Birmingham Conservatoire - Autumn Concert Diary 2013

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A comprehensive schedule of events at Birmingham Conservatoire

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September to December 2013

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Birmingham Conservatoire has a varied range of rooms for hire to suit almost any occasion, from meetings, conferences and exhibitions to concerts, recitals, rehearsals and auditions. Facilities include the Adrian Boult Hall (520 seats) and Recital Hall (150 seats). We can also arrange catering, conference equipment, technical requirements and a number of musical instruments for hire. Our friendly staff will be happy to discuss your requirements and arrange to show you around our facilities.

To request a copy of our Halls for Hire brochure or to make an appointment, please contact the Concert Office on 0121 331 5909/7212 or email us at bhamcons.concerts@bcu.ac.uk. You can also contact us via the Quick Query form, which can be found on the Birmingham Conservatoire website: www.bcu.ac.uk/conservatoire, under Facilities & Services/Venue Hire.

Holly Thomas (BMus Jazz Year 2), Arts and Business Awards sponsored by Jaguar Landrover, Birmingham Town Hall, 7th October 2010. Photo by Luke Unsworth.

If you are seeking to enhance an event with music, Birmingham Conservatoire is proud to offer professional and talented student and graduate musicians for events including corporate functions, weddings, charity dinners, ceremonies, parties and public recitals. We have a range of classical or jazz ensembles and soloists to enhance your event with superb live music!

Our friendly and efficient External Engagements team will help you to select an ensemble and programme that will make your special event a memorable occasion, both for you and for your guests or potential clients.

To find out more about booking our performers and details of our competitive prices, please contact our External Engagements Team (T: 0121 331 6901 / E: external.engagements@bcu.ac.uk / www.bcu.ac.uk/conservatoire)

‘Our guests really enjoyed the musicians, they were very professional – a wonderful performance’ Pauline Jones, Hirer of Louis Armstrong Tribute Group (student and graduate jazz ensemble) for surprise birthday party

‘It was a truly remarkable performance and one that we shall treasure forever’ Robin Neill, Hirer of Georgiev String

Recital Hall

Quartet for concert performance

Board Room

Welcome

Christopher Morley about the Symphony Orchestra concert on 18 October, and again on 22 November to hear Head of Composition Joe Cutler discuss the Thallein event with Richard Ayres.

Welcome to the Autumn Concert Diary at Birmingham Conservatoire.

The success of our summer programme means that we have had a challenge keeping the momentum going as we move into autumn; a challenge that has been risen to with another exciting season on the horizon…

Introducing a new Public Masterclass Programme, we are proud to welcome a number of high-profile, international artists to Birmingham Conservatoire to perform a programme of music in the Tuesday lunchtime Performance Platform concert series, followed by an early evening public masterclass. The inaugural concert and masterclass will be performed by charismatic and virtuoso violist Maxim Rysanov accompanied by Italian legend Fabio Bidini (29 October); world-renowned Russian pianist, Andrei Gavrilov, will take to the Adrian Boult Hall stage on 3 December, only a few months after his inspiring performance in Manasterly Palace, Cairo; concluding the autumn Public Masterclass Programme on 10 December will be British cellist Alexander Baillie, master of both classical and contemporary repertoire. We are also honoured to welcome Tine Thing Helseth, the young leading trumpet soloist from Norway, who will present a masterclass on 5 November.

In a season of new ventures, we are pleased to announce the introduction of pre-concert talks to our Friday night orchestral concerts. Join us in the Arena Foyer, free of charge, to hear conductor Michael Seal talk to the Birmingham Post's page 2

Alongside these new events, our talented students continue to perform to exceptionally high standards. Highlights for the Autumn term include the debut concert of newly appointed Junior Fellows, the Eblana Trio (28 November); the annual Opera Scenes (5 – 7 December) – an evening showcasing well-loved scenes from opera as portrayed by some of the best singers in our vocal department; and the Pops Orchestra, back by popular demand, playing us into Christmas for the end of term concert (13 December).

As always, Birmingham Conservatoire is proud to act as a venue for a number of external performers and organisations. This season we are supporting the spirit and musical clout of Birmingham with performances by Birmingham Classical Players (22 September), Birmingham Philharmonic Orchestra (13 October & 8 December), Birmingham Icknield Male Voice Choir (19 October), Birmingham Bach Choir (23 November) and Phoenix Singers Birmingham (21 December).

Finally, in celebration of the arts, we are exceptionally excited to be hosting The National Federation of Children’s Book Groups Festival of Children’s Literature on 9 November - a day to explore stories and music and meet the very best in children’s literature, including James Mayhew and former Children’s Laureate Michael Morpurgo.

We look forward to seeing you at our events, and, as always, we are extremely grateful to you, our loyal audience.

David Saint Principal Birmingham Conservatoire

Contents September

Wed 16

CBSO Pre Concert Showcase: Birmingham Conservatoire Symphony Orchestra

15

Thu 17

Beyond Classical: K’antu Ensemble

16

Fri 18

Friday Orchestral Series Pre Concert Talk: Christopher Morley & Michael Seal

16

Fri 18

Friday Orchestral Series: Birmingham Conservatoire Symphony Orchestra – From Europe’s Exotic East

16

Sat 19

Birmingham Icknield Male Voice Choir – Annual Concert

17

Wed 11 Thu 12 Fri 13 Tue 17 Wed 18 Sun 22 Mon 23

Birmingham International Film Society Birmingham International Film Society Jazzlines present Magnus Öström Birmingham International Film Society Birmingham International Film Society Birmingham Classical Players Inaugural Concert Monday Showcase

7 7 8 7 7 9 9

Mon 21

Monday Showcase

17

Tue 24

Performance Platform: Jack McNeill (clarinet) & David Quigley (piano)

9

Mon 21

Frontiers Series: Composers’ Platform with special guest Garuti

17

Thu 26 Sat 28 Mon 30

Organ Recital: Adrian Partington A Touch of Basil 2013 Monday Showcase

10 10 10

Tue 22

Performance Platform: Andrew King (tenor), Elizabeth Pallett (theorbo) & Martin Perkins (harpsichord & organ)

17

Tue 22

Frontiers Series Jazz Platform: Birmingham Conservatoire Jazz Orchestra's Mingus Big Band

18

Thu 24

BCMS Chamber Music Series: Commuter Concert with Robin Ireland (viola), John Thwaites (piano) & Conservatoire Students

18

Sun 27 Mon 28

Cello Day Monday Showcase

19 20

Tue 29

Performance Platform: Maxim Rysanov (viola) & Fabio Bidini (piano)

20

Tue 29 Tue 29 Wed 30 Wed 30

Public Masterclass with Fabio Bidini (piano) Frontiers Series: The Workers' Union Ensemble Public Masterclass with Fabio Bidini (piano) Public Masterclass with Maxim Rysanov (viola)

21 21 21 22

Thu 31

Birmingham Small Ensemble Series: Recital with DuoSax

22

October Tue 1 Tue 1 Mon 7 Mon 7

Performance Platform: Robin Ireland (viola) Frontiers Series: Legacies in Technology Monday Showcase Organ Recital: David Saint

11 11 12 12

Tue 8

Performance Platform: Philip Handy (cello) & Robert Markham (piano)

12

Tue 8 Sun 13 Mon 14 Tue 15 Tue 15

Frontiers Series: The Clerks - Tales from Babel Birmingham Philharmonic Orchestra: Wagner & Verdi Monday Showcase Performance Platform: Philip Martin (piano) Research Seminar Series: Dr Liz Johnson

13 13 14 14 15

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Sun 3 Sun 3 Mon 4 Tue 5

Double Bass Day The Nayler Passion Monday Showcase Performance Platform: Chuen-An Chern (piano)

23 24 24 24

Tue 5

Research Seminar Series: Dr Shirley Thompson & Prof. Graham Sadler

25

Tue 5 Tue 5 Sat 9

Public Masterclass with Tine Thing Helseth (trumpet) Frontiers Series: The Philip Bates Prize 2013 Arnie Somogyi Mingus Project

25 26 26

Sat 9

The Federation of Children’s Book Groups – Children’s Literature Festival

27

Wed 13 Thu 14 Thu 14

Prizes & Competitions Series: The Cecil Drew Oratorio Prize Beyond Classical: Gwynt Trio Birmingham Small Ensemble Series: Recorder Showcase

28 28 28

Fri 15

Friday Orchestral Series: Birmingham Conservatoire Wind Orchestra – French Giants

29

Sun 17

National Barbershop Quartet Contest

29

Tue 19

Jazzlines & Frontiers Series present Noszferatu vs Schlippenbach Trio

30

Tue 26 Tue 26 Wed 27

Research Seminar Series: Dr Roy Howat Frontiers Series: Composers’ Platform Birmingham Small Ensemble Series: Liederabend

34 34 34

Thu 28

BCMS Chamber Music Series: Commuter Concert with The Eblana String Trio

35

Fri 29

Friday Orchestral Series: Birmingham Conservatoire Brass Band – Secret Story

35

December

Thu 21

Birmingham Small Ensemble Series: K’antu Ensemble

30

Fri 22

Friday Orchestral Series Pre-Concert Talk: Joe Cutler and Richard Ayers

Mon 2 Tue 3 Tue 3 Thu 5 Thu 5 Thu 5 Fri 6 Sat 7 Sat 7 Sun 8 Mon 9 Mon 9

31

Tue 10

Performance Platform: Alexander Baillie (cello) & John Thwaites (piano)

40

Fri 22

Prizes & Competitions Series: The Beryl Chempin Beethoven Prize for Pianists

31

Fri 22

Friday Orchestral Series: Thallein Ensemble – Iconoclasts & Mavericks

31

Sat 23 Sat 23 Sun 24 Mon 25 Tue 26 Tue 26

Birmingham Junior Conservatoire Chamber Music Concert Birmingham Bach Choir: Symphonies of Song 3DOM Autumn Sharing Monday Showcase Performance Platform: Coffee Concert with Bardolino Performance Platform: The Schubert Ensemble

31 32 32 32 33 33

Tue 10 Tue 10 Wed 11 Thu 12

Public Masterclass with Alexander Baillie (cello) Frontiers Series Jazz Platform: New Generation Small Band Jazz The Four Seasons: Musical & Amicable Society Beyond Classical: The Eblana String Trio

40 40 41 41

Thu 12

Birmingham Small Ensemble Series: Guitar Chamber Music Concert

42

Fri 13

Friday Orchestral Series: Birmingham Conservatoire Repertoire and Pops Orchestras – Nursery Rhymes & Entertainment

42

Sat 21

Phoenix Singers – Christmas Cracker Concert

43

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Monday Showcase Performance Platform: Andrei Gavrilov (piano) Public Masterclass with Andrei Gavrilov (piano) CBSO Pre Concert Showcase: Fan Yu (piano) and Lucy Chang (piano) Birmingham Small Ensemble Series: Early Music Showcase Opera Scenes Opera Scenes Birmingham Junior Conservatoire End of Term Concert Opera Scenes Birmingham Philharmonic Orchestra: A Little Light Music Carol Concert Melody Music Birmingham Christmas Concert

36 36 37 37 37 38 38 38 38 39 39 39

www.bcu.ac.uk/conservatoire

November

Concert Series Amongst the many wonderful and varied concerts featured within our programme, the Conservatoire concert diary includes a range of regular series: THE MONDAY SHOWCASE SERIES: Escape the hustle and bustle and beat away those Monday blues with this series of FREE weekly lunchtime concerts. With an established appreciative audience this set of concerts gives an excellent opportunity for students to give first performances of demanding repertoire, and provides a weekly snapshot of the exciting work being undertaken by Birmingham Conservatoire students. If you are new to jazz or classical music and wish to listen to live performances then this is also the ideal concert series for you.

Concerts start at 1pm and last for approximately 1 hour See pages 9, 10, 12, 14, 17, 20, 24, 32 & 36

PERFORMANCE PLATFORM AND PUBLIC MASTERCLASS SERIES: Taking place each Tuesday, our Performance Platform allows you to escape any stresses of the day and enjoy stunning lunchtime concerts created and presented by our leading musicians: namely our postgraduate students, ensembles in residence, junior

fellows and tutors, interspersed by visits from leading professional artists throughout the year.

New for the autumn season we are delighted to be incorporating concerts and public masterclasses delivered by leading international artists into this series.

Tickets for the Performance Platform are FREE to audiences from the week's Monday Showcase (show your Monday programme to gain free entry) – just a little gift from us so that you can enjoy two concerts each week at no expense! If you’ve not been able to join us on the Monday, tickets are still only £6 (£3.50 concessions) and there are discounted tickets for those who want to attend both the concerts and public masterclasses.

