Britten Sinfonia News

RPS Award Ceremony

noreply@blogger.com (Britten Sinfonia) — Wed, 15 May 2013 11:24:00 +0000

Last night we were very proud to recieve the Royal Philharmonic Society Award for Ensemble. The award was presented to Britten Sinfonia Leader Jacqueline Shave and David Butcher, the orchestra's Chief Executive and Artistic Director by Dame Janet Baker at a glittering ceremony at London's Dorchester. Here are some photos from the ceremony;

David Butcher, Jacqueline Shave and Dame Janet Baker

Jacqueline Shave and David Butcher with the RPS Ensemble Award

Jacqueline Shave, Caroline Dearnley (Principal Cello) and David Butcher with Beethoven's bust

Read all about our award here

All photos (c) Simon Jay Price

www.rpsmusicawards.com

The Musically Gifted Campaign

noreply@blogger.com (Britten Sinfonia) — Tue, 30 Apr 2013 10:33:00 +0000

Back in 2011-12 Britten Sinfonia ran a slightly more unusual campaign: A Tenner for a Tenor. The campaign was the first time Britten Sinfonia had tested the ‘crowdfunding’ concept – basically, getting lots of people together giving small amounts, in order to make a project happen. With the Tenner for a Tenor campaign, we were commissioning the acclaimed composer Jonathan Dove for our ‘At Lunch’ concert series, and we needed additional funds to make it happen. By the time of the world premiere, over 300 people had come together, giving £10 or more each. Everyone was a winner: Britten Sinfonia achieved its target for the campaign, and those giving £10 had their name in the front of the full score, which will remain there forever.

We were thrilled with the response, but at the time the Tenner for a Tenor campaign was very much a ‘one off’ thing, and was based solely on the fact that Jonathan Dove’s work featured the world-renowned tenor Mark Padmore, and to participate you just had to give £10. You quite literally got a tenor, for a tenner. It got us thinking though: how can we replicate this success in future? As importantly, how can we enable more people to have a real stake in the new music that they hear Britten Sinfonia perform on stage?

Well, we’re excited to announce that the successor campaign has launched: Musically Gifted. When looking at the charity marketplace, we saw there were various shining examples of excellence out there, especially away from the arts sector, including Oxfam’s famous ‘Unwrapped’ campaign. The beauty of Oxfam’s campaign is that you can buy a unique gift, and that depending on how much you have to spend, you can buy anything from a goat, to safe water for 50 people, to teacher training plus much more. All of the gifts bought enable Oxfam to deliver real change in the communities in which they operate.

With Musically Gifted we’ve taken a similar approach. Instead of goats we have composers, and we’ll have up to eight composers for you to choose from at any one time. You can buy a gift at one of seven different levels, and the more you spend, the more your rewards increase. The basic gift remains at just £10, and for that we’ll give you a hearty shout-out on Twitter and Facebook, plus you’ll get your name in the full score of your chosen work and email updates as the work evolves from commission to premiere. If you have a bit more to spend, then you can have anything from complimentary tickets to the world première of your chosen work, to an invitation for you and a guest to attend our rehearsals. You can even have afternoon tea with your chosen composer and our players.

Visit the website, www.musicallygifted.org.uk, and browse the selection of composers available. Buy a gift for yourself, or for the special someone in your life. Whoever you choose and at whatever level, you’ll be helping Britten Sinfonia create new music.

Finally, there’s one more important bit of information to tell you. As we were planning the campaign, Arts Council England put out a call for proposals, that would enable more people to give to the arts. We’re really pleased to say that the Musically Gifted campaign was one of the chosen proposals, and as a result for the next two years all gifts bought through Musically Gifted will be match-funded by the Arts Council, up to a maximum of £50,000 each year. We can also claim gift aid on your gift too. Your £10 gift could therefore become £22.50; or a £500 gift could become worth £1,125 – at absolutely no cost to you. So, if you’re in the market for a unique musical gift then please do visit the website and help us create new music.

