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

Watch this space for further news on a monthly basis or please email me: 

mark@markeager.com

To see older items now removed from this news reel please click here