Concerts start at 1.05pm and last for approximately 55 minutes. Masterclasses take place in the early evening See pages 9, 11, 12, 14, 17, 20-22, 24, 25, 33, 36-37 & 40

FRONTIERS SERIES: If you are interested in hearing the latest music and seeing work that no one has seen before,

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our Frontiers series is for you. In recent years our composition, music technology and jazz departments have nurtured some of the hottest talent on the British and European music stage and this is where it all started.

Featuring guest performers and composers, as well as our student performers and composers, this series explores the vast world of contemporary music both acoustically and electronically. It is guaranteed that you will experience the newest music and hottest talent around.

Concerts take place on a Tuesday evening and start at 7.30pm See pages 11, 13, 17, 18, 21, 26, 34 & 40

BCMS CHAMBER MUSIC SERIES: Chamber music holds a special place within Birmingham Conservatoire and throughout our history we have had links with some of the finest musicians working in the field of chamber music.

We are very honoured to have been able to take over and secure the future of the Birmingham Chamber Music Society concert series, after the sad decision to wind the venerable Society down in 2012. This series of commuter concerts highlights up-and-coming musicians from the Conservatoire as well as internationally renowned ensembles.

Concerts start at 6.00pm on the last Thursday of the month from October, and they last for approximately 55 minutes See pages 18 & 35

FRIDAY ORCHESTRAL SERIES: Featuring the larger ensembles here at the Conservatoire, the Friday Orchestral Series provides audience members with a journey into large scale repertoire. These concerts attract a loyal following and often feature soloists who are recent graduates or studying in their final year or as a postgraduate. These concerts often highlight a particular composer or theme and are the perfect way to relax and unwind at the end of the working week.

Concerts take place on various Fridays throughout the term and last for between one to two hours See pages 16, 29, 31, 35 & 42

BIRMINGHAM SMALL ENSEMBLE SERIES: Contrasting with our Friday Orchestral Series, the Small Ensemble Series is the platform where the smaller ensembles and departments within the Conservatoire perform the repertoire they have been working on. These concerts are a wonderful way to explore the sounds of instruments such as guitar, recorder and harp, in an intimate concert setting.

Concerts start at 7.30/7.45pm on various Thursdays throughout the term See pages 22, 28, 30, 34, 37 & 42

RESEARCH SEMINAR SERIES: We are delighted to be introducing a programme of research seminars into our public events programme this autumn, providing you with a stimulating insight into a range of academic topics.

Seminars take place on Tuesday afternoons at 3.30pm on various dates throughout the term See pages 15, 25, 34

PRIZES & COMPETITIONS SERIES: Observe captivating performances and witness the thrill and anticipation as our students compete to win a range of esteemed prizes and awards.

Concerts take place on various days and times See pages 28 & 31

CBSO PRE-CONCERT SHOWCASE SERIES: As part of our close relationship with THSH and the CBSO, each term our Symphony Orchestra and a selection of our elite pianists present free showcases in the magnificent setting of Symphony Hall, as a precursor to the CBSO’s concert that evening. Each of our showcases reflects the CBSO’s 20|20 programming stream, where compositions that first saw the light of day a century ago are revisited. These events are now firmly established as highlights within the musical offerings of the academic term.

See pages 15 & 37

BEYOND CLASSICAL: Join us for a series of free gigs that redefine the rules, taking you beyond the concert hall into the laid-back setting of Symphony Hall bar. Sample sonic delights with Birmingham’s rising stars as they guide you through stunning pieces, from the classics to the cutting edge. Grab a drink, have a chat and enjoy the music.

In association with Town Hall / Symphony Hall.

Concerts take place on the second or third Thursday of the month at 5.30pm See pages 16, 28 & 41

EXTERNAL ARTISTS: At Birmingham Conservatoire we value our relationship with a varied range of organisations from across Birmingham, the UK, and aboard and it is always a pleasure to welcome them to Conservatoire for their concerts and events.

Concerts take place on various days and times See pages 7, 8, 9, 10, 13, 17, 24, 27, 29, 32, 39, 41 & 43

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SEPTEMBER

WED 11, THU 12, TUE 17, WED 18

BIRMINGHAM INTERNATIONAL FILM SOCIETY PRESENTS CHILE 40 YEARS ON – A SEASON OF FILMS ABOUT CHILE 11/9/73 Before the dramatic events of September 11 2001 came the first 9/11...

To mark the 40th anniversary of Pinochet's brutal military coup in Chile on 11 September 1973, Chile 40 Years On is a short season of films, documentaries and dramas featuring live musical performances, introductions, talks and post-screening panel discussions with Chilean exiles, academics, filmmakers and musicians.

There will be two screenings each evening. For full details of the programme, please go to: birmingham-film.org 6:00pm (6:30pm – Tue 17), Recital Hall £4.50 (£3.50) per film £8 (£6) for both screenings Tickets available on the door

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FRI 13

JAZZLINES PRESENT MAGNUS ÖSTRÖM Legendary Swedish drummer Magnus Öström celebrates the release of his new album Searching for Jupiter, in a performance at the Adrian Boult Hall.

Influenced at an early age by the likes of Jimi Hendrix and Deep Purple, the drummer became known worldwide as a member of the influential jazz band, the Esbjörn Svensson Trio. After a two-year break following the untimely and tragic death of Esbjörn Svensson in 2008, he has since redefined himself, forming his own unique Jazz-Rock band and composing a selection of critically acclaimed haunting and rhythmic tracks.

Pursuing a jazz rock and progressive rock leaning, his new songs feature both emotional, yearning melodies, such as Mary Jane Doesn’t Live Here Anymore and optimistic, hopeful anthems like At the end of Eternity. Appearing alongside Andreas Hourdakis (guitar), Thobias Gabrielson (bass) and Daniel Karlsson (piano), the strong and tight band is always drawing influence from the greats of the past.

Don’t miss your chance to see this progressive artist, often described as ‘the Pink Floyd of Jazz’.

8:00pm, Adrian Boult Hall £14 (£12) Tickets available from thsh.co.uk / 0121 345 0600. Tickets also available on the door (subject to availability)

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Magnus Öström drums Andreas Hourdakis guitar Thobias Gabrielson bass Daniel Karlsson piano

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TUE 24

SUN 22

BIRMINGHAM CLASSICAL PLAYERS INAUGURAL CONCERT

PERFORMANCE PLATFORM: JACK MCNEILL (CLARINET) & DAVID QUIGLEY (PIANO)

Programme to include: Bach Bach

Brandenburg Concerto Number 4 Brandenburg Concerto Number 5

The Birmingham Classical Players launch their inaugural concert season with a delightful afternoon of music that includes two of Bach’s wonderful masterpieces, Brandenburg Concerto Number 4 and Brandenburg Concerto Number 5. Recently formed from graduates and professional musicians, The Birmingham Classical Players is an exciting flexible ensemble that aims to bring classical music to a new audience. What better way to spend a Sunday afternoon than in the good music and company of Birmingham Classical Players?

4:00pm, Adrian Boult Hall £8 (£4) (£3 - Birmingham City University students) Tickets available by emailing tickets@birminghamclassicalplayers.com

Jack McNeill clarinet David Quigley piano

MON 23

MONDAY SHOWCASE Cecily Redman soprano Jonathan French piano Lan Jin piano Daniel Bovey guitar Handel Mozart Brahms Gershwin Adam Guettel Bach Michael Tippett

Lascia ch'io pianga Der Zauberer Die Mainacht Summertime Baby Moon Toccata in G The Blue Guitar

Join us for a weekly snapshot of the exciting work being undertaken by talented Conservatoire students.

1:00pm, Recital Hall Free Admission Tickets available on the door page 9

Finzi Five Bagatelles, Op.23 Edwin Roxburgh Wordsworth Miniatures (solo clarinet in B flat) Lutosławski Dance Preludes Poulenc Sonata For the first Performance Platform of the autumn season, Conservatoire alumnus Jack McNeill returns to the Conservatoire to perform a selection of 20th Century clarinet pieces alongside award winning pianist and Conservatoire tutor David Quigley. Their programme will feature a charming mix of folk tunes, small character pieces and a piece from the Conservatoire’s Honorary Fellow and visiting tutor Edwin Roxburgh.

1:05pm Adrian Boult Hall £6 (£3.50) Tickets available on the door Our Tuesday Performance Platform is free to audiences from the week’s Monday Showcase; just keep your programme from the previous day and bring it along with you to gain free entry.

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A TOUCH OF BASIL 2013

Performers include: Ashleyan Opera Prize winner Claire Barnett-Jones Ex Cathedra Junior Academy of Vocal Music

THU 26

ORGAN RECITAL: ADRIAN PARTINGTON Programme to include pieces by Bach, Tomkins, Parry and Reger.

Adrian Partington is Director of Music at Gloucester Cathedral and ex officio joint conductor of the Three Choirs Festival and artistic director for the Gloucester festival, years which include 2013. He is widely known as a conductor, chorus master, organist and pianist.

7:30pm, St Chad's Cathedral £5 (£3) Tickets available on the door

The Philip Bates Prize for Composers and Songwriters winner - Seven Face Pictures by Tom Coult Tom Walker Trio - Sarah Brienza clarinet Philip Bates Performance Prize Winners Nathaniel Coxon piano, Chlöe Child vocalist and Krystina Murtagh vocalist Basil’s Bunch with Stephen Davis tenor, Susan Bates and Karen Moulton sopranos Heart of England Singers, Conductor: Martin Bates, with Sonnet 29 by Chris Davis & excerpts from Trial by Jury 7:00pm, Adrian Boult Hall £9 (£7 - Children & Students) (£30 - Group of 4) Tickets available from 0121 747 5705. Tickets also available on the door (subject to availability) at £10 (£7) page 10

MON 30

MONDAY SHOWCASE Josh Hall oboe Joanne Sealey piano Yun Lee piano Shu Ting Cheng piano Finzi Bach Prokofiev Mozart Barber Liszt

Interlude Italian Concerto Sonata No.3 Fantasy in D minor Excursions Op.20 Gnomenreigen

Join us for a weekly snapshot of the exciting work being undertaken by talented Conservatoire students.

1:00pm, Recital Hall Free Admission Tickets available on the door

www.bcu.ac.uk/conservatoire

This annual celebration concert presented by the Philip Bates Trust includes a wide variety of musical styles and genres from classical through to rock music.

OCTOBER

TUE 1

TUE 1

PERFORMANCE PLATFORM: ROBIN IRELAND (VIOLA)

FRONTIERS SERIES: LEGACIES IN TECHNOLOGY

Robin Ireland viola with Shi-Ling Chin violin Christina Bean viola Shang Yang Sun viola Isaac Collier cello

Director: Simon Hall

Bach Six 2-part inventions (transcribed for violin and viola) Lutosławski Bucolics for viola and cello Bridge Lament for two violas Robin Ireland Pairings II for 2 violas The Conservatoire’s Head of Chamber Music and former member of the Lindsay String Quartet, Robin Ireland, teams up with four students in an unusual programme. Bach’s famous 2-part inventions sound as if they were written for string duo.

Lutosławski’s Bucolics are virtuosic and highly appealing pieces rooted in folk music. Bridge’s very touching Lament for two violas was written for him to play with Lionel Tertis. Robin’s composition, Pairings II, is a celebration of what two violas can conjure up together.

Our Tuesday Performance Platform is free to

audiences from the week’s Monday Showcase; just 1:05pm keep your programme from the previous day and Adrian Boult Hall bring it along with you to gain free entry. £6 (£3.50) Tickets available on the door

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A must-see for anybody interested in the creative use of technology in music. This concert offers a diverse programme; presenting established works with electronics, as well as newer commissions. This promises to be an exciting opportunity to hear and see how instrumental sound can be transformed live in performance through expert interaction with new technology.

7:30pm, Recital Hall £5 (£3) Tickets available on the door

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MON 7

TUE 8

MONDAY SHOWCASE

PERFORMANCE PLATFORM: PHILIP HANDY (CELLO) & ROBERT MARKHAM (PIANO)

Our Monday lunchtime concerts provide a weekly snapshot of the exciting work being undertaken by Conservatoire students. Join five of our jazz students today, led by pianist Andrew Woodhead, as they present a programme of traditional and contemporary jazz repertoire.

1:00pm, Recital Hall Free Admission Tickets available on the door

MON 7

ORGAN RECITAL: DAVID SAINT David Saint is Principal of Birmingham Conservatoire and also Organist and Director of Music at St Chad’s Cathedral. He is highly regarded as a choral director and organ recitalist and his recent recitals include Gloucester Cathedral, the Lambertikirche in Munster and Keimyung University in Korea.