Photos from the Mexico tour

noreply@blogger.com (Britten Sinfonia) — Wed, 24 Apr 2013 15:48:00 +0000

Back in March Britten Sinfonia visited Mexico for the third time. We performed four concerts in Mexico City, Leon and Guadalajara as well as some impromptu string quartet performances at the end of the tour in locations across Mexico City.

On first arrival in Mexico our dedicated team of Britten Sinfonia runners took the opportunity to explore Mexico City;

Our first concert at the magnificent Castillo de Chapultepec in Mexico City. Here's the view from the Castle taken by our Chief Exec whilst the orchestra rehearsed;

This concert celebrated the 70th anniversary of the Anglo-Mexican Foundation. Ariette Armella kindly took some photos during the performance;

When we arrived in Leon we were surprised to come across some giant billboards featuring Britten Sinfonia (photo by Principal 2nd Violin Miranda Dale);

And following the performance in Leon we enjoyed a post-concert meal;

At the end of the tour we performed several pop-up concerts across Mexico City in unusual locations. String quartets from the orchestra performed at the Anthropology Museum, MIDE Museum, Bellas Artes and Pergolas Gardens at the Castillo de Chapultepec. Magaly Palacios Morales kindly took some photos at the Anthropology Museu and Pergolas Gardens;

And Britten Sinfonia Chief Executive, David took some photos at Bellas Artes;

We'd like to thank the Anglo-Mexican Foundation, the British Council (Mexico) and Cambridge English Language Assesment for funding this tour.

Meet Ian Bostridge

noreply@blogger.com (Britten Sinfonia) — Mon, 08 Apr 2013 09:13:00 +0000

Tenor, Ian Bostridge will be joining Britten Sinfonia at the Barbican in May for a programme exploring the themes of sleep and night. Ahead of the concert Ian has managed to find some time in his busy schedule to answer a few questions about himself.

What has been the highlight of your career so far?
Working with Britten Sinfonia ... And playing Aschenbach in Britten's Death in Venice at the ENO.

When are you happiest?

With my wife and children, preferably somewhere hot.

What is your greatest fear?

For my children's future in a world where common decencies are under assault by the scourge of neoliberalism.

What is your earliest musical memory?

Singing the solo in Vaughan-Williams' motet O Taste and See at my local church in Streatham, getting lost, and bursting into tears. I must have been 6 or 7.

Which living person do you most admire, and why?

My wife, Lucasta Miller, for her brilliant mind and brilliant writing; and for keeping things together when I'm away. And when I'm not.

What is your most treasured possession?

Score of the Tempest with Tom Ades's dedication

What would your super power be?

Teleportation, so I could get home more often between concerts and rehearsals.

If you were an animal what would you be?

My son, at 2, famously said "Mummy a tiger, Daddy a hen". So there you have it.

What is your most unappealing habit?

Nervous tension. Nail biting.

What is your favourite book?

War and Peace.

What is your guiltiest pleasure?

Oversleeping

Who would you invite to your dream dinner party?

Franz Schubert, Albert Einstein, Dr Johnson, Letitia Landon, Jane Austen, Cleopatra

If you could go back in time, where would you go?

1984 when I met my wife

How do you relax away from the concert platform?

Reading, eating, looking at pictures, watching DVD box sets, walking, playing with the children, talking to my friends. The normal stuff.

What do you consider your greatest achievement?

My two extraordinarily lovely children.

What is the most important lesson life has taught you?

Try and be kind.

In a nutshell, what is your philosophy?

