Is it really July already?

It's been a busy six months or so - here's what's been happening with thanks as ever to all involved.

I can't believe it's been so many months since I last updated - there are regular posts on my Facebook page but here's a potted history on 2023 so far:

This week I was delighted that the Besson Quintet (Roger Webster, Tom Stone, Owen Farr, David Childs, Les Neish) played a new arrangement of my Serenata at the Samedan Brass Week in Switzerland (05/07). There's a video so I hope to share that soon.

The lovely OU Choir with whom I've worked with for over a decade, conducted by Bill Strang, gave a second performance of my A different kind of urban with the Cantoribus Ensemble who also premiered Constellations (06/07). It was particularly wonderful to be with them especially as this was postponed from the pandemic.

The Jenner Musical Picnic celebrated vaccination pioneer Dr Edward Jenner (17/06), written, sung and played in collaboration with members of the Berkeley community and guests, where he lived and worked 200 years ago.

The Three Choirs Festival is fast approaching with the premiere of What the Lark Saw (26/07) - an extraordinary coming together of workshop outputs distilled into 5 songs and interludes, also a performance of my Tide and Time (29/07) by Flowers Band with Michael Fowles, and a talk on Edward Jenner (25/07).

In May I went on tour to Belgium with Lydbrook Band who played Shadow Cast by the Sun from Rhythm of Light which traces the life and work of Barbara Hepworth (originally commissioned by Hepworth Band), and was delighted to be invited to the Hepworth exhibition at Towner Eastbourne where two movements - Landscape and Shadow Cast by the Sun were played four times in one day by a band especially got together, conducted by Linda Harvey, to a very appreciative audience.

Grimethorpe Colliery Band played my new piece Beyond the Light, written in memory of Bramwell Tovey, at the RNCM Brass Band Festival and several other concerts too, which has also been recorded. I'll be joining them on their seaside tour in August with a new piece, and music from both the Surtaal Symphony and Bluebird projects.

Lots of other music projects, plans and commissions in the offing, so more updates as and when. Thanks for looking in and to everyone who keeps playing my music and working with me - it's a real privilege and joy.

‍