7:30pm, St Chad’s Cathedral £5 (£3) Tickets available on the door

Philip Handy cello Robert Markham piano Bridge Bridge Thomas Daish Franck

Meditation Mélodie Première Sonata in A major

Former student and Junior Fellow Philip Handy returns to the Conservatoire to perform a programme of cello and piano works alongside Conservatoire tutor Robert Markham.

In today’s concert they will be performing two of Frank Bridge’s earlier compositions and premiering a new work by upcoming composer Thomas Daish. To finish they will perform the enchanting César Franck Sonata in A Major.

Originally written for violin and piano for Eugéne Ysaÿe, the transcription for cello and piano is said to be the only alternative version sanctioned by César Franck though the piece has been transcribed for many other instruments.

1:05pm, Adrian Boult Hall £6 (£3.50) Tickets available on the door Our Tuesday Performance Platform is free to audiences from the week’s Monday Showcase; just keep your programme from the previous day and bring it along with you to gain free entry.

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Jazz Quintet led by pianist Andrew Woodhead

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TUE 8

SUN 13

FRONTIERS SERIES: THE CLERKS - TALES FROM BABEL

BIRMINGHAM PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA: WAGNER AND VERDI

The Clerks Directed by Edward Wickham Ruth Gibbins, Kim Porter altos Tom Raskin, Roy Rashbrook tenors Edward Wickham, James Arthur basses

Conductor: Michael Lloyd

Christopher Fox / Edward Wickham Anon / Josquin Des Prez Anon (14th century) F. Andrieu (14th century) Christopher Fox / Edward Wickham

Tales from Babel Fortuna desperata After the Mass A Lament on the death of Michael Jackson Roger go to yellow three

Having trouble holding a conversation at a party? Can’t manage to concentrate when surrounded by lots of other people talking? Distracted by other threads of conversations?

Most of us would have to say ‘yes’ to all of these; it’s called ‘the cocktail party problem’; and The Clerks’ new, richly entertaining programme explores the problem through music from the 14th to the 21st centuries. Voices from the Middle Ages and modern world jostle for attention, as The Clerks attempt to throw new light on a mystery which has kept scientists busy for decades.

The programme is framed by two new works by Christopher Fox and Edward Wickham – Tales from Babel and Roger go to yellow three, whose humorous and poignant vignettes build into a quasi-operatic narrative of betrayal, misunderstanding and madrigal-singing. Interleaved are an eclectic assortment of motets from Medieval England and France, songs by Renaissance masters such as Josquin Des Prez, given a twist through new texts by contemporary poets.

And along the way the audience will be given opportunities to participate in some specially designed auditory tests.

7:30pm, Recital Hall £5 (£3), Tickets available on the door page 13

Stephanie Corley Sieglinde (soprano) John Llewelyn Evans Siegmund (tenor) Julian Close Hunding (bass-baritone)

Overture, La Forza del Destino Verdi Verdi Ballet Music from Macbeth Wagner Die Walküre, Act 1 (sung in German) Celebrating the bicentenaries of the giants of 19th century opera, Birmingham Philharmonic Orchestra present one of Wagner’s most dramatic acts from The Ring of the Nibelung, with favourite orchestral extracts from some of Verdi’s most famous works.

3:00pm, Adrian Boult Hall £13 (£10 Students) (£8 Children) (£32 Family ticket: 2 adults + 2 children) Tickets available from www.oxboffice.com, direct from the Orchestra via www.bpo.org. uk, from Orchestra members and on the door (subject to availability). Please note that there is a £1 postage and administration charge for online bookings.

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TUE 15

PERFORMANCE PLATFORM: PHILIP MARTIN (PIANO) “VISIONS OF THE NIGHT”

MON 14

MONDAY SHOWCASE Paula Schieferecker cello Robert Markham piano Ying Rong Wang piano Lucy Stabler mezzo-soprano Jonathan French piano

Sonata for solo cello Ligeti Tchaikovsky Pezzo Capriccioso Op.62 Liszt Paganini Etude No.6 Kapustin Concert Etude And songs by Duparc and Fauré Join us for a weekly snapshot of the exciting work being undertaken by talented Conservatoire students.

1:00pm, Recital Hall Free Admission Tickets available on the door

Beethoven "Moonlight" Piano Sonata. Op.27 No.2 Chopin Two Nocturnes Op.15 No.3 and Op.27 No.1 Two Waltzes Op.34 No's.2 and 3 Philip Martin Three Nocturnes (2012)

New York Nights (2006) Gershwin From his Songbook:

The Man I Love

Somebody Loves Me

Sweet and Low Down

Liza

I Got Rhythm Gottschalk Melody (Havana 1853)

Le Bananier

Solitude

Le Banjo Acclaimed Dublin-born pianist and composer Philip Martin has a unique, sought-after reputation which has made him a distinguished International artist. Respected as both a

performer and teacher, Philip was awarded a Professorship by Birmingham City University last year in recognition of his creative work.

Today, his concert showcases a varied repertoire, each piece dear to the performer’s heart and credit to his dexterity and diversity.

It is a programme for all music lovers alike and will be performed again in Dublin’s National Concert Hall in the International Celebrity Concert Series in which Philip Martin will be playing alongside pianists such as Lang Lang and Joshua Bell. Today’s concert presents a wonderful opportunity for this fantastic programme to be shared with Philip's Birmingham audience.

1:05pm Adrian Boult Hall £6 (£3.50) Tickets available on the door

Our Tuesday Performance Platform is free to audiences from the week’s Monday Showcase; just keep your programme from the previous day and bring it along with you to gain free entry.

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Philip Martin piano

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TUE 15

NEW RESEARCH SEMINAR SERIES: SERIES DR LIZ JOHNSON - A CRITICAL REVIEW OF THE EFFICACY AND IMPACT ON WELL-BEING OF SOUNDBEAM 5 WITH PHYSICALLY RESTRICTED ADULTS In the first of our new public research seminars, Dr Liz Johnson assesses the efficacy of Soundbeam 5 in terms of its impact on individuals with severe physical restrictions. This includes a survey of research and practice, interviews with adult users with physical restrictions, and an assessment of how Soundbeam 5 has been used to promote well-being with these adults in collaboration with Birmingham Conservatoire (Birmingham City University), Soundbeam Project Ltd., clinical, therapeutic and administrative staff at Heartlands Hospital, and with therapeutic staff at the Brain Injury Specialist Clinic (BISC).

WED 16

CBSO PRE-CONCERT SHOWCASE: BIRMINGHAM CONSERVATOIRE SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA Birmingham Conservatoire Symphony Orchestra Conductor: Michael Seal Holst Bax

St Paul’s Suite, Op.29, No.2 Garden of Fand

Michael Seal once again takes charge of the Conservatoire’s Symphony Orchestra in the magnificent setting of Symphony Hall, and once again our concert reflects the CBSO 20|20 programming stream, where we re-visit compositions that first saw the light of day a century ago.

Holst wrote his St Paul’s Suite for the girls of St Paul’s, the school where he was director of music for thirty years. One of many such compositions, it is this piece which has remained one of his most frequently-performed works.

Bax was strongly influenced by the Irish musical, literary and political worlds of his time. Fand is the mythological Irish goddess of the sea, and the garden of the title is in fact the sea. This colourful tone poem tells of Fand’s mysterious island, the siren song of the goddess and the revelries of those who live with her.

3:30pm - 5:00pm New Lecture Theatre £4 Tickets available on the door

If you are interested in this seminar, you may also wish to attend our Soundbeam showcase concert on 24 November

6:15pm, Symphony Hall Free Admission Tickets available on the door

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FRI 18

BEYOND CLASSICAL: K'ANTU ENSEMBLE

FRIDAY ORCHESTRAL SERIES: PRE CONCERT TALK Pre concert talk with music critic Christopher Morley and this evening's two conductors, Michael Seal and Daˇ ghan Doˇgu.

Programme to include: Una Sañosa Porfia Anonymous Pierre Certon Tobias Hume

Hoy comamos y bebamos Dindirindin La, la, la, je ne l’ose dire Tobacco is like Love

Connect to classical music in a new way and liven up the end of your working week in the laid-back setting of Symphony Hall’s bar. Described as a ‘breath of fresh air’ and credited for their energy and enthusiasm, in the first Beyond Classical of the autumn season the K’antu Ensemble presents an engaging and culturally varied programme.

5:30pm, Symphony Hall Bar Free Admission, Tickets available on the door

6:00pm | Arena Foyer | Free Admission | Tickets available on the door FRI 18

FRIDAY ORCHESTRAL SERIES: BIRMINGHAM CONSERVATOIRE SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA – FROM EUROPE’S EXOTIC EAST Birmingham Conservatoire Symphony Orchestra Conductors: Michael Seal, Daˇ ghan Doˇgu* Justyna Zanko violin Erkin Prokofiev Mussorgsky Ligeti

Köçekçe, Suite d’Orchestre* Violin Concerto No.1, Op.19, D major Night on a Bare Mountain* Concerto Romanesc

In this concert MMus conducting student Daˇ ghan Doˇ gu joins Michael Seal to direct a programme with a distinctly exotic flavour, framed by two delightful folk music suites.

Köçekçe, a work full of lively rhythms and memorable melodies, is from it's conductor’s native Turkey. Ligeti’s Concerto Romanesc was written in 1951 before he became aware of the post-war developments in Western European music that were to influence him so profoundly. It is nonetheless a wonderfully personal take on the music of Romania. Justyna Zanko, a student on the Conservatoire's prestigious post-Masters Professional Performance course, will be the soloist in Prokofiev’s Violin Concerto No.1. The programme is completed

by Night on a Bare Mountain by Mussorgsky, a work of great dramatic intensity that gained widespread popularity when Walt Disney included it in his wonderful music-film Fantasia.

7:00pm | Adrian Boult Hall | £6.50 (£4) | Tickets available on the door page 16

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K’antu Ensemble Ruth Hopkins soprano, violin & recorders Sarah Langdon alto, recorders, crumhorn & cornett Ben Rose tenor, recorders, violin, hammered dulcimer & cornett Ben Mitchell tenor & baroque guitar Andrew Hopper bass, gamba & recorder Tymoteusz Jozwiak bass & percussion Mihaly Benko archlute

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TUE 22

MONDAY SHOWCASE

PERFORMANCE PLATFORM: ANDREW KING (TENOR), ELIZABETH PALLETT (THEORBO) & MARTIN PERKINS (HARPSICHORD AND ORGAN)

Harry Jepson trumpet Joanne Sealey piano David Westcombe flute

Joanne Sealey piano Harriet Carr viola David McLifatrick double bass

Honegger Intrada Prokofiev Sonata No.2 SAT 19

BIRMINGHAM ICKNIELD MALE VOICE CHOIR ANNUAL CONCERT Birmingham Icknield Male Voice Choir Musical Director: Steve Roche Soloists: Marie-Louise Allard and Bravura In their annual concert, Birmingham Icknield Male Voice Choir present a wide range of music to suit all tastes, from ‘standard’ Male Voice Choir items to the Lion King and Les Mis. 7:00pm, Adrian Boult Hall £12 Tickets available from Dave Ward on 0121 382 4447 or 07505 234433. Tickets also available on the door (subject to availability)

Join us for a weekly snapshot of the exciting work being undertaken by talented Conservatoire students.

1:00pm, Recital Hall Free Admission, Tickets available on the door MON 21

FRONTIERS SERIES: COMPOSERS’ PLATFORM WITH SPECIAL GUEST GARUTI Featuring stimulating new music, this is the first showcase of the year for our home-grown composers.

Expect a wide range of styles, experimentation and music you wouldn’t find anywhere else, written and performed by students at the Conservatoire, with special guest Garuti.

Andrew King tenor Elizabeth Pallett theorbo Martin Perkins harpsichord and organ Three Conservatoire Early Music tutors present a programme of works from 17th century Italy by Claudio Monteverdi, Alessandro Grandi, Francesco Cavalli and Girolamo Frescobaldi.

1:05pm, Adrian Boult Hall £6 (£3.50) Tickets available on the door

7:30pm, Recital Hall £5 (£3), Tickets available on the door Our Tuesday Performance Platform is free to audiences from the week’s Monday Showcase; just keep your programme from the previous day and bring it along with you to gain free entry.

