
1 May 2010
I find myself yet again
travelling up to eathrow for a long flight,
this time to South Africa. I will be working all over - Port
Elizabeth, East London, Durban, Johannesburg, Pretoria and
even
venturing In to Botswana - 6 weeks in all. I'll do my
best to upload
what should be some wonderful photos and keep you all posted
on my
activities.
Once I'm done in SA I get home for a day
before another long haul to
Australia where I will be until 14 July working in Sydney,
Tasmania,
Melbourne and Cairns.
I'm also currently planning
The Welsh Sinfonia's next Series which
should be very exciting. Music from Bach to Honegger with Welsh
representation from John Metcalf and a new commission from
the
wonderful Rhian Samuel for world renowned recorder player Pamela
Thorby.
Herts Wind Sinfonia have
been invited to play at La Madeleine in Paris
in August - a first for a wind ensemble - look out for more
details.
Best wishes
Mark
Posted 1 May 2010
5 March 2010
How time flies!!

Everything has been rather
hectic since my last update. Venice and Berlin amongst other
venues.


The transformed
Welsh Sinfonia has almost completed its first Cardiff Series “The Spirit of the
Dance” and in the process has won over many friends,
admirers and importantly sponsors. See the new website and
why not join us for regular updates.
We have the final
concert in the Series on 14th March 4.30pm at Cardiff University
Concert Hall to include Beethoven’s 7th Symphony and The Emoticons of
Time – a new percussion concerto by Eilir Owen Griffiths
for percussionist Dave Danford.
Cardiff University Symphony Orchestra continues
to go from strength to strength and I am looking forward to
the upcoming St David’s Hall concert on March 19th at
7.30pm.
We start with a romp through Dvorak’s Slavonik Dance
No.8 and then a very special performance of Rachmaninov’s
Third Piano Concerto with Rex Lawson playing the Piano Roll!!
This is a rare opportunity and has certainly taught me a great
deal about the very underestimated Pianola. For more info see www.pianolasociety.com

I have chosen an interesting mix of Australian
and UK music for my next Hertfordshire Wind Sinfonia concert
on April 9th 7.30pm at Berkhampstead Collegiate School. We
will play the rarely heard Dance Movements by Philip Sparke
and a special new arrangement for me of Alea Iacta Est by Sydney
composer Michael Forsyth, as well as interesting works by Holst
scholar Raymond Head and Brisbane based Ralph Hultgren involving
Aboriginal chanting!
Coming up in the Summer, HWS is the first
wind ensemble to be invited to play a concert at La Madeleine,
Paris although they have told us we must play “sacred
music” – look out for further details.

Finally I am off to Thailand in May then
Australia again in June and July having been invited to conduct
in Sydney, Cairns and Melbourne. I will be appearing at the
Sydney Eisteddfod,
World Music Projects and
conducting an orchestra of Sydney’s elite students.
Posted 6 March 2010
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