There are more things in heaven and earth than are dreamt of in most philosophies

Ian Bostridge performs with Britten Sinfonia on Saturday 4 May 2013 at London's Barbican. For further information click here

Britten Sinfonia Academy - Fitzwilliam Museum residency

noreply@blogger.com (Britten Sinfonia) — Tue, 19 Mar 2013 16:33:00 +0000

Last weekend, Britten Sinfonia Academy performed as part of the Fitzwilliam Museum’s Sunday concert series. Britten Sinfonia Academy is a new ensemble giving young classical musicians from the East of England an opportunity learn and develop their chamber skills alongside some of the UKs top chamber musicians. In addition to performing at the Fitzwilliam, the ensemble were resident in the museum for the weekend, giving more time for the young musicians to explore the museum and to explore the context and relevance of its artifacts to their music.

Britten Sinfonia Academy member, Andrew reports on the weekend:

"Last weekend Britten Sinfonia Academy made their way to the Fitzwilliam Museum for rehearsals, which culminated in a concert on Sunday afternoon. On arrival on Saturday morning, we started to rehearse some small ensemble work in the grand spaces available to us in the museum. We ran through and refined previously rehearsed works during the morning, and progress was greatly enhanced by the discovery of the kettle midway through the morning! We worked especially on Stravinsky’s Suites for Small Orchestra throughout the day, for which we came together as a large ensemble.

In the afternoon we were guided on two tours around the museum, in which we studied paintings from the time of the composers of our works, to give us context on the music that we were preparing to perform. I think everyone found that this helped us to find character in our pieces, and I was surprised at how much that I learnt on these tours.

After battling through hoards of keen participants in the Cambridge Half Marathon on Sunday morning, rehearsals commenced with final tweaks being added to our performances. We made the long trek upstairs to the gallery where we were to perform with our instruments in the early afternoon, after eating far too much cake in our break beforehand! The hall was full for our performance, with spectators even gathering at the back of the hall to get a glimpse of the chamber music that we were presenting. Everyone really enjoyed performing in the concert, and felt that all of the pieces ran smoothly. The concert ended with an arrangement of Piazzolla’s Oblivion, which was rehearsed and performed solely by members of the Academy."

To find out more about Britten Sinfonia Academy click here

Audience Survey Feedback

noreply@blogger.com (Britten Sinfonia) — Wed, 13 Mar 2013 16:01:00 +0000

We recently conducting our 2013 audience survey. A big thank you to all who completed the survey. It is now closed to respondents and we're busy analysing the results. In the meantime we've created a couple of wordles (word clouds) drawn from the responses to a couple of the questions in the survey. Not only are wordles quite pretty they also make for an interesting way of presenting information as they give greater prominence to words that appear more frequently in the source text.

Do you have any other comments about the last Britten Sinfonia concert you attended?

Do you have any further comments about Britten Sinfonia and its work?

If you click on the images above you'll be able to see larger versions.

Meet Eamonn Dougan

noreply@blogger.com (Britten Sinfonia) — Mon, 18 Feb 2013 11:09:00 +0000

Britten Sinfonia Voices, formed in 2011, once again join the orchestra for the premiere performances of Eriks Esenvalds new work, Aqua. This new work forms part of concerts entitled Baltic Nights featuring music by fellow Latvian Peteris Vasks alongside works by Bach and Perotin.

Eamonn Dougan, Director of Britten Sinfonia Voices talking about the programme said "So much amazing choral music has come from the Baltic states in recent years and they enjoy such a strong singing tradition that it seemed natural to preface a new work by Eriks Esenvalds with pieces by composers who must surely have influenced him." Eamonn will be conducting the new work by Esenvalds alongside Bach's motet Komm, Jesu, komm and Perotin's Viderunt omnes. Eamonn took some time out of rehearsals to answer a few questions about himself.

What has been the highlight of your career so far?

Directing The Sixteen at the Concertgebouw in a programme celebrating James MacMillan's 50th birthday with the composer in the audience.

What is your earliest musical memory?

Sitting in my sister's piano lessons thinking I'd like to have a go.

What would your super power be?

To be able to do without sleep periodically so that there really would be enough hours in the day to get everything done.

If you were an animal what would you be?

Probably a small, yapper-type dog (à la Eddie Izzard)

What is your favourite book?