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THU 24

FRONTIERS SERIES JAZZ PLATFORM: BIRMINGHAM CONSERVATOIRE JAZZ ORCHESTRA'S MINGUS BIG BAND

BCMS CHAMBER MUSIC SERIES: COMMUTER CONCERT WITH ROBIN IRELAND (VIOLA), JOHN THWAITES (PIANO) & CONSERVATOIRE STUDENTS

As part of the 50th anniversary of the recording of Black Saint and the Sinner Lady, the Birmingham Conservatoire Jazz Orchestra recreates famous Mingus Big Band Repertoire with Conservatoire tutors Arnie Somogyi and Clark Tracey. Arnie and Clark will be directing the band and will also be featured soloists.

7:30pm, Recital Hall £5 (£3) Tickets available on the door

Shi Ling Chin violin Jessica Heynes violin Robin Ireland viola Felicity Smith cello Robin Ireland viola John Thwaites piano Julian Vickers and Daniel Bovey guitars Mozart Quintet in G minor K516 Prokofiev 3 pieces from Romeo and Juliet transcr. for viola and piano Piazzola Two Tangos for guitar duet Our first BCMS concert of the autumn season explores chamber music from across three centuries.

Mozart’s Quintet in G minor is a masterpiece of 18th century chamber composition, and will be performed today by Head of Chamber Music Robin Ireland alongside four of the top chamber musicians at Birmingham Conservatoire. Appearing as a duo, Primrose Piano Quartet pianist and violist (and Birmingham Conservatoire Head of Keyboard and Head of Chamber Music) John Thwaites and Robin Ireland will lead into the 19th century with extracts from Prokofiev’s infamous Romeo and Juliet. Concluding the concert with 20th century compositions, winners of the Birmingham Chamber Music Society Sylvia Cleaver Prize, Julian Vickers and Daniel Bovey will perform Argentinian tangos for guitar.

6:15pm, Adrian Boult Hall £5 (£3) Tickets available on the door

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www.bcu.ac.uk/conservatoire

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SUN 27

10.00: Registration

CELLO DAY

10.30: Masterclass – Eduardo Vassallo

A warm invitation to all interested cellists, from school age to Conservatoire students, hobbyists and amateurs, to come and join us at Birmingham Conservatoire for an inspirational day of teaching, performing and chatting cello. We are delighted to be able to showcase our magnificent staff, from the International Chair in Cello, Alexander Baillie, to Eduardo Vassallo (Principal Cello, CBSO), Ulrich Heinen (ex-Principal Cellist, CBSO), Catherine Ardagh-Walter (CBSO), Lionel Handy (Birmingham Conservatoire, RAM) and Mikhail Nemtsov (Birmingham Conservatoire and RNCM).

Members of staff will be performing as well as teaching, along with appearances from Conservatoire Cello Ensembles, directed by Alexander Baillie and Ulrich Heinen.

Sessions for teachers will also be available, cello ensemble sessions for all levels and of course a mass cello ensemble session at the end of the day when everyone will be invited to take part. This day will be run in conjunction with SPARKS, CBSO. The day is completely free of charge, so, please do fill in the registration form online as soon as possible and let us know of your level and if you will be able to attend.

10.30: Masterclass – Ulrich Heinen 10.30: SPARKS – Cello Ensemble Session (Catherine Ardagh-Walter) 12.00: COFFEE 12.15: Concert 1 – Alexander Baillie and John Thwaites 13.00: LUNCH 14.00: Concert 2 – Lionel Handy and Mikhail Nemtsov 14.00: Alexander Baillie – Specialist Sessions for Teachers and Students – “L'archet François” – Andre Navarra Technique 15.00: SPARKS – Cello Ensemble Session 2 (Catherine Ardagh-Walter) 15.00: Masterclass – Alexander Baillie 15.00: Masterclass – Lionel Handy 16.30: Birmingham Conservatoire Cello Ensemble Concert 17.15: Massed Cello Ensemble – Everyone welcome to join in!

Dr Louise Lansdown Head of Strings, Birmingham Conservatoire 10:00am - 6:15pm, Birmingham Conservatoire Free Admission bcu.ac.uk/celloday Please register your attendance using the online registration form at http://celloday-eorgf.eventbrite.co.uk page 19

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MONDAY SHOWCASE

PERFORMANCE PLATFORM: MAXIM RYSANOV (VIOLA) AND FABIO BIDINI (PIANO)

Copland Mahler Scriabin

Duo for flute and piano Rückest Lieder Five Preludes Op.74

Join us for a weekly snapshot of the exciting work being undertaken by talented Conservatoire students.

1:00pm, Recital Hall Free Admission Tickets available on the door

Maxim Rysanov viola Fabio Bidini piano Bach Cello Suite No.6 in D, BWV 1012 (arr. for viola) Mendelssohn Sonata for viola and piano Schubert Arpeggione for viola and piano Maxim Rysanov and Fabio Bidini join forces to create a dream duo for today’s Performance Platform. Both internationally renowned for their sensitive and honest playing, today they present works for viola and piano by Mendelssohn and Schubert. They will also perform Bach’s Cello Suite No.6 arranged for viola, inspired by Rysanov’s passion for expanding the viola repertoire.* We are honoured to welcome such exceptional artists to our Performance Platform series and also to our new Public Masterclass Programme. Following from what is set to be an extraordinary concert; Fabio Bidini will present the inaugural Public Masterclass at 5pm in the Adrian Boult Hall (please see pages 21 & 22). *Please note that today’s Performance Platform concert will be 70 minutes long 1:05pm, Adrian Boult Hall £6 (£3.50) Tickets available on the door Our Tuesday Performance Platform is free to audiences from the week’s Monday Showcase; just keep your programme from the previous day and bring it along with you to gain free entry.

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www.bcu.ac.uk/conservatoire

Jonty Hedges flute Joanne Sealey piano Eleanor Edmonds mezzo-soprano Jonathan French piano Akvilė Šmotavičiūtė piano

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TUE 29

WED 30

SERIES PUBLIC MASTERCLASS WITH FABIO BIDINI (PIANO)

FRONTIERS SERIES: THE WORKERS' UNION ENSEMBLE

Fabio Bidini piano

The Workers’ Union Ensemble: Anna Durance oboe Ellie Steemson saxophone Caz Wolfson percussion Joley Cragg percussion Edward Pick piano Mercedes Carroll bass

SERIES PUBLIC MASTERCLASS WITH FABIO BIDINI (PIANO)

NEW

Students from the Birmingham Junior Conservatoire Working with the top pianists from our Junior Conservatoire, internationally renowned pianist Fabio Bidini will explore repertoire and technique, sharing his ‘admirable simplicity’ with both performers and audience alike in the inaugural masterclass in our new series.

5:00pm – 7:00pm Adrian Boult Hall £6 (£3.50) (Free to school, college and university students, teachers and academics) Tickets available on the door

We would love you to join us for both our lunchtime concert and public masterclasses on 29 and 30 October. A special ticket is available for just £8 (£6) which allows entry into the concert and all three masterclasses.

Conductor: Ben Oliver

Old Life Was Rubbish (1998) Laurence Crane Joe Cutler For Frederic Lagnau (2013) Ryan Latimer The Primate Horrific or Jumpity Jim Hath Little Intelligence (2012) Matthew Kaner New Work (2013) Larry Polansky Ensembles of Note (1998) Danny Saleeb New Work (2013) Matthew Shlomowitz Hi hat and Me (2010) The Workers' Union Ensemble performs the second date of their PRS for Music Foundation funded ‘Constructing a Repertoire’ tour. The Workers' Union Ensemble initially came together in 2008 whilst studying at Guildhall School of Music for a performance of Louis Andriessen's epic work of the same name. Since graduating they have gradually evolved into the unusual line-up of oboe, saxophone, piano, double bass and two percussionists. Some performance highlights include festivals (Huddersfield 2009, Guildhall New Music 2011, Sounds New 2012) and concert series (Leeds University 2011, Southampton University 2012). They performed at the Nonclassical Club Night in September 2013.

7:30pm, Recital Hall, £5 (£3), Tickets available on the door page 21

NEW

Fabio Bidini piano Undergraduate and Postgraduate students from Birmingham Conservatoire Yesterday saw the inaugural concert and masterclass in the new Public Masterclass Programme. Today, Italian pianist Fabio Bidini continues his masterclass, working alongside the top undergraduate and post-graduate pianists at Birmingham Conservatoire.

A rare opportunity to hear one of Bidini’s masterclasses in the UK, this is not to be missed.

10:00am - 1:00pm Adrian Boult Hall £6 (£3.50) (Free to school, college and university students, teachers and academics) Tickets available on the door

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SERIES PUBLIC MASTERCLASS WITH MAXIM RYSANOV (VIOLA) Maxim Rysanov viola

BIRMINGHAM SMALL ENSEMBLE SERIES: RECITAL WITH DUOSAX Duosax: Michael Duke saxophone Sarah Markham saxophone Paul Turner piano

Undergraduate and Postgraduate students from Birmingham Conservatoire Maxim Rysanov is considered to be one of the world’s best, and most charismatic, viola players. Not satisfied with the repertoire for viola, he sees the potential to expand and explore works originally written for fellow string instruments.

Today he will work with the best undergraduate and post-graduate students from within the Conservatoire’s Strings Department, exploring works, tone, and performance – a rare opportunity to see such a vivacious player delve into techniques.

1:30pm - 3:30pm Recital Hall £6 (£3.50) (Free to school, college and university students, teachers and academics) Tickets available on the door Purchase your joint tickets for our Performance Platform and Public Masterclass events on 29 & 30 October for just £8 (£6)

Barry Cockcroft Slap Me J.S. Bach arr. Efrem Roca Double Violin Concerto BWV 1043

1. Vivace Christian Lauba Ars Roberto Molinelli Two movements from Four Pictures from New York: Dreamy Dawn and Tango Club Stacy Garrop Fragmented Spirit Marc Mellitts Black Chris Jolly TRIp Astor Piazzolla arr.

La Muerte del Ángel José Bragarto

Michael Duke and Sarah Markham will be joined by pianist Paul Turner in a recital featuring music for two saxophones and piano.

Throughout Australia and abroad, saxophonist Michael Duke has engaged in an extensive performance career, presenting masterclasses and concerts in the USA, Thailand, Canada, China, Hong Kong, New Caledonia and Denmark.

Described as ‘formidably impressive’ Saxophonist Sarah Markham is in great demand throughout the UK as well as internationally. She has broadcast live on Radio 3 and Classic FM radio, and to date Sarah has released six CDs of solo and chamber music including Run, Sing, Fly on the Saxophone Classics label of which she is Artistic Director. page 22

Pianist Paul Turner has worked with eminent musicians throughout his career and he is a widely experienced recitalist, renowned for his sensitive playing and ‘a very wide tonal palette’.

Don’t miss your chance to see these three highly engaging artists performing in Birmingham as part of their UK tour, in association with Yamaha 7:30pm, Recital Hall £6.50 (£4) Tickets available on the door

www.bcu.ac.uk/conservatoire

WED 30

NOVEMBER

SUN 3

DOUBLE BASS DAY A warm invitation to all double bassists, young and old, to join us on Sunday 3 November at Birmingham Conservatoire for our annual Double Bass Day. Following on from the success of our Double Bass Day in 2012, this year we have planned an even more ambitious and fun-packed day for you all. The day showcases our recently appointed International Chair in Double Bass, Thomas Martin, visiting double bass guru Cathy Elliott and tutor and CBSO bassist Tom Millar (SPARKS). The day is full to capacity with teaching of all levels and performances by our staff and students, including our very own Birmingham Conservatoire Double Bass Ensemble. There are sessions for teachers, ensemble sessions and the day will end with a mass double bass ensemble where everyone will be invited to participate.

The day is completely free of charge and we encourage you to send in your online registration that will enable us to place you in appropriate ensembles or masterclasses.

We cannot wait for you to join us to celebrate this unique and wonderful instrument!

Dr Louise Lansdown Head of Strings, Birmingham Conservatoire 10:00am - 5:30pm, Birmingham Conservatoire Free Admission Please register your attendance using the online registration form at bcu.ac.uk/conservatoire

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10.00: Registration 10.30: Masterclass – Cathy Elliott – Advanced Students 10.30: Masterclass – Tom Martin – Advanced Students 10.30: SPARKS Ensemble Session 1 – Tom Millar 12.00: Concert 1 – Conservatoire Double Bass Ensemble, Conservatoire Bass Students Solo Repertoire TBC 13.00: Lunch 14.00: Concert 2 – Tom Martin 14.45: COFFEE 15.00: SPARKS Ensemble Session 2 – Tom Millar 15.00: Teaching Session – Cathy Elliott - Question and Answer 15.00: Masterclass – Tom Martin 16.30: MASSED DOUBLE BASS ENSEMBLE – Everyone welcome and encouraged to play!

