New Blackmore Vale, October 1, 2021 75
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Arts & Entertainment
HONOUR: Elmira Watts
Elmira’s award LEGION DATE: Guy Fletcher and PJ Wright are at Blandford RBL tonight (Friday)
Guy and PJ at Wessex Acoustic this evening Tonight, Friday, October 1 sees another night of fabulous live music at Wessex Acoustic in the Royal British Legion in Blandford from 7.30pm. Making a return visit to
Blandford are club patrons Guy Fletcher and PJ Wright, the driving force from folkrock band Little Johnny England, and currently enjoying great success with the latest folk roots super
band, TRADarrr. Supporting Guy and PJ are Somerset based duo, Mitchell and Vincent. Tickets at £15 each must be prebooked by calling Kathy on 01202 732239.
Riyad’s trio of appearances Award-winning pianist Riyad Nicolas is to appear at three local venues next month. Born in Aleppo, Syria, in 1989, Riyad gave his first appearance with an orchestra there at the age of ten. He first came to Britain in 2005 on a scholarship to study at the Purcell School of Music and later, the Royal Academy of Music and the Royal College of Music, collecting several prizes and distinctions in the process. Since his student days, Riyad has won prizes at international piano competitions and received notable awards in the UK and several European countries. Beside his performances at prestigious venues in London – Royal Albert Hall, Wigmore Hall, Barbican – Riyad has performed in many countries including France, Spain, Germany, and the USA as a
CONCERTS: Riyad Nicholas
soloist with orchestras, as a recitalist and chamber music player at numerous festivals and music societies. Riyad has received plaudits from the likes of Daniel Barenboim, Vladimir Ashkenazy and Uchida Mitsuko and warm reviews from the Beethoven Piano Society of Europe and the International Piano magazine. The music of Franz
Schubert, including two sonatas, forms the core of Riyad’s solo programme with additional music by Liszt - transcriptions of two Schubert songs - and an Étude by Scriabin. Through music Riyad has been promoting peace and raising awareness for the plights of the Syrian people and performing for many organizations such as UNHCR, the International Rescue Committee, the Arab British Centre, Said and Asfari Foundation. Riyad will play at Bridport Arts Centre at 11.30am on November 5, then the same evening at Ilminster Arts Centre at 8pm, followed by The Dance House, Crewkerne at 7.30pm the next day. n facebook.com/Pianist RiyadNicolas To book go to concertsinthewest.org.
Wincanton photographer Elmira Watts has been awarded Self-Commissioned Commercial Photographer of The Year. Awarded in the South West & Cotswolds with the British Institute of Professional Photography in their yearly regional image competition. The British Institute of Professional Photography which is the leading qualifying body for professional photographers celebrates the very best in UK & international photography with its awards, highlighting some of the most creative emerging talent. n elmirawatts.co.uk info@elmirawatts.co.uk Instagram: @elmirawatts
Singers’ Requiem The Athenaeum Singers are to stage Faure’s Requiem and items of European sacred music at two concerts on Saturday, October 16. Timothy Coleman is conductor, with Lucy Mellor as soprano, Meilir Jones as bass/baritone, Simon Dinsdale on the organ and Emily Harris on harp. There will be performances at 4.30pm and 7pm at The Minster Church of St Denys, Warminster BA12 8PQ. Tickets are £10, from tickets@athenaeumsingers.