As it is in heaven by Niall Williams. He writes so beautifully - prose which is more like poetry.

Who would you invite to your dream dinner party?

Not sure this would be my dream dinner party, but I have lots of questions for Jarvis Cocker, Bono, Peter Warlock and Brian Patten. However, I think there might be an almighty row.

If you could go back in time, where would you go?

Either to Tudor England to just hear how this incredible music sounded in their time (and in the process find some definitive answers on pitch and voice types) or to Bach's Leipzig to see him at work (and to ask him what his preferred forces would be, given a choice!)

How do you relax away from the concert platform?

Playing with my son is the perfect antidote as there is no chance to think of anything else.

What is the most important lesson life has taught you?
Try to enjoy the here and now as you don't know what might be around the corner.

In a nutshell, what is your philosophy?
Same answer as the previous question really, coupled with if a job is worth doing, it's worth doing well. (Oh, and remember to put the glasses in the cupboard neatly, in height order!)

Baltic Nights performances take place at Cambridge West Road Concert Hall on Monday 25th February, London's Barbican on Wednesday 27th February and Norwich Theatre Royal on Sunday 3rd March. Find out more about the concerts and book tickets here

Alina Ibragimova and Britten Sinfonia: an ongoing collaboration

noreply@blogger.com (Britten Sinfonia) — Tue, 12 Feb 2013 15:57:00 +0000

Alina Ibragimova once again joins Britten Sinfonia in late February/early March for the tour of our Baltic Nights programme. Alina has been a regularly collaborator with Britten Sinfonia, first performing with us in 2006 for our At Lunch series of concerts. Aged only 21 Alina, performed lunchtime concerts in Krakow, , Aldeburgh, Cambridge, Norwich and London.

Alina rehearsing in Krakow with Huw Watkins and Joy Farrall

The programme for these At Lunch concerts featured the premiere of Huw Watkins Dream (later released on Britten Sinfonia’s Songs of the Sky CD), Michael Zev Gordon’s Fragments from a Diary and works by Stravinsky and Bartok.

Alina arriving at the Assembly House in Norwich in the Britten Sinfonia taxi

In 2007 Britten Sinfonia joined Alina in the studio to record Concerto Funebre for violin and orchestra by the little known composer, Karl Amadeus Hartmann. Hartmann is a figure unique in German music - the only composer to stay put and defy Hitler for the duration of the Third Reich and his Concerto Funèbre, written in 1939 was a protest against Hitler’s occupation of Prague. Released by Hyperion the disc also features Hartmann’s Suite No’s 1 and 2 and Sonata No’s 1 & 2 for solo violin.

Alina and Britten Sinfonia went on to perform Hartmann’s Concerto funebre in Cambridge and Norwich. Returning to Norwich and Cambridge in 2009 for concerts entitled Bach Plus Alina performed music by Bach and Kurtag. The towering genius of Johann Sebastian Bach was the focus of these concerts, which contrasted four of his works with two seminal 20th-century pieces by Berg and Kurtág. Bach two surviving violin concertos were played by Alina.. Kurtág’s acknowledgement of his debt to Bach in his Signs, Games and Messages, which includes ‘Hommage à J.S.B.’, an exploration of a Bach-like melodic line also saw Alina take centre stage, amazing audiences with her technical ability and artistic flair. Bach Plus was also performed in Inverness and Monmouth.

Later in 2009 Alina performed Vaughan Williams’ beautiful Lark Ascending in concerts with Britten Sinfonia in aid of the Great Fen Project.

Alina has described how she loves working with Britten Sinfonia “Playing with Britten Sinfonia is never boring… they have their own take on things and aren’t afraid to do so”

In celebration of Britten Sinfonia’s 20^th Birthday in 2011 Alina joined forces with another of the orchestra’s long-term collaborators, Pekka Kuusisto for a performance of Bach’s Double Violin Concerto at our Barbican birthday celebrations.