Jonathan French and Joanne Sealey pianists

PERFORMANCE PLATFORM: CHUEN-AN CHERN (PIANO)

SUN 3

THE NAYLER PASSION

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Chuen-An Chern piano

Conductor: Mark Russ

The Nayler Passion is a new choral work composed

by Mark Russ and featuring original poetry by Emily Hunka.

In 1656 the Quaker James Nayler provoked a religious scandal and political crisis by re-enacting Christ’s entry into Jerusalem. Performed publicly for the first time by The Leaveners (Quaker Community Arts) with full choir, piano duet, lute and violin, The Nayler Passion is an emotive and inspiring cantata exploring the spiritual and political turmoil in the life of one of the most controversial, but often forgotten figures of British history.

2:30pm, Recital Hall £10 (£8), Tickets available from The Leaveners Office, 1 The Lodge, 1046 Bristol Road, Birmingham, B29 6LJ / Email lauren@leaveners.org / Telephone 0121 414 0099. Tickets also available on the door (subject to availability) MON 4

MONDAY SHOWCASE Jazz Quintet led by tenor saxophonist Ed Haine Our Monday lunchtime concerts provide a weekly snapshot of the exciting work being undertaken by Conservatoire students. Join five of our jazz students today, led by saxophonist Ed Haine, as they present a programme of traditional and contemporary jazz repertoire.

1:00pm, Recital Hall Free Admission, Tickets available on the door page 24

Today we welcome back a Performance Platform favourite, Chuen-An Chern. Chuen-An was born in Taiwan and started to play the piano at the age of four. She was awarded her Bachelor degree from Tainan National University of the Arts in 2008. After moving to the UK to study at postgraduate level, Chuen-An has subsequently completed both the Master of Music course and Advanced Postgraduate Diploma at Birmingham Conservatoire.

She is now studying for the Personal Study Programme with Professor John Thwaites, Malcolm Wilson and Robert Markham.

In this concert Chuen-An will present a contrasting programme of piano works from the deep, moody and dark tones of Scarlatti, through to Beethoven’s antepenultimate piano sonata and on to Barber, an extremely difficult to execute but much more than a virtuosic showpiece. We hope you will join us as we welcome Chuen-An back to the Adrian Boult Hall.

1:05pm, Adrian Boult Hall £6 (£3.50) Tickets available on the door Our Tuesday Performance Platform is free to audiences from the week’s Monday Showcase; just keep your programme from the previous day and bring it along with you to gain free entry.

www.bcu.ac.uk/conservatoire

Scarlatti Sonata in D minor, K213 Beethoven Sonata No.30 in E, Op.109 Barber Sonata in E flat minor, Op.26

Performed by a choir of Quakers, with featured soloist Henry Herford

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TUE 5

RESEARCH SEMINAR SERIES: DR SHIRLEY THOMPSON & PROFESSOR GRAHAM SADLER – A FRENCH BAROQUE DOUBLE BILL

NEW SERIES

In the second of our public research seminars join us for a stimulating double bill looking at the French Baroque: ‘How the Earth Moved for Charpentier’’

TUE 5

Music by Lully, Charpentier, Lalande and their French successors contains a form of notation which remains largely misunderstood in practice. It takes the form of repeated notes (usually crotchets or minims) marked with slurs or a wavy line. This paper focuses on evidence in French scores and writings which provides some insight into the intended manner of performance. As the notation invariably occurs in passages of heightened emotion and/or cataclysmic activity, the findings presented here are likely to transform the way in which these are performed and perceived.

PUBLIC MASTERCLASS WITH TINE THING HELSETH (TRUMPET)

NEW SERIES

Tine Thing Helseth trumpet Undergraduate and Postgraduate students from Birmingham Conservatoire Young Norwegian star Tine Thing Helseth is rapidly carving a name for herself in the international music scene. As a classical player, Helseth has played with orchestras across the world and, this year, has debuted at Wigmore Hall and the BBC Proms. She proves her versatility further as creator and leader of a ten-piece brass ensemble (tenThing) and jazz quintet (TTHQ). Helseth is developing the use of classical training in an exciting and successful direction, being the first classical artist to be nominated for Newcomer of the Year at the 2007 Norwegian Grammy Awards.

‘When Rameau met Scarlatti’

It is now known that Domenico Scarlatti visited Paris twice during the mid 1720s, where he is presumed to have met Jean-Philippe Rameau at Crozat’s ‘Italian concerts’. How did this meeting impact on the two composers’ stylistic development? To what extent does Scarlatti’s use of techniques that Rameau claims to have invented – rotation of the hand over the thumb, spectacular hand-crossing, drum-like repetitions of a single note – stem from this encounter? And what significance do we attach to the fact that Rameau’s Nouvelles suites, written immediately after Scarlatti’s We would love you to join us for our lunchtime concert, research seminar departure, include a fandango in all but name…? and public masterclass today. A special ticket is available for just £8 (£6) 3:30pm - 5:00pm, New Lecture Theatre £4, Tickets available on the door

which allows entry into all three events.

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Today Helseth will present a two and a half hour masterclass looking at technique and performance style. As a young, accomplished and versatile performer this masterclass is set to explore a variety of repertoire in an energetic and exciting manner.

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Gramophone

TUE 5

FRONTIERS SERIES: THE PHILIP BATES PRIZE 2013 The Philip Bates Prize is a celebration of new compositions for voice(s) and small instrumental ensemble. The prize encourages submissions from all over the UK across a wide range of genres. Tonight's event features exciting music by the finalists who will be competing for three prizes: one will be awarded by the Philip Bates Trust, one by Birmingham Conservatoire and one by the audience.

7:30pm, Recital Hall £5 (£3) Tickets available on the door page 26

Celebrating the 50th anniversary of the recording of Charlie Mingus’s The Black Saint and the Sinner Lady, Conservatoire Jazz tutor Arnie Somogyi leads a band, including Conservatoire Head of Jazz Jeremy Price and tutor Clark Tracey, to reinterpret key tunes of the fantastic Mingus repertoire including Better Get Hit in Your Soul.

8:00pm CBSO Centre £14 Tickets available from thsh.co.uk / 0121 345 0600

www.bcu.ac.uk/conservatoire

ARNIE SOMOGYI MINGUS PROJECT

5:15pm – 7.45pm Adrian Boult Hall £6 (£3.50) (Free to school, college and university students, teachers and academics) Tickets available on the door

Tine Thing Helseth is blessed with a combination of great wind-playing attributes: a soulful – dare one say brooding, Nordic – approach to phrasing, quite astonishingly outstanding intonation and a sound which is open and honest, even and focused in all registers.

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SAT 9

THE FEDERATION OF CHILDREN’S BOOK GROUPS FESTIVAL OF CHILDREN’S LITERATURE Celebrating receipt of the Eleanor Farjeon Award Storytelling / Music / Book Signings / Stalls / Talks / Workshops With: David Almond Emma Chichester Clark James Mayhew Michael Morpurgo Clara Vulliamy Musicians from Birmingham Conservatoire Dan Watson: Conductor An exciting day exploring stories across the arts!

James Mayhew 10am, Foyer Studio, £11

A fascinating workshop, all about illustrating to live music (performed by musicians from Birmingham Conservatoire), using Benjamin Britten's music for T. H. White's King Arthur book, The Sword in the Stone. A public performance by participants, in the Adrian Boult Hall, follows shortly after the workshop. No experience necessary. All materials will be provided. Suggested Age: 10-14.

Perhaps best known for his Katie and Ella Bella Ballerina books, James Mayhew is an author/ illustrator with more than 40 titles to his name.

David Almond 11am, Adrian Boult Hall, £5 David Almond will be celebrating 15 years of Skellig, including exploring its adaptation for opera, theatre and film. All welcome.

David Almond is the winner of the international Hans Christian Anderson Award, the Carnegie Medal, and two Whitbread Awards.

James Mayhew and Birmingham Conservatoire musicians 1pm, Adrian Boult Hall, £5 To celebrate Benjamin Britten's centenary, illustrator James Mayhew presents a special performance of The Sword in the Stone by Britten, in a unique and magical concert. Featuring live illustration and readings from the inspiration behind the music, the classic book of the same title by T. H. White.

Michael Morpurgo and Emma Chichester Clark 3pm, Adrian Boult Hall, £5

Clara Vulliamy 11.30am, Arena Foyer, £5

In conversation, discussing their latest collaboration, a retelling of Pinocchio.

Roll up! Roll up! An exciting mini puppet toy theatre workshop based on Bubble and Squeak

by Clara Vulliamy and James Mayhew.

Suggested Age: 4-7, although younger and older siblings are welcome. Free tickets are available for accompanying adults.

Michael Morpurgo was Children’s Laureate 2003-2005. He is best known for his novels Private Peaceful and War Horse. Emma Chichester Clark has illustrated more than 80 books, including Blue Kangaroo and Melrose and Croc.

Clara Vulliamy has illustrated over 30 books, including the much loved Bear with the Sticky Paws and Lucky Wish Mouse.

fcbg.org.uk/festival-of-children’s-literature

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9:45am - 5:00pm, Birmingham Conservatoire Tickets available from birmingham-box.co.uk / 0121 245 4455. Tickets also available on the door (subject to availability)

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THU 14

BEYOND CLASSICAL: GWYNT TRIO

BIRMINGHAM SMALL ENSEMBLE SERIES: SOUNDS AND SWEET AYRES

Gwynt Trio:

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Josh Hall oboe Varazdat Kachatryan piano

WED 13

PRIZES & COMPETITIONS SERIES: THE CECIL DREW ORATORIO PRIZE Open to all vocal students after their first year of study, the Cecil Drew Oratorio Prize sees students perform two contrasting oratorio arias in a bid to win this highly esteemed prize. Demonstrating vocal prowess and impressive talent, our students are sure to provide you with a memorable evening full of emotion and passion. If you love opera this will be a night to remember.

Holst A Fugal Concerto for Flute, Oboe & Piano Kalliwoda Concertino for Flute, Oboe & Orchestra Dring Trio for Flute, Oboe and Piano Ibert Deux Interludes Damase Trio pour flute, hautbois et piano Connect to classical music in a new way and liven up the end of your working week in the laid-back setting of Symphony Hall’s bar. In today’s concert, this newly formed trio perform a programme of music from the late nineteenth century through to the mid twentieth century, pitting works by Holst and Ibert against Dring and Damase.

5:30pm, Symphony Hall Bar Free Admission Tickets available on the door

7:00pm, Recital Hall £4 Tickets available on the door page 28

Birmingham Conservatoire Recorder Department Directed by Annabel Knight Recorder players and members of the early music department rediscover the rich repertory of the ‘flûte douce’ of post-Restoration and early eighteenth century England, with solos and chamber music by Henry and Daniel Purcell, Croft, Williams, Pepusch, Handel and popular grounds from The Division Flute.

7:30pm, Recital Hall £6.50 (£4) Tickets available on the door

www.bcu.ac.uk/conservatoire

Elin Roberts flute

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SUN 17

NATIONAL BARBERSHOP QUARTET CONTEST FRI 15

FRIDAY ORCHESTRAL SERIES: BIRMINGHAM CONSERVATOIRE WIND ORCHESTRA – FRENCH GIANTS Birmingham Conservatoire Wind Orchestra Conductor: Neil Aston Berlioz Symphonie funèbre et triomphale, Op.15

Over 35 barbershop quartets will compete in this preliminary round of the National Barbershop Quartet Contest with 16 quartets going through to the Semi-Finals next May in Harrogate. In addition a Youth/College Quartet contest will feature here today.

10:00am - 6:00pm, Birmingham Conservatoire Free Admission Tickets available on the door

Messiaen Et exspecto resurrectionem mortuorum Plus new works by Student Composers Rob Jones & Zachaeus Dawson We welcome back Neil Aston, a distinguished Conservatoire alumnus, for his first visit to us as a conductor in more than a decade. He brings a programme consisting of two monumental works for wind orchestra by two French giants, Hector Berlioz and Olivier Messiaen.

Messaien’s powerful Et exspecto resurrectionem mortuorum was composed as a commission from the French government in 1961 to commemorate the dead of two world wars. 120 years earlier Berlioz’s Symphonie funèbre et triomphale was also a commission from the French government. It was originally composed for 200 performers (plus optional chorus!) to commemorate the July revolution. We will hear it this evening with rather more modest numbers, but it will doubtlessly still convey Berlioz’s irrepressible spirit!

