What a busy year so far…
Tubular Bells Live! celebrated the 50th Anniversary of Mike Oldfield’s amazing album and subsequent career with a great concert at Cheltenham Town Hall, followed by headlining at the fan convention in Newbury and a lovely intimate gig at Trading Boundaries in East Sussex. Many more gigs are being booked in. Check out our main website for the tour dates – mostly in 2024 now so save the date.
The George Harrison Project is going from strength to strength around the UK. I’m really enjoying playing keys, singing and shaking things with this great band. Check out dozens of gigs on their main website and facebook. Please note that if I’m already conducting a show week then my counterpart Ray will be playing on my behalf for the GHP!
Education and Schools Work – The Royal Opera House East (Bridge) project “Discovering Creative Careers” was a success in 3 secondary schools the Thurrock area and 4 primary schools in and around Harwich at Easter. Big thanks to Adam Morris from ROHB, Vanessa Lindsay and James Newell, Headteacher at Wix and Wrabness Primary for helping co-ordinate this exciting project in which 140 pupils explored arts careers, videos, activities and games and produced a final performance or artwork to a live brief. The final event was held at the charming Electric Palace in Harwich (thanks to them too!) and supported by around 220 adults and other teaching staff.
The World Premiere of “Miniatures on the Golden Ratio” for violin, piano and strings, was performed on 1st July 2023 at the Reading Rooms in Warham, Norfolk. It was composed for Steve Bingham’s 2017 birthday and it was very received by performers and audience alike. Based on the classic concept of the Golden Ratio (1.618) and the Fibonacci Sequence, the 3 short movements were beautifully performed and quite moving to hear for the very first time live. Expect an album recording soon! The concert was preceded by another large concert at St Luke’s Church in Cambridge, where we also performed a number of my arrangements (and those of colleague and friend Rowan Alfred) of pop songs from Steve’s “Touch” album: Take on Me, Signal to Noise, Say Something, Running up that Hill and The Brazillian by Genesis.
Finally, the Tale of Two Cities musical and the ICONIC pop choir concert were both a great success at the Headgate Theatre Colchester. I look forward to preparing the following this year: leading WOW Summer Schools (Witham in August 2023), popping in to conduct Crazy for You (Witham in October), conducting Urinetown (Chelmsford Studio Theatre in November 2023), playing for Funny Girl (Headgate Theatre in November 2023), conducting High School Musical (Witham in Feb 2024), conducting Platform Musicals (Headgate Theatre in May 2024), conducting Legally Blonde (Clacton Princes Theatre in June 2024), conducting Made in Dagenham (Manningtree in November 2024). I’m also playing piano for 3 weddings in October and hope to finish off my Zodiac Symphonic Suite at some point.
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