Alina rehearsing at the Barbican (c) Ben Ealovega

Alina & Pekka enjoying the applause after their performance at Britten Sinfonia's Birtdhay concert (c) Rhydian Peters

We’re really looking forward to working with Alina again. She will perform one of the two surviving Bach Violin Concerto’s alongside a beautiful and ethereal violin concerto by Latvian composer, Peteris Vasks entitled Distant Light. You can see Alina talking about the programme in our short film about the Baltic Nights programme

The concerts take place at Cambridge West Road Concert Hall on Monday 25 February, Wednesday 27 February at London’s Barbican and Sunday 3^rd March at Norwich Theatre Royal. To find out more about the concerts and to book tickets click here

Memories of Richard Rodney Bennett

noreply@blogger.com (Britten Sinfonia) — Mon, 14 Jan 2013 15:08:00 +0000

We were saddened to hear of the death of Richard Rodney Bennett over the festive period. Richard has had a long association with Britten Sinfonia and will be sorely missed not only by us but the worldwide music community.

Over Britten Sinfonia’s 20 year history we have performed and premiered many of Richard’s works – most notably we commissioned and gave the first performances of his Seven Country Dances in 2001, a piece specially written for the orchestra and our principal oboist Nicholas Daniel. The Times critic, Richard Morrison in his review in 2001 said “The Seven Country Dances poaches its melodies from a 17th-century English fiddle-tune collection, Playford's Dancing Master. But any notion that this is some sort of straitlaced "authentic" transcription is swiftly dispelled. Whether boisterously rustic or achingly melancholic, the Playford tunes are merely starting-points round which Bennett weaves ardent rhapsodies full of purple harmonies and plump textures. Both in style and spirit they evoke the early 20th-century folk-song arrangements of Vaughan Williams, Grainger and Warlock: light music, certainly, but immaculately crafted.”

We also recorded his Partita for Orchestra for the cover disk of BBC Music magazine in 1996. Co-commissioned by the Association of British Orchestra and BT this work was performed by seventeen different orchestras between October 1995 and July 1996 as part of the BT Celebration Series. Bennett said at the time “I responded to this exciting but rather daunting commission by writing a lively and I hope very accessible piece, which, I decided before I started composing, should be full of tunes.”

On a more personal level Richard was President of Britten Sinfonia during the late 1990’s/early 2000’s – a time in which he was a great support and friend of the ensemble. David Butcher, Britten Sinfonia Chief Executive also remembers fondly his most recent visit to New York, during which Richard, his good friend and publisher, Gill Graham and he played Scrabble late into the night at Richard’s apartment.

We will be performing Richard’s Tom O’Bedlam’s Song in our next At Lunch series of performances later this month. Our 2012-13 At Lunch series is focussing on Benjamin Britten’s chamber music alongside his influences and contemporaries, and Richard was certainly an important contemporary of Britten’s who alongside other 20^th century composers cultivated a distinctly ‘British’ character for their music. Scored for tenor and cello accompaniment, Tom O Bedlam’s Song will be performed by Mark Padmore and Britten Sinfonia’s principal cellist Caroline Dearnley. The anonymously written poem from which the text derives dates from around 1600 and describes an inmate of the Bethlem Royal Hospital for people with mental illness, providing the ideal inspiration for Richard’s modernist musing on the idea of madness.

For more details of our At Lunch concerts taking place in Cambridge (22 Jan), London (23 Jan) and Norwich (25 Jan) click here . We will also be performing this concert as part of Brighton Dome's Coffee Concert series (20 Jan) - for more information click here

Meet Angela Hewitt

noreply@blogger.com (Britten Sinfonia) — Mon, 26 Nov 2012 12:05:00 +0000

Acclaimed pianist, Angela Hewitt will be joining Britten Sinfonia in January 2013 for a tour featuring works by Beethoven. Although currently touring abroad Angela found the time to answer a few questions about herself.

