Saturday, June 20, 2015 7:30pm
The peak of the Summer will bring the Friends of St. Thomas a Becket Church a unique evening led by John Madden, from Newchurch. We are honoured that John has composed a new work for the Friends, which will be premiered at St. Thomas a Becket Church.
John will introduce Jess and Evie Price from Brilley. They were both pupils at Hereford Cathedral School and members of the award winning girls choir, Cantabile. They have appeared as soloists in Hereford Cathedral and won prizes at the National Eisteddfod and the Cheltenham Music Festival. They gave a concert at St. Mary’s Church, Hay-on-Wye during the Literary Festival in 2014, to great acclaim.
John Madden has been composing since he was 14. He wrote A Song of Creation for the Royal opening of Liverpool Cathedral in 1978, when he was still only 22. His music has also been included in the Christmas broadcast from King’s College, Cambridge. John conducted the Scottish premiere of Paul McCartney’s Liverpool Oratorio. He writes largely to commission and is published by many of the leading music publishers in the world, such as OUP and Novello. He has taught and been Director of Music at some of the country’s leading public schools, is an examiner with the ABRSM and Artistic Director of the National Schools Symphony Orchestra.
The recital will consist of popular pieces to please all musical tastes. Well known music by Vivaldi, JS Bach, Haydn and Gluck will delight concert-goers. But the highlight will be the world premiere of The Seasons Psalter, a lyrical song cycle for two sopranos and chamber organ, written specially for the occasion by John Madden.
The recital will conclude with a full reception at Huntington Court with drinks and canapés.
John Madden
Jess and Evie Price