERTS OR 0121 331 5909

Soloists, chamber musicians, choirs and orchestras from the Junior Conservatoire join together in a fitting finale to the end of term.

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MON 18 & 19 JUN

SIR ARNOLD BAX CELEBRATION Royal Birmingham Conservatoire We focus on the music of Sir Arnold Bax, the English composer, poet and author known for his prolific output.

MON 18 JUN

BAXFEST!

BAX

3pm-8pm Concert Hall M I D DAY M U S I C

12.10pm Recital Hall FREE ADMISSION

A selection of Piano Solos and Bax’s Clarinet Sonata, performed

by Joe Wallace (clarinet) and Veronika Tabakova (piano).

TUE 19 JUN

£10 (£8) In a BAXFEST! Marathon, hear more piano solos, the great Nonet and Elegiac Trio, the third Violin Sonata and Ballad with special guests Lucia Veintimilla (violin) and Greta Astedt (piano). This epic concert also features The Artume Quartet performing Bax’s String Quartet in G major and world première performances of rare songs, all leavened with poetry readings of WB Yeats.

ALEXANDER BAILLIE (CELLO) 12.10pm Concert Hall

M I D DAY M U S I C

£10 (£8) Alexander Baillie cello John Thwaites piano An extremely rare opportunity to hear both of the major Cello Sonatas by Bax… that in E flat minor and F sharp minor, Legend.

Alexander Baillie and John Thwaites

“

AS IF WRITTEN IN BLOOD, T H E S E A R E PA S S I O N AT E , FOCUSED, FULL-BLOODED READINGS. ALEXANDER BAILLIE AND JOHN THWAITES INVEST EACH WORK WITH T H E P O W E R O F U T T E R B E L I E F.

Lucia Veintimilla and Greta Astedt

BBC MUSIC MAGAZINE

”

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WED 20 JUN

Jennifer Walshe

MUSSORGSKY MEETS MOZART!

FRI 22 – SUN 24 JUN

MOOG SOUND LAB

7.30pm Concert Hall

Nitin Sawhney R O YA L B I R M I N G H A M C O N S E R VAT O I R E

I n c o n j u n c t i o n w i t h G r e a te r B i r m i n g h a m C h a m b e r s o f C o m m e r c e

As part of this year’s Supersonic Festival, The Moog Sound Lab will be hosted by Royal Birmingham Conservatoire. This unique resource is a physical manifestation of the intersection between music, art and technology, providing opportunities for students, staff and artists to engage.

£10 (£8) Conductor Ian Porthouse Royal Birmingham Conservatoire Brass Band Tredegar Town Band Enjoy some of the landmark compositions and arrangements from the rich heritage of brass music, dating from 1786 to 2018.

Programme includes arrangements of works by Berlioz, Tallis, Mozart and Mussorgsky alongside original works.

See www.supersonicfestival.com www.moogmusic.com/sight-and-sound/sound_lab for more information.

FRI 22 JUN

THALLEIN ENSEMBLE + JENNIFER WALSHE R O YA L B I R M I N G H A M C O N S E R VAT O I R E

6.30pm Recital Hall I n c o n j u n c t i o n w i t h G r e a te r B i r m i n g h a m C h a m b e r s o f C o m m e r c e

THU 21 JUN

£12 (£10)

YU-TZU KUNG (PERCUSSION)

Conductor Daniele Rosina Thallein Ensemble

6pm Recital Hall

COMMUTER CONCERT

Dave Maric Trilogy Kevin Puts And Legions will Rise Alyssa Weinberg Table talk Gershwin arr. Locke/Keezer Summertime

Jennifer Walshe is without doubt one of the most original compositional voices to emerge in the last 20 years. In 2000 Jennifer won the Kranichsteiner Musikpreis at the Internationale Ferienkurse für Neue Musik in Darmstadt, and since then, her work has been performed and broadcast all over the world by every leading ensemble and orchestra. Since 2007 Walshe has developed Grúpat, a project in which she has assumed twelve different alter egos, whilst her most recent project, Historical Documents of the Irish Avant-Garde, involved the creation of a fictional history of the musical avant-garde in Ireland. This history spans 187 years, and is housed at aisteach.org.

This eclectic programme includes solo percussion with electronics, a percussion duo piece, a trio for violin, clarinet and marimba and a special focus on jazz music.

Thallein is delighted to present work spanning the whole of Jennifer’s career alongside the work of composition students Hugo Bell and Yfat Soul Zisso.

R O YA L B I R M I N G H A M C O N S E R VAT O I R E

£5 (£2.50) I n c o n j u n c t i o n w i t h G r e a te r B i r m i n g h a m C h a m b e r s o f C o m m e r c e

Yu-Tzu Kung percussion Also featuring: Anton Clarke-Butler clarinet Begum Bensu Ünsal violin Gloria Yehilevsky percussion

SAT 23 JUN

JUNIOR WIND ORCHESTRA & CHORAL CONCERT 7pm Concert Hall

SAT 23 JUN JUNIOR ARTISTS

NITIN SAWHNEY: INDIA AND ME R O YA L B I R M I N G H A M C O N S E R VAT O I R E

£8 (£6)

7pm Recital Hall

Enjoy an engaging programme of music from talented young students from the Junior Conservatoire Symphony Orchestra and Wind Orchestra.