What has been the highlight of your career so far?

I suppose my 2007-2008 Bach World Tour in which I performed Bach’s Well-Tempered Clavier in something like 110 concerts on six continents in 26 countries.

When are you happiest?

When a performance, either by myself or by a friend, goes beyond the very good level to the somehow very special. You know when that happens, and it’s the best thing there is.

What is your greatest fear?

I don’t really have any huge fears except not learning my notes in time for a concert. Everything else pales in comparison.

What is your earliest musical memory?

There are many—I have no idea which came first—but playing the toy trumpet I got as a present when I was two is one of them. I also got a toy piano at that age.

Which living person do you most admire, and why?

I admire a lady in Canada who is 95 years old and who still walks up eight flights of stairs every day and does sit-ups.

What was your most embarrassing moment?

When I was performing as a ballerina in the Polonaise from Eugene Onegin and my petticoat fell off. It was at a grand ball, and my ballet teacher was sitting at one of the tables. I remember to this day the look she gave me.

What is your most treasured possession?

My Fazioli concert grand piano on which I make my recordings.

If you were an animal what would you be?

I would rather be a bird so that I could sing.

What is your most unappealing habit?

I practise all the time.

What is your favourite book?

I don’t have a favourite book, just as I don’t have only one favourite piece of music. There are many. I love the programme notes of my friend, the late Michael Steinberg, who wrote “The Concerto”, published by OUP. When I read it, besides always learning something, he is once more in my company.

What is your guiltiest pleasure?

Listening to Laura Pausini’s “Strani Amori” at full blast.

Who would you invite to your dream dinner party?

It would be nice to have Bach, Couperin, Handel, Scarlatti and Rameau all together at the one table. The five great Baroque keyboard composers. I would expect them all to play, of course!

If you could go back in time, where would you go?

To Beethoven’s house to hear him improvise at the piano.

How do you relax away from the concert platform?

I have regular Swedish deep tissue massage.

What do you consider your greatest achievement?

Passing my driving test in London, driving on the left with gears. I cried when the examiner told me I had passed (I was 43 years old).

What is the most important lesson life has taught you?

Talent is nothing without work and discipline.

In a nutshell, what is your philosophy?

I don’t think I have any philosophy. I just try to do my work well, keep going, be positive, love my friends, and eat healthily.

Angela performs with Britten Sinfonia at the Theatre Royal Norwich on Tuesday 8 January, West Road Concert Hall in Cambridge on Friday 11 January, Birmingham Town Hall on Sunday 13 January and London's Barbican Hall on Wednesday 16 January.

Men at Work - raising money for Prostate Cancer UK

noreply@blogger.com (Britten Sinfonia) — Mon, 19 Nov 2012 14:15:00 +0000

Britten Sinfonia men are all eager to participate in Movember but with a slight twist!

Rather than attempt (what would have indubitably been) a very embarrassing hairy challenge (and because musicians don't do 'taches), they will participate in the most stylish of challenges:

- Wear a different tie every working day of the month. Bonus points for creativity!

We (the female members of staff) reckon that it will start a healthy bit of competition and are hoping to see ties that haven't seen the light of day in decades!

Please donate to this appeal, all we raise through this page will go to Prostate Cancer UK.

We'll be uploading a new photo each day of the Britten Sinfonia men in their ties.

Celebrating Hannah Ds last day before materni-TIE leave - all the girls are included too. 10-tie-tastic!

Anyone for tea (and/or a flower)

A nice array of colours

Post-concert ties at West Road Concert Hall

Men in ties - doing it in style with a G&T each

Ties in the van

A torrent of ties

A water-cooler moment

The three monkeys - see no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil

A change of scenary

Work experience - Imogen covering for James B

Gradient of bad taste

20th Birthday Concert in Pictures

noreply@blogger.com (Britten Sinfonia) — Tue, 13 Nov 2012 14:22:00 +0000

In late October Britten Sinfonia celebrated its 20th birthday with celebratory concerts in Cambridge, Norwich and London. The London concert launched the orchestra's association with the Barbican and photographers Benjamin Ealovega and Rhydian Peters captured the day.


