Christmas Concerts
Dickens, A Christmas Carol, 7pm, Wednesday 10th December, St Martin-of-Tours
This should be fantastic! We’re so delighted to be welcoming back the amazing actor, Susie Riddell, of Archers fame, to read a setting of Dickens Christmas Carol. Accompanied by music specially composed to fit the story, performed by a string quartet, this should get you set up early in December to look forward to Christmas. A few carols or Christmas music will complete the programme. More details about this fun evening soon. We will welcome back Ellie Norris, who has performed at so many WEM events, notably playing up a storm in Vivald’s Summer. Two new faces will join Ellie and cellist Rebecca – Will Newell on violin and Dorothea Vogel, on viola. You will be able to check out biographes on the Artists page soon.
Our QR code programmes seem to be working well and most were able to access programme details and artist information, whilst keeping to our zero paper programmes commitment. Do ask for help if you’re unsure how this works when you arrive at the church. All these concerts will shortly be available to book through the website. It helps us SO much if you book in advance – you can still pay cash or card on the door, but booking just lets us know what the numbers are likely to be and stops me from having a heart attack of anxiety!!
The Snowman! Orpington Methodist Church, 11am, Saturday 20th December.
Once again, we are grateful to EnSEmble26 for bringing the Snowman back to Orpington. Always a delightful concert, this is a setting of Raymond Briggs well-loved story accommpanied by the original music. The string quartet is the same personnel as two years ago, and our usual crew for Christmas concert – we’re so happy that Ellie, Tom and Malcie can come over this way to play for us – Christmas wouldn’t be the same in Orpington without them! Susie Riddell will be back again, too, to read for the children and turn this concert into a magical morning for children and adults alike. Keep an eye out for the bit where the Snowman melts – bets are on that Ellie, Rebecca and Susie will shed a tear…! (It’s happened every SINGLE year!) Please note the new venue for us! We’re delighted to be more central to Orpington for this special family concert and are working with Orpington Methodist Church to donate any profits from the 2 Christmas concerts, to their Christmas Tree Festival charities, The Maypole Project and CASPA.
Plans for the future
Mozart’s Letters – a wonderful hour of music and readings collated by principal flautist of the LSO, Gareth Davies. Music from the Mozart flute quartets interspersed with readings from his letters. An informative, touching and amusing way to spend an evening. Currently postponed due to illness, we hope very much to be able to put this concert on in the spring.
Young Artists Programme
We would like to continue in our commitment to include some local young musicians in our concerts. If you know of a particularly talented youngster, do get in touch – we love to give a spot to uprising talent from the local community.
Young artists we have heard already include young professional trumpeter Louis Barclay; violinist Scott Storey (co-leader of the NYO, now student at the RCM); singer Jonathan Brookes and cellist Nina Kiva, who was the star of the show at our Ukrainian fundraiser. For the last 2 Christmas concerts we have invited 10 year old Martha Norris from Sydenham to give her concert debut singing ‘Walking in the Air’.
Festival of Youth
Another idea we have in the pipeline is a Festival of Youth. Continuing on from our desire to nurture young music in the community we are working on a plan to hold two concerts of young musicians. The first would be school-age players chosen from the classes of local music teachers; the second would be a showcase for college level students. Just on the top of the hill here in Green Street Green there are three teachers representing The Royal Academy, The Royal College and the Guildhall School of Music and Drama so we’re very excited about these possibilities.