7:30pm, Adrian Boult Hall £6.50 (£4) Tickets available on the door

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TUE 19

THU 21

JAZZLINES & FRONTIERS SERIES PRESENTS: NOSZFERATU VS SCHLIPPENBACH TRIO

BIRMINGHAM SMALL ENSEMBLE SERIES: K'ANTU ENSEMBLE

This concert is a co-promotion between Jazzlines and the Frontiers Series at Birmingham Conservatoire.

Supported by Birmingham Contemporary Music Group 8:00pm, CBSO Centre £14 (£12) (£5 for Conservatoire students) Tickets available from thsh.co.uk / 0121 345 0600

"K'antu Ensemble is a breath of fresh air: early music presented with beguiling virtuosity and inventiveness."

(Howard Skempton, composer and accordionist) K'antu Ensemble Ruth Hopkins soprano, violin and recorders "Each time I have heard Ben Rose tenor, recorders, violin and them I have been impressed cornett by their energy and Ben Mitchell tenor and baroque guitar enthusiasm and their ability Andrew Hopper bass, gamba and recorder to bring the music alive."

Tymoteusz Jozwiak bass and percussion (Andrew King, tenor & early Mihaly Benko theorbo music specialist) After winning the Small Classical Ensemble prize at Buxton Festival Fringe in 2013, K'antu Ensemble return to Birmingham Conservatoire, continuing their mission to steer Early Music into a captivating new territory.

Director: Ruth Hopkins

This performance celebrates the release of their new album Gusto, with a performance of some of the most neglected repertoire of the Renaissance, including delights from the Terpsichore and Cancionero de Palacio, as well as new arrangements from the Codex Martinez Companion. This is a great opportunity to listen to the Ensemble's new arrangements, exploring works which blur boundaries between folk and world, early music and improvisation.

Their elegant and magnetic aptitude for texture – enhanced by their large array of instruments from around the world - and their innovation and passion for their art promises a memorable performance.

7:30pm, Recital Hall £6.50 (£4), Tickets available on the door page 30

www.bcu.ac.uk/conservatoire

This new project combines two virtuosic trios with different approaches to new music: Noszferatu is one of the most versatile British new music groups, comprising award-winning composermusicians who work across new composition, jazz, rock, theatre, tango and improvisation; Alexander von Schlippenbach's Trio with Evan Parker and Paul Lovens brings together three of the godfathers of European free jazz. Combining these trios is a recipe for compelling playing, combining the fluency and sparring of free jazz with unexpected swerves in the road and driving rhythms of post-rock and minimalism. Both rhythm sections are capable of extraordinary turns of pace and mood, while the saxes can purr and roar in equal measure. Each trio will play separately, before joining together to play new sounds conjured by three leading composers: Hanna Kulenty, Joe Cutler, and Hans Koller.

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FRI 22

FRI 22

SAT 23

FRIDAY ORCHESTRAL SERIES: PRE-CONCERT TALK

FRIDAY ORCHESTRAL SERIES: THALLEIN ENSEMBLE – ICONOCLASTS AND MAVERICKS

Join us for a pre-concert talk with Joe Cutler, our Head of Composition, and composer Richard Ayres.

Thallein Ensemble

BIRMINGHAM JUNIOR CONSERVATOIRE CHAMBER MUSIC CONCERT

6:00pm, Arena Foyer Free Admission Tickets available on the door

Jonathan Harvey Wheel of Emptiness

Tendril Richard Ayres No.41 (Five Memos for Eva) No.44 (Diary Pieces)

Celebrating the distinguished teaching career of Beryl Chempin at the Conservatoire, the Beryl Chempin Beethoven Prize for Pianists will astound you with the skill and virtuosity of our keyboard students. Students are required to play a programme consisting entirely of works by Beethoven and the winner of the prize will go forward to compete in the prestigious Inter Collegiate Beethoven Competition, in London, promoted by the Beethoven Society of Europe.

7:15pm, Recital Hall £4 Tickets available on the door

Programme to include: Photo: Mike Kear

FRI 22

PRIZES & COMPETITIONS SERIES: THE BERYL CHEMPIN BEETHOVEN PRIZE FOR PIANISTS

Conductor: Richard Baker

A brand new student composition will also feature in the concert We are delighted to welcome Richard Baker to conduct this project with the Thallein Ensemble. Richard is a distinguished composer in his own right, as well as an acknowledged expert in the interpretation of new music. For this programme he has chosen works by two very different but deeply interesting composers.

Jonathan Harvey was fascinated by the use of electronics and digital technology, and combined a rigorous compositional technique to serve a deeply spiritual message.

In Richard Ayres's music there is often a hidden world or alter ego at play, producing music that can be shocking, touching and witty in surprising and surprisingly accessible ways. His website includes an imagined biography, which gives a flavour of his highly original imagination.

Please join us for the pre-concert talk in the Arena Foyer at 6.00pm 7:00pm, Adrian Boult Hall £6.50 (£4), Tickets available on the door page 31

In their first concert of the academic year, small ensembles, string quartets and soloists from our Junior Conservatoire present a range of works, providing both new and ongoing students with the chance to perform.

7:00pm, Recital Hall £5 (£3) Tickets available on the door

SAT 23

MON 25

BIRMINGHAM BACH CHOIR: SYMPHONIES OF SONG

MONDAY SHOWCASE

Birmingham Bach Choir Conductor: Paul Spicer Lindy Tennent-Brown piano Andy Massey piano Stravinsky Elgar Dyson

Symphony of Psalms From the Bavarian Highlands The Blacksmiths

Birmingham Bach Choir is one of the UK’s leading large chamber choirs. Their long partnership with Paul Spicer has led to many acclaimed performances and recordings. This concert is a fantastic programme of rarities with a version of Stravinsky’s Symphony of Psalms for two pianos which has almost never been heard (or allowed before). Alongside this sits Elgar's From the Bavarian Highlands, a rich evocation of a family holiday spent in that part of the world. To conclude will be a rarely heard work by Dyson, The Blacksmiths, a visceral portrayal of the heat and physicality of the blacksmith’s forge which surely deserves to be better known. Exciting, romantic, spiritual, energetic, physical and meltingly beautiful are just a few ways to describe the fantastic programme that is in store this evening.

7:30pm, Adrian Boult Hall £15 (£12.50) (£5 - Students paying on the door only) Tickets available from birmingham.bachchoir.com / Email tickets@birmingham.bachchoir.com / Phone Richard on 0121 705 4418. Tickets also available on the door (subject to availability)

SUN 24

3DOM AUTUMN SHARING Director: Liz Johnson 3DOM presents musicians using the latest sensor technology Soundbeam 5 to create music together, allowing musicians with disabilities to perform alongside others. In this concert, new sounds, songs and pieces combining Soundbeam 5 technology with acoustic instruments and voices will be showcased.

'Fascinating and brilliant work' 'It was superb' (Audience feedback from our 3DOM Summer Sharing concert)

3:00pm, Recital Hall £5 (£3) Tickets available on the door page 32

If you are interested in this event, you may also wish to attend our Soundbeam Research Seminar with Dr Liz Johnson on 15 October

Ivan Rubido double bass Ting Luo piano Craven Brass: Pawel Zadrozniak, Matt Hampton, Harry Jepson, Emily Walker trumpets Beetung Goo horn Owen Wallage tuba Jay Hall, Joe Starbuck, Josh Large, James Blake trombone

Piano Sonata Dutilleux Jim Parker Movements from A Londoner in New York Gabrieli Canzona à 8 Join us for a weekly snapshot of the exciting work being undertaken by talented Conservatoire students.

1:00pm, Recital Hall Free Admission Tickets available on the door

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TUE 26

TUE 26

PERFORMANCE PLATFORM: COFFEE CONCERT WITH BARDOLINO

PERFORMANCE PLATFORM: THE SCHUBERT ENSEMBLE

Bartók 44 Duets for 2 violins (selection) Camilo Caller Tres Canciones Declaracion Pavel Fischer Horses

Waterfall Waltz Variationes Margit Klepacova Elements Pavel Fischer Marel o Del, Ursari

Simon Blendis violin Douglas Paterson viola Jane Salmon cello Peter Buckoke double bass William Howard piano

Bardolino are a violin, cello and percussion trio based in Prague. Although they have led successful careers as international classical musicians, they are now devoting themselves to a unique fusion project that embraces the raw essence of folk music from Moravia as well as gypsy music, Peruvian drumming rhythms and even Scottish fiddling tunes, with the sheer quality and accuracy of classically trained musicians.

The members are Pavel Fischer (former leader of the Škampa Quartet) Margit Klepacova and Camilo Caller.

11:05am, Adrian Boult Hall £6 (£3.50) Tickets available on the door

Our Tuesday Performance Platform is free to audiences from the week’s Monday Showcase; just keep your programme from the previous day and bring it along with you to gain free entry to both of today’s concerts.

Colin Matthews Piano Trio (2013) 'Nowhere to Hide' Vaughan Williams Piano Quintet in C minor Join the Schubert Ensemble as they celebrate their 30th Anniversary year which will culminate here and at the Wigmore Hall on 28 November. Although, like many groups the ensemble have had personnel changes over the years, they have been unchanged for 18 years, and this stability has given the group a platform to keep looking for new and exciting avenues to explore.

The ensemble premiered Colin Matthew's evocative Piano Trio (2013) 'Nowhere to Hide' in July at the Cheltenham International Festival (after a sneak preview to composition students here at the Conservatoire) and the youthful and romantic Vaughan Williams Piano Quintet in C minor is scored as the Trout, including the double bass. The Ensemble is delighted to be continuing its relationship with Birmingham Conservatoire.

Join us for both of 1:05pm, Adrian Boult Hall today’s Performance £6 (£3.50) Platform concerts, with Tickets available on the door a complimentary cup of coffee in-between, for the special price of £8.50 (£6). page 33

TUE 26

WED 27

RESEARCH SEMINAR NEW SERIES: DR ROY HOWAT, SERIES ROYAL ACADEMY OF MUSIC - EDITORIAL ADVENTURES IN FAURÉ’S SONGS (AND VOCALISES)

BIRMINGHAM SMALL ENSEMBLE SERIES: LIEDERABEND

Gabriel Fauré’s songs, beloved by singers and audiences, present many contradictions across their medium-voice and high-voice versions, involving tempo, dynamics, prosody and even textures. Surviving manuscripts show even more variants, sometimes very revealing. The new Peters critical edition in progress (edited

by Roy Howat & Emily Kilpatrick) tackles these issues to show how the composer’s intentions could validly range while presenting coherent texts. An added resource is the collection of 45 Vocalises devised by Fauré mostly for Conservatoire sight-singing purposes, newly published for the first time by Peters in an edition designed as a prime vocal training resource.

3:30pm - 5:00pm, New Lecture Theatre £4 Tickets available on the door

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An evening of song and chamber music of the German-born American composer Paul Hindemith, devised by the Conservatoire’s Head of Strings, Louise Lansdown.

7:30pm, Recital Hall £6.50 (£4) Tickets available on the door

TUE 26

FRONTIERS SERIES: COMPOSERS’ PLATFORM Featuring cutting edge new music from Conservatoire composers, our Composers’ Platforms never fail in delivering an exciting and stimulating evening. In our second Composers’ Platform of the autumn season, you can again expect eclectic music, experimentation and a wide range of styles.

7:30pm, Recital Hall £5 (£3) Tickets available on the door page 34

www.bcu.ac.uk/conservatoire

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THU 28

FRI 29

BCMS CHAMBER MUSIC SERIES: COMMUTER CONCERT WITH THE EBLANA STRING TRIO

FRIDAY ORCHESTRAL SERIES: BIRMINGHAM CONSERVATOIRE BRASS BAND – SECRET STORY

The Eblana String Trio: Jonathan Martindale violin Lucy Nolan viola Peggy Nolan cello Schubert String Trio movement D471 Finzi Prelude and Fugue Op.24 Beethoven String Trio in C minor Op.9 No.3 Recently appointed as the Conservatoire’s Chamber Music Junior Fellows, the Eblana String Trio is an ensemble of committed chamber musicians, intent on performing the often neglected repertoire for string trio. In today’s BCMS concert, the awardwinning ensemble will perform Schubert’s incomplete D471 sonata, Finzi’s Prelude and Fugue Op.24 – a single movement of awkward length but swaying beauty, and Beethoven’s String Trio in C minor, a lesser-known work of striking originality.

