WCGS News
Will Browne: Tribute to Julian Bream
William Browne
The next concert in our New Artist’s Scheme is almost upon us and Will Browne will be presenting a programme of works inspired by the great Julian Bream. A musical tribute no less, to a great man.
Featuring pieces by Richard Rodney Bennett, Lennox Berkeley and Benjamin Britten the programme is comprised of works that were either commissioned by, arranged by, or dedicated to Bream.
Will has been very busy recently with performances featuring the premieres of several newly commisioned works for his guitar duo - The Smith-Browne Guitar Duo - and at the end of May he gave a sell-out tour of Singapore with the soprano Shing Min.
Please visit In Focus for more details.
The New Artist’s Scheme – 2011
Final selections for the 2011 New Artist’s Scheme were made recently and we begin by offering a big thank you to all the candidates who entered. The competition for three places was extremely close with fourteen entrants, all of whom would have honoured us with concerts that truly reflect the inspired climate of the modern, contemporary guitar scene. However, choices had to be made and these were by no means easy given the exceptional standard of programming and performance credentials on offer from all the participants.
The decision finally came down to three players who stood out for us with their stimulating programme choices: Finbarr Malafronte, Andrew Booth and Paul Norman. You can now read more information about the three successful candidates, by clicking the links below.
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| Go to » Finbarr Malafronte | Go to » Andrew Booth | Go to » Paul Norman |
Dodici Corde concert review
A great recent concert that generated a lot of discussion from Docidi Corde performing on period instruments. See the concert reviewed » here
Other News
Our patron, Hayley Savage has a swish new website with lots of new features. Same address » www.hayleysavage.co.uk
Also with a new website Xuefei Yang » www.xuefeiyang.com
WCGO take second place in the Federation Cup.
The British Banjo Mandolin Guitar Federation Rally held over the weekend of 5th - 7th March 2010 was a well attended and well organised event, and our thanks go to Danielle and her helpers in the Midlands Fretted Orchestra for having put so much energy and effort into the occasion.
The British Banjo Mandolin Guitar Federation Rally is a nomadic festival celebrating fretted music in all shapes and sizes that tours the country, being hosted by member organisations every two years.
This event ran over three days and included two days of performances and workshops with a final day of competitions. The WCGO took part in the orchestral competition on the final day and were the only classical-guitar-only group among the eight competing organisations. The first prize, in all three competitions (the Federation Cup for musicianship, the Coronation Trophy for entertainment and the John Alvey Turner Shield for presentation, professionalism and performance) went to Da Capo Alba; deserving winners with an accomplished performance of two works, the Allegro from a symphony by William Boyce and The Song of Japanese Autumn by Yasuo Kuwahara.
The second prize in the Federation Cup for muscianship went to the WCGO with our performance of Farewell to Inverness by Chris Kilvington. Frances Taylor, the awarding judge commented afterwards:
"You were the only guitar-only group but created a fantastic sound world. Beautiful soft reflective moment contrasted with moments of menace and fleeting arpeggio figures. Excellent focus and ensemble work. Neat and precise playing technically."
Thank you Frances, and thanks to all who made this such a wonderful experience.
Roland Chadwick - in a Tutu!
'There seems to be some confusion', Roland begins. I should say! In fact what Roland is actually saying is that the San Francisco Ballet have just picked up The Wendy House, a suite of five pieces he wrote about his sister and are going to choreograph a new ballet to it.
Regulars to our concerts will remember the performance of The Wendy House that Roland and his trio, The Modern guitar Trio gave for our second New Artist's Scheme concert back in 2008.
No word yet to say when the SF version will appear in production but we are very plie-sed for him!
Page updated: June 27, 2010