£25

I n c o n j u n c t i o n w i t h G r e a te r B i r m i n g h a m C h a m b e r s o f C o m m e r c e

Recent recipient of the Ivor Novello Lifetime Achievement Award, acclaimed artist Nitin Sawhney copresents an evening of music and memories with London theatre company Tara Arts. India and Me features Aref Durvesh on tabla and vocalist Eva Stone.

From coincidences that are barely explicable by conventional western thought or logic, to an array of events which include working with some of the world’s most famous artists, meetings with inspiring international icons and a host of personal memories/ anecdotes from a career that spans 30 years in the music industry, India and Me is delivered through Sawhney’s unique prism, performance and perspective of music as a universal language.

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27

Jess Gillam

Barry Wordsworth

PARTIALLY SCREAMING 12.10pm Recital Hall FREE ADMISSION Millennial Percussion

FRI 29 JUN

Graham Fitkin piano/synthesizer Ruth Wall piano/synthesizer

BARRY WORDSWORTH WITH THE ROYAL BIRMINGHAM CONSERVATOIRE SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA

Graham Fitkin Partially Screaming (English première) Graham Fitkin (arr. Phil James) Flak Steve Reich Sextet

TUE 26 JUN

FITKINWALL

JESS GILLAM (SAXOPHONE)

6pm Recital Hall

12.10pm Recital Hall

R O YA L B I R M I N G H A M C O N S E R VAT O I R E

7pm Concert Hall I n c o n j u n c t i o n w i t h G r e a te r B i r m i n g h a m C h a m b e r s o f C o m m e r c e

M I D DAY M U S I C R O YA L B I R M I N G H A M C O N S E R VAT O I R E

Graham Fitkin Moog synthesizer and electronics Ruth Wall harps

In 2016, at the age of 17, Jess made history as the first saxophonist to win the Woodwind Final of BBC Young Musician. She then reached the Grand Final at London’s Barbican Hall, and performed Michael Nyman’s Where the Bee Dances with the BBC Symphony Orchestra conducted by Mark Wigglesworth to widespread critical acclaim.

R O YA L B I R M I N G H A M C O N S E R VAT O I R E

I n c o n j u n c t i o n w i t h G r e a te r B i r m i n g h a m C h a m b e r s o f C o m m e r c e

Acclaimed composer-pianist, Graham Fitkin joins the sublime and multifaceted harpist, Ruth Wall for an exhilarating day of Graham’s music.

Using two harps, moog voyager, autoharp and synthesizers, FitkinWall will perform extracts from Lost, in addition to Steve Reich’s ground-breaking masterpieces, Sextet and Harp Phase.

Ruth has performed with musicians such as Goldfrapp, John Lunn, Will Gregory Moog Ensemble, BBC Orchestras, Kathryn Tickell, Nolwenn Leroy whilst featuring on music for films such as Ben Wheatley’s Sightseers and BBC’s The White Queen. Graham has composed for Tokyo Symphony Orchestra, New York City Ballet, BBC Proms, ROH, Yo-Yo Ma and many others.

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£12 (£10)

Graham Fitkin Lost (extracts) Steve Reich Harp Phase

MON 25 JUN

FITKINWALL

£5 (£2.50)

HARD FAIRY

I n c o n j u n c t i o n w i t h G r e a te r B i r m i n g h a m C h a m b e r s o f C o m m e r c e

8pm Recital Hall £10 (£8)

THU 28 JUN

Royal Birmingham Conservatoire Saxophone Department Royal Birmingham Conservatoire Harp Department

PENELOPE APPLEYARD (SOPRANO)

Ruth Wall harp Eleanor Turner harp

6pm Recital Hall

Programme to include: Graham Fitkin Stub Graham Fitkin Hard Fairy Graham Fitkin Gate Graham Fitkin Jim and Pam and Pam and Jim Graham Fitkin Spill

‘Blessed with a voice of pristine clarity’, Penelope Appleyard is becoming known for the purity and agility of her voice and her stylish interpretations of historical repertoire.

BOOK NOW VIA WWW.BCU.AC.UK/CONCERTS OR 0121 331 5909

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£15 (£10) Programme to include: Michael Wolters There are more of them than us – a Queer Concerto for Nine Saxophones and Orchestra Stravinsky Firebird We are delighted to welcome back Barry Wordsworth to conduct our end-of-year concert, following his thrilling performance of Verdi’s Requiem at the closing concert of Adrian Boult Hall two years ago.

The programme tonight will start with a new piece by Deputy Head of Composition Michael Wolters, a queer concerto for nine saxophones and orchestra, plus ballet repertoire including music from Stravinsky’s thrilling Firebird.

COMMUTER CONCERT

£5 (£2.50)

Penelope graduated with Distinction from Birmingham Conservatoire and now performs internationally as a soloist and consort singer, particularly in the field of early music.