6:15pm Adrian Boult Hall £5 (£3) Tickets available on the door

Birmingham Conservatoire Brass Band Conductor: Ian Porthouse Join the Conservatoire Brass Band, conducted by our Director of Brass Band Studies Ian Porthouse, as they present a suite of pieces by the jazz guitarist Pat Metheny.

Arranged by Jacob Larson, Metheny’s music continues to redefine the jazz genre through using new technology, by working to evolve the improvisational and sonic potential of the instrument. Tonight’s challenging and exciting programme continues the outstanding work that Ian does with the Conservatoire Brass Band and the high standard he promotes.

7:30pm, Adrian Boult Hall £6.50 (£4) Tickets available on the door

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TUE 3

PERFORMANCE PLATFORM: ANDREI GAVRILOV (PIANO)

MONDAY SHOWCASE Jazz Quintet led by Sean Gibbs (trumpet) Our Monday lunchtime concerts provide a weekly snapshot of the exciting work being undertaken by Conservatoire students. Join five of our jazz students today, led by trumpet player Sean Gibbs, as they present a programme of traditional and contemporary jazz repertoire.

1:00pm, Recital Hall Free Admission Tickets available on the door

Andrei Gavrilov piano Prokofiev Chopin

Sonata No.8 Nocturnes

Andrei Gavrilov, the great Russian pianist, is welcomed to the Adrian Boult Hall stage for a Performance Platform and Public Masterclass. Hailed as a genius by Richter, at eighteen Gavrilov was the youngest ever winner of the 1974 Tchaikovsky Competition. After legendary recordings for EMI and Deutsche Gramaphone he was included in the 1998 Philips/ Steinways “Great Pianists of the Twentieth Century” series. Performing works by Prokofiev and Chopin, passionate and philosophical performer Gavrilov will explore a world of emotions and harmonies in today's performance. Chopin’s compositions, Gavrilov explains, are ‘a palette of emotions, situations, movements and conditions’ – his music ‘contains a struggle and a clash that is far from intimate and rages on a grand scale that is both political and social.’

1:05pm Adrian Boult Hall £6 (£3.50) Tickets available on the door

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Our Tuesday Performance Platform is free to audiences from the week’s Monday Showcase; just keep your programme from the previous day and bring it along with you to gain free entry.

www.bcu.ac.uk/conservatoire

DECEMBER

MON 2

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THU 5

PUBLIC MASTERCLASS NEW SERIES WITH ANDREI GAVRILOV (PIANO)

BIRMINGHAM SMALL ENSEMBLE SERIES: EARLY MUSIC SHOWCASE

Andrei Gavrilov piano Undergraduate and Postgraduate students from Birmingham Conservatoire As part of our Public Masterclass Programme, Gavrilov will present an exploration of emotions and technique within solo piano music, and will share his thoughts and concepts on music and performance.

4:30pm, Adrian Boult Hall £6 (£3.50) Tickets available on the door

We would love you to join us for our lunchtime concert and public masterclass presented by Andrei Gavrilov. A special ticket is available for just £8 (£6) which allows entry into both events.

THU 5

CBSO PRE-CONCERT SHOWCASE – FAN YU (PIANO) & LUCY CHANG (PIANO) Fan Yu piano Lucy Chang piano Chopin Ballade No.4 in F minor Debussy Two Arabesques Strauss / Schulz-Evler Concert Arabesque on The Blue Danube Join us for the second in our series of showcase events at Symphony Hall this term. Postgraduate student Fan Yu will give a performance of the hauntingly mysterious Ballade No.4 in F minor, capturing almost all elements of musical ideas and human expressions with the piano. We also welcome Lucy Chang, an Advanced Postgraduate Diploma student at the Conservatoire, as she plays two of Debussy’s earliest works to compliment the virtuosic Concert Arabesque on The Blue Danube.

6:15pm, Symphony Hall Free Admission Tickets available on the door page 37

Directors: David Hatcher and Martin Perkins Students from the Conservatoire’s Early Music Programme perform music from the Medieval to Baroque periods.

7.45pm, Arena Foyer £6.50 (£4) Tickets available on the door

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THU 5 (7:00pm) FRI 6 (7:00pm) SAT 7 (7:30pm)

An annual highlight in the calendar, our eagerly awaited Opera Scenes returns once more.

Please join us and let us take you on a journey where you will be delighted by performances from our vocal students as they present scenes from a variety of well-loved operas. Opera has the power to stir the strongest emotions and the intimacy of these scenes will do just that. An evening that is definitely not to be missed, book your tickets early to avoid disappointment.

Recital Hall £9 (£7) Tickets available from birmingham-box.co.uk / 0121 245 4455. Tickets also available on the door (subject to availability).

SAT 7

BIRMINGHAM JUNIOR CONSERVATOIRE END OF TERM CONCERT Featuring the Junior Conservatoire Choirs and Orchestras, our talented young musicians of the future present the proud results of their first term in this end of term concert.

5:00pm, Recital Hall £5 (£3) Tickets available on the door

Directed by Michael Gieleta, making a welcome return visit Musical direction by Janet Haney. This will be Janet's fifth year as the Musical Director for our popular Opera Scenes page 38

www.bcu.ac.uk/conservatoire

OPERA SCENES

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BIRMINGHAM PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA: A LITTLE LIGHT MUSIC

MON 9

CAROL CONCERT

Conductor: Michael Lloyd

Join us for this annual Christmas special and enjoy a selection of much-loved seasonal favourites with audience members invited to participate in selected carols.

Suppé Poet and Peasant Overture Coates Calling All Workers

The Three Bears

The Dam Busters Elgar Salut D’Amour Pomp and Circumstance March No.1 Grainger Molly on the Shore

Shepherd’s Hey! Ponchielli Dance of the Hours Gillis Symphony 5½ - A Symphony for Fun Anderson Buglers’ Holiday

Chicken Reel

Plink, Plank, Plunk!

Sousa The Stars and Stripes Forever The Washington Post

1:00pm, Adrian Boult Hall Free Admission Tickets available on the door

MON 9

MELODY MUSIC BIRMINGHAM CHRISTMAS CONCERT

The BPO began in the 1940s by playing the light music of the day. In this concert the orchestra will look back at some of the light classics of the 20th century.

3:00pm, Adrian Boult Hall £13 (£10 Students) (£8 Children) (£32 Family ticket: 2 adults + 2 children)

Melody Music Birmingham will be presenting a variety of pieces and songs for their annual Christmas concert. The MMB group (previously known as Special Virtuosi) is a music group for children and young people with any form of learning difficulty or disability. The group has been based at the Conservatoire since it began in 2004. The evening will feature solos and original compositions as well as large ensembles pieces from our talented students. It promises to be an unmissable performance.

6:30pm, New Lecture Theatre Free Admission Tickets available on the door

Tickets available from www.oxboffice.com, direct from the Orchestra via www.bpo.org.uk, from Orchestra members and on the door (subject to availability). Please note that there is a £1 postage and administration charge for online bookings page 39

TUE 10

TUE 10

PERFORMANCE PLATFORM: ALEXANDER BAILLIE (CELLO) & JOHN THWAITES (PIANO)

FRONTIERS SERIES JAZZ PLATFORM: NEW GENERATION SMALL BAND JAZZ

Alexander Baillie cello John Thwaites piano Rubbra Franck

Sonata for violoncello and piano Sonata in A for violoncello and piano

To conclude the Performance Platform and Public Masterclass series for the Autumn Term, internationally renowned cellist Alexander Baillie presents two fine sonatas for cello and piano. Considered to be one of the finest cellists of his generation, Baillie has mastered the classical repertoire for cello as well as giving outstanding contributions to contemporary music.

‘These are passionate, focused, full-blooded readings. It isn’t just the excellence of Alexander Baillie’s and John Thwaites’s playing, but that they invest each work with the power of utter belief.’

BBC Music Magazine 2013

1:05pm, Adrian Boult Hall £6 (£3.50), Tickets available on the door Our Tuesday Performance Platform is free to audiences from the week’s Monday Showcase; just keep your programme from the previous day and bring it along with you to gain free entry.

TUE 10

PUBLIC MASTERCLASS WITH ALEXANDER BAILLIE (CELLO)

NEW SERIES

Alexander Baillie cello Undergraduate and Postgraduate students from Birmingham Conservatoire In the final Public Masterclass of the autumn season, Baillie will work with elite strings students from Birmingham Conservatoire to explore the diverse repertoire for cello.

4:30pm, Adrian Boult Hall £6 (£3.50) Tickets available on the door We would love you to join us for our lunchtime concert and public masterclass presented by Alexander Baillie. A special ticket is available for just £8 (£6) which allows entry into both events.

page 40

Join us tonight as Conservatoire jazz students perform an eclectic mix of standards and originals. This is a great opportunity to come and hear new jazz talent as these students emerge onto the Birmingham scene.

7:30pm, Recital Hall £5 (£3) Tickets available on the door

www.bcu.ac.uk/conservatoire

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WED 11

THU 12

THE FOUR SEASONS: MUSICAL & AMICABLE SOCIETY

BEYOND CLASSICAL: THE EBLANA STRING TRIO

Musical & Amicable Society: Sophie Barber, Christiane Gagelmann, Kelly McCusker, Miranda Walton violins Kate Fawcett viola Henrik Persson cello Kate Aldridge bass Martin Perkins harpsichord and Director Vivaldi Telemann Richard Mudge Bach

The Four Seasons Concerto for viola in G Concerto Grosso No.3 in G Concerto for 2 violins in D minor

To celebrate their 10th anniversary, the Musical & Amicable Society brings their concerto tour home to Birmingham. This is Baroque playing at its finest – four violinists step out of the ensemble in turn, breathing new character into each of Vivaldi’s inimitable Seasons, before pairing off in Bach’s sublime double concerto and a not-to-be-missed rarity by Midlands-based Richard Mudge. Just so the violins don’t have it all their way, the programme is completed by Telemann’s enchanting Viola Concerto. The Amicables are a flexible collective of periodinstrument specialists, taking their name from a local eighteenth-century musical society. Individual members (including several Conservatoire staff) perform with some of Europe’s most prestigious ensembles; they come together as friends to explore repertoire both familiar and forgotten, sharing their “fine playing and infectious delight” (Neil Crutchley, Leicester Mercury).

Jonathan Martindale violin Lucy Nolan viola Peggy Nolan cello Bach Goldberg Variations (arr. Sitkovetsky) - Extracts Mozart Divertimento in E flat K563

IV. Andante Moeran String Trio

I. Allegretto giovale Finzi Prelude and Fugue Op.24 Judith Weir The Bagpiper's String Trio Dohnanyi Serenade Op.10

IV. Tema con Variazione

V. Finale Connect to classical music in a new way and join the Eblana String Trio in the laid-back setting of Symphony Hall’s bar.

Committed to performing the often neglected repertoire for string trio, the award-winning ensemble today perform a varied programme, including the opera-based composition The Bagpiper’s String Trio, in which the bagpipes of the Jacobite Army are recreated by the players.

www.amicables.co.uk

The Eblana String Trio have recently been appointed the position of Chamber Music Junior Fellows at Birmingham Conservatoire.

7:30pm, Recital Hall £10 (£5), Tickets available on the door

5:30pm, Symphony Hall Bar Free Admission, Tickets available on the door page 41

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FRI 13

FRIDAY ORCHESTRAL SERIES: BIRMINGHAM CONSERVATOIRE REPERTOIRE & POPS ORCHESTRAS – NURSERY RHYMES AND ENTERTAINMENT Birmingham Conservatoire Repertoire Orchestra Conductor: Daniele Rosina

THU 12

BIRMINGHAM SMALL ENSEMBLE SERIES: GUITAR CHAMBER MUSIC CONCERT Directors: Mark Ashford & Mark Eden Join us for a concert spanning multiple genres by the Conservatoire's Guitar Department. Music for 18 guitars plus smaller chamber works will feature in this eclectic programme.

7:45pm, Arena Foyer £6.50 (£4) Tickets available on the door

Bartók Romanian Folk Dances Dohnányi Variations on a Nursery Song, Op.25 Weinberg Rhapsody on Moldavian Themes, Op.47, No.1 Birmingham Conservatoire Pops Orchestra Conductor: Ian McMillan Pops Showcase – ‘That’s Entertainment’ To include: Arr. Peter Night Arr. Nigel Hess

That’s Entertainment A Christmas Finale

Plus a pot pourri of solo items To celebrate the Christmas season, our end of term concert will be shared between the Conservatoire’s Repertoire Orchestra and Pops Orchestra. In the first half of the concert we re-visit the theme of Eastern European folk music with compositions by Bartók and Weinberg [see our Symphony Orchestra concert programme on 18 October]. The soloist in Dohnányi’s popular Variations on a Nursery Song will be Lucy Chang, a pianist on our flagship Advanced Postgraduate Diploma (Professional Performance) programme.