SAT 30 JUN

END OF TERM CONCERT 7pm Concert Hall

JUNIOR ARTISTS

£8 (£6) Soloists, choirs and orchestras from the Junior Conservatoire join together in a fitting finale to the end of term.

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BIRMINGH A M CONSERVAT OIRE THANKS ITS SPONSORS, FUNDERS, PARTNERS AND SUPPORTERS SUPPORTERS

Avid John Avins Trust Royal Birmingham Conservatoire Association Birmingham Conservatoire Trust Birmingham School of Music Centenary Appeal Fund Classical Guitar Centre Denis Matthews Memorial Trust DfE (Music & Dance Scheme) DMC McDonald Foundation European Culture Programme EMI Music Sound Foundation Ernest Cook Trust Florian Leonhard Fine Violins Hammerson plc Leverhulme Trust Mark Hopton Rowlands Trust Steve Elliott The Michael Bishop Foundation The Schubert Ensemble of London The Tillett Trust Thomas Riebl Tony Brookes Enriching Encounters Fund Tony Davis and Darren Qualls The Wolfson Foundation

EVENT FUNDERS

Britten Pears Foundation Hinrichsen Foundation Holst Foundation Kingdom of the Netherlands PRS Foundation for New Music RVW Trust

MEMBERSHIP

Association of European Conservatoires Conservatoires UK Incorporated Society of Musicians

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PARTNERS

Armonico Consort Aston Performing Arts Academy Birmingham Contemporary Music Group Birmingham Hippodrome Birmingham Philharmonic Orchestra Birmingham Royal Ballet City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra Coventry Music Dudley Performing Arts Dudley International Piano Competition Ex Cathedra Gloucestershire Music In Telford and Stoke Jazzlines Leamington Music mac Birmingham Music Education Council Music for Youth Musicians’ Union Orchestra of the Swan Perry Beeches II Quench Arts Royal Birmingham Conservatoire Partnership Schools Centre for Young Musicians, London Royal College of Organists Royal Shakespeare Company sampad Second Cup Coffee Services for Education, Music Service Sheffield Music Hub Sound Futures South Birmingham College Stan’s Cafe The Rowlands Trust Town Hall Symphony Hall Tredegar Town Band Welsh National Opera Wolverhampton Music Hub

BOOK NOW VIA WWW.BCU.AC.UK/CONCERTS OR 0121 331 5909

HOW TO FIND US HOW TO FIND US

Royal Birmingham Conservatoire is situated at 200 Jennens Road, Birmingham B4 7XR, opposite Aston University and behind Millennium Point.

PARKING

There is a multi-storey car park owned and managed by Birmingham City Council situated adjacent to Millennium Point.

The car park entrance is on Howe Street off Jennens Road.

If you are using a sat nav please use the postcode B4 7AP.

BUS ROUTES

The 14, 55, 66 and 94 all go from Priory Queensway (B&M Bargains) and stop on Jennens Road. There is a stop almost opposite Royal Birmingham Conservatoire with a pedestrian crossing nearby.

ACCESSIBILITY

Wheelchair users are entitled to concessionary priced tickets with a complimentary companion seat. Guide Dogs are welcome at all Royal Birmingham Conservatoire venues.

If you wish to bring a Guide Dog or wheelchair, please let the Events Office know by calling 0121 331 5909.

PLEASE NOTE that listings are correct at time of going to print.

BIRMINGH A M CONSERVAT OIRE ASSOCIATION Registered Charity No 1067676 Support the Musicians of Tomorrow - Join us Today Royal Birmingham Conservatoire Association is a voluntary organisation supporting the work of the students at Royal Birmingham Conservatoire. Our international membership consists of alumni, current and former members of staff, distinguished Honorary Members including the President of Royal Birmingham Conservatoire, Sir Simon Rattle OM CBE DUniv, parents, friends and all those wishing to support our objectives.

Membership is open to everyone who wishes to support the work of the students at Royal Birmingham Conservatoire.

The students increasingly need your help in these days of global financial hardship. Please refer to our website www.bcu.ac.uk/conservatoire/bca to see the benefits offered to RBCA Members and join us online or by requesting an application form from RBCA Hon Secretary John Smith 0121 476 4741 / johnsmithhrs359@gmail.com

We are a Registered Charity which is independent from the Conservatoire. Our work includes the joint production with the Conservatoire of a twice-yearly promotional magazine Fanfare, financial support for the CBSO Learning and Participation Programme and to individual students for a variety of needs (such as instrumental purchase and repair, travelling and living expenses, and masterclasses), the annual Undergraduate Welcome and biennial Alumni and Staff Reunions.

SIGN UP TO OUR MAILING LIST AT WWW.BCU.AC.UK/CONSERVATOIRE

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WHAT’S ON SAT 23 JUN NI T IN S AW HNE Y: INDI A & ME

0121 331 5909 | BCU.AC.UK/CONCERTS /RoyalBirmCons

@BirmCons

Birmingham City University