After an extended interval for mince pies we will welcome back the inimitable Ian McMillan to conduct the Pops Orchestra. Orchestral showpieces by Peter Night and Nigel Hess will be interwoven with a variety of solo items of familiar and popular classics performed by Conservatoire students.

7:00pm, Adrian Boult Hall £9 (£7), Tickets available from birmingham-box.co.uk / 0121 245 4455.

Tickets also available on the door (subject to availability) page 42

www.bcu.ac.uk/conservatoire

Lucy Chang piano

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PHOENIX SINGERS - CHRISTMAS CRACKER CONCERT Phoenix Singers – Birmingham Musical Director Matt Beckingham Accompanist Sara Wilander Compere Andy Knowles Plus guests: Sovereign Brass Phoenix Singers present their annual Christmas Cracker concert, conducted by Musical Director Matt Beckingham. The programme will include traditional carols and a selection of seasonal songs, with plenty of opportunity for audience participation. A guest appearance by Sovereign Brass will add to the festivities, so come along, relax and enjoy Phoenix Singers' musical celebration.

3:00pm, Adrian Boult Hall £12 (£6), Tickets available from Sue on 0121 475 4005 or by emailing bobandsallypowell@hotmail.com

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SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES Birmingham Conservatoire is offering the opportunity for your business to sponsor prestigious headline events across our concert calendar.

HUNDREDS OF BESPOKE EVENTS...

ONE BESPOKE VENUE

We believe in creating sponsorship opportunities that are bespoke to the client and tailored to your business goals.

Each project will be unique and provide an inspiring creative partnership with our artistic programme across all areas of our work. We can help to enhance your company’s profile and bring clients and guests in direct contact with the highly accomplished musicians which you will be supporting.

In addition to associating your business with the future faces of music in Birmingham, benefits include: our company and brand/logo on all Y publicity materials pportunities for your employees and O guests to meet our artists and conductors omplimentary tickets for your company C employees plus additional discounts for friends and family espoke receptions to include your B choice of professional background musicians

BIRMINGHAM CONSERVATOIRE. DARE TO BE DIFFERENT page 44

For more information or to receive the sponsorship taster menu please contact Libby Hall on 0121 331 5909 / Libby.Hall@bcu.ac.uk

Conservatoire venues Most of our concerts take place in the prestigious Adrian Boult Hall (ABH), named after the conductor, or the Recital Hall (RH), a flexible and modern performance space.

The ABH is a 520 seat concert hall with excellent acoustics, while the smaller RH (150 seats) has a state-of-the-art surround sound system that is much in demand for music incorporating live electronics. Small scale, intimate performances are also held in our Arena Foyer (AF) and New Lecture Theatre (NLT).

Our foyer area has a coffee bar and a licensed bar, a free cloakroom service and facilities for disabled visitors. Our friendly concert stewards (mostly current Conservatoire students) are on hand to help with any enquiries during your visit.

If you have any queries about attending an event at the Conservatoire, please contact the Concert Office on 0121 331 5909/5921.

Adrian Boult Hall

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Recital Hall

HOW TO FIND BIRMINGHAM CONSERVATOIRE Birmingham Conservatoire is located in the centre of Birmingham in Chamberlain Square, to the left of Paradise Forum, and just behind Town Hall. We can be easily reached by all transport routes:

We are here

By Car: From Junction 6 of M6, take A38 (M) to Birmingham, when approaching the City Centre take the A4400 and continue to Great Charles Queensway, following this round will lead you to Paradise Circus Queensway. There are two handy NCP car parks near to the Conservatoire: one on Brunel Street next to The Mailbox and the other on Suffolk Street Queensway adjacent to the Holiday Inn.

By Bus: The Conservatoire is served by the following bus routes, 1, 9, 22, 23, 24, 82, 87, 89, 126, 128, 886. All of these stops are by Birmingham Town Hall, next to the Conservatoire.

By Train: The Conservatoire is approximately ten minutes’ walk from both New Street and Snow Hill Stations.

There is limited parking for disabled visitors outside of the Conservatoire. Access to this is via Margaret Street and the spaces are available on a first come, first served basis. Display of the relevant badge is essential.

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HOW TO BOOK YOUR TICKETS Where stated, tickets for our events can be booked in advance:

1. By Phone Call the TICKET HOTLINE: 0121 245 4455 Open Mon to Sat: 10am to 5.30pm

2. In Person Visit The Box at Birmingham Repertory Theatre, Centenary Square, Broad Street Birmingham, B1 2EP Open Mon to Fri: 10am to 5.30pm, Sat: 10am to 4pm

3. On-line Go to www.birmingham-box.co.uk Visa, Delta, Connect, Mastercard and Switch cards can be used. Cheques should be made payable to Birmingham Repertory Theatre.

Tickets for all other events at Birmingham Conservatoire can be purchased at the venue from up to 45 minutes prior to the concert start time. If you wish to guarantee your seat by reserving your ticket in advance, please do so by phoning the Concert Office on 0121 331 5909 (lines open between 10am-4pm Mon-Fri).

Your ticket will then be reserved and available to purchase on the door. Please note that we accept the following credit cards: Mastercard,

Maestro, Visa, Switch, Solo and JCB. Unless otherwise stated, concession prices apply to children (16 and under or in full-time education), students, 60 plus, disabled people and the unemployed (UB40).

We may ask to see identification when admitting people carrying concessionary tickets.

Birmingham Conservatoire cannot guarantee refunds or exchange tickets after purchase.

Every effort is made to ensure that all information included within the Concert Diary is correct at the time of going to print, however the Conservatoire reserves the right to change the programme or replace artists due to unforeseen circumstances.

FACILITIES AT THE CONSERVATOIRE A free cloakroom service is available at most events taking place in the Adrian Boult Hall.

The Coffee Bar is open one hour before and during the interval of most evening events, selling teas, coffee, soft drinks, biscuits, chocolate and sweets. Ice cream is on sale during the interval of most concerts in the Adrian Boult Hall. page 47

The Licensed Bar is open one hour before and during the interval of most events at the Conservatoire. Interval drinks can be ordered in advance. Please ring the Concert Office on 0121 331 5909 if you would like to check bar opening times.

FACILITIES FOR DISABLED PEOPLE The Adrian Boult Hall, Recital Hall, Arena Foyer and New Lecture Theatre are accessible to wheelchair users. Accessible toilet facilities are also available. There are spaces set aside in the Halls for wheelchair users and volunteer companion seats may be available on request.

Please contact the Concert Office on 0121 331 5909.

There is limited parking available for disabled visitors outside of the Conservatoire. Access to this is via Margaret Street and the spaces are available on a first come, first served basis.

Display of the relevant disabled sticker is essential.

Disabled people are entitled to concessionary tickets where available.

FACILITIES FOR VISUALLYIMPAIRED PEOPLE Guide dogs are welcome at all venues. Please let us know in advance if you are bringing a guide dog, so that we can allocate a space for him or her!

A copy of this brochure is available in large print by contacting the Concert Office on 0121 331 5909.

LATECOMERS To minimise disruption to the performers and to other members of the audience, latecomers will only be admitted to the Halls during a suitable break in the performance. This may be at the interval of the event.

SMOKING Smoking is not permitted in Birmingham Conservatoire.

FREE MAILING LIST To receive details of forthcoming events free of charge, please write to: Mailing List, Concert Office, Birmingham Conservatoire, Paradise Place, Birmingham B3 3HG Or email: bhamcons.concerts@bcu.ac.uk Or telephone: 0121 331 5909 for a mailing list form.

Please note that the details you give us will be stored on an electronic database held in Birmingham Conservatoire’s Concert Office. By sending us your details, you have given us your permission to store this information.

If you would like to receive information in large print, please indicate this in your letter.

YOUR COMMENTS The Concert Office staff are always interested to hear your comments and suggestions about our concert programme, facilities and services. You can write to the Concert Manager at Birmingham Conservatoire, Paradise Place, Birmingham B3 3HG or email bhamcons. concerts@bcu.ac.uk

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Birmingham Conservatoire thanks its sponsors and supporters SPONSORS

PARTNERS

Avid Classical Guitar Centre European Culture Programme DfE (Music & Dance Scheme) EMI Music Sound Foundation John Avins Trust Leverhulme Trust The Schubert Ensemble of London The Wolfson Foundation Wilmcote Charitable Trust

Aston Performing Arts Academy Birmingham Contemporary Music Group Birmingham Hippodrome Birmingham Music Service Birmingham Philharmonic Orchestra Birmingham Royal Ballet City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra Coventry Performing Arts Service Ex Cathedra In Harmony Stoke and Telford Jazzlines Leamington Music mac Birmingham Music Education Council Music for Youth Musicians’ Union Orchestra of the Swan Perry Beaches II Quench Arts Royal College of Organists Royal Shakespeare Company sampad Sound Futures South Birmingham College

EVENT SPONSORS & FUNDERS Adam Mickiewicz Institute Arts Council England Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in London German Federal Foreign Office Goethe Institute Holst Foundation Polish Cultural Institute London Polska Music PRS Foundation for New Music RVW Trust Vandoren Paris Wellcome Trust Yamaha

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Stan’s Café Third Ear Town Hall / Symphony Hall Tredegar Town Band Welsh National Opera Wolverhampton Music Hub

MEMBERSHIP Association of European Conservatoires Conservatoires UK Incorporated Society of Musicians

SUPPORTING US Birmingham Conservatoire is very grateful for the support of individuals and companies.

There are many ways in which you can support us: • •

•

•

•

Sponsor a concert or series of concerts.

Sponsor a student and follow them through their course of study.

Support the Conservatoire Endowment Fund – a fund set up to benefit students in need.

Make a donation. The Conservatoire values donations small or large.

Donations can be gift-aided, increasing their value to the Conservatoire.

For further details, or if you have an idea you would like to discuss with us, please contact: Andrea Cox Principal’s Office Birmingham Conservatoire Paradise Place, Birmingham B3 3HG Tel: 0121 331 5910 Email: andrea.cox@bcu.ac.uk

BIRMINGHAM CONSERVATOIRE ASSOCIATION Support the Musicians of Tomorrow - Join us Today Birmingham Conservatoire Association is a voluntary organisation supporting the work of the students at Birmingham Conservatoire.

Our international membership consists of alumni, current and former members of staff, distinguished Honorary Members including the President of Birmingham Conservatoire Sir Simon Rattle CBE Duniv, parents, friends and all those wishing to support our objectives. We are a Registered Charity which is independent from the Conservatoire. Our work includes the production of a twice-yearly promotional magazine Fanfare III, financial support for the CBSO String Training Scheme and to individual students for a variety of needs (such as instrumental purchase and repair,

travelling & living expenses, and masterclasses), the annual Undergraduate Welcome and biennial Alumni and Staff Reunions.

Membership is open to everyone who wishes to support the work of the students at Birmingham Conservatoire. The students increasingly need your help in these days of global financial hardship. Please refer to our web site www.bcu.ac.uk/conservatoire/ bca to see the benefits offered to BCA members and join us online or by requesting an application form from BCA Hon Secretary John Smith 0121 476 4741 / smith@hrs359.fsnet.co.uk .

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TICKET HOTLINE

0121 245 4455

Quick Guide to Booking Your Tickets Where tickets are available in advance please: Phone the TICKET HOTLINE:

0121 245 4455

Mon to Sat: 10am to 5.30pm Book ON-LINE at www.birmingham-box.co.uk Visit The Box at Birmingham Repertory Theatre, Centenary Square, Broad Street, Birmingham, B1 2EP Mon to Sat: 10am to 5.30pm Visa / Delta / Connect / Mastercard / Switch / Cheque with guarantee card For all other events at Birmingham Conservatoire (as indicated in the listings with ‘tickets available on the door’) you can purchase your ticket at the venue from up to 45 minutes prior to the concert start time. If you wish to guarantee your seat by reserving your ticket in advance, please do so by phoning the Concert Office on 0121 331 5909 (lines open between 10am-4pm Mon-Fri).

Your ticket will then be reserved and available to purchase on the door.

Stay in touch for details of forthcoming concerts, special offers and our latest news.

To join Birmingham Conservatoire's free mailing list please e-mail bhamcons.concerts@bcu.ac.uk or contact the Concert Office on 0121 331 5909.

WWW.BCU.AC.UK/CONSERVATOIRE