Stephen Williams and Andy Sheppard in rehearsal (c) Ben Ealovega


Andy's sax (c) Ben Ealovega

Joanna MacGregor rehearsing Moondog (c) Ben Ealovega

Tom Herbert rehearsing Moondog (c) Ben Ealovega

Sound Engineer, Matt Fairclough (c) Ben Ealovega

Kuljit Bhamra rehearsing Moondog (c) Ben Ealovega

Seb Rochford rehearsing Moondog (c) Ben Ealovega

A smile during rehearsal (c) Ben Ealovega

Pekka Kuusisto & Mark Padmore in rehearsal (c) Ben Ealovega

Pekka & Alina Ibragimova rehearsing the Bach Double (c) Ben Ealovega


Nico Muhly multi-tasking during the rehearsal of his piece (c) Ben Ealovega

Eamonn Dougan conducting the rehearsal of Nico's piece (c) Ben Ealovega

Britten Sinfonia Voices rehearsing (c) Ben Ealovega

The 'running board' backstage - a busy day! (c) Ben Ealovega

Backstage (c) Ben Ealovega

Birthday Cake! for the musicians to share! (c) Ben Ealovega

Claire, Marketing Director & Nico Muhly sharing a drink (c) Rhydian Peters

Will (Development Director) talking to a guest at the reception (c) Rhydian Peters

Alexandra Reid introducing the Britten Sinfonia Academy performance (c) Rhydian Peters

Britten Sinfonia Academy (c) Rhydian Peters

Britten Sinfonia Academy performing on the free stage (c) Ben Ealovega

Backstage before the concert (c) Ben Ealovega

Orchestra and choir on stage (c) Rhydian Peters

Pekka & Alina performing the Bach Double (c) Rhydian Peters

Mark Padmore performing Les Illuminations (c) Rhydian Peters

Pekka performing his birthday tribute, OMG HBD (c) Rhydian Peters

Joanna MacGregor performing Bach (c) Rhydian Peters

Post concert performance on the Club stage (c) Ben Ealovega

Jackie Shave (c) Ben Ealovega

Post concert party time (c) Ben Ealovega

James MacMillan and David Butcher after the concert (c) Ben Ealovega

James (Creative Learning Assitant) and Gabrielle Deschamps (Development Assistant) enjoying the party (c) Ben Ealovega

Pekka gives the night a thumbs up! (c) Ben Ealovega

Nico enjoying a glass of vino (c) Ben Ealovega

Smiles all round (c) Ben Ealovega

An insiders view on Britten Sinfonia Academy

noreply@blogger.com (Britten Sinfonia) — Wed, 07 Nov 2012 16:21:00 +0000

Imogen (Academy harpist) writes about her experience during the first ever courses with Britten Sinfonia Academy, our new ensemble for talented secondary school aged musicians from the east of England. The group was formed in September and has since made their debut at West Road Concert Hall, Cambridge, Norwich Theatre Royal and the Barbican Centre in London.

In early September, Britten Sinfonia Academy met for their first day together and spent the day at West Road improvising and getting to know each other. Since then we have worked with Britten Sinfonia players towards performances together in Cambridge, Norwich and London. Over the past few months we met up for a few weekends of rehearsals and started to prepare for the three Birthday concerts. The first concert was in Cambridge and it was great to be able to show all our hard work. Playing at Norwich was really relaxing as we had played the music before and it was interesting to play in a new acoustic. The performance at the Barbican was great! We rehearsed in the morning and spent the day together before playing in the evening. It was fantastic to play in such a prestigious venue and I had such a great time.

The Academy has been a really wonderful experience so far and I have learned many useful skills from the way Britten Sinfonia work. It has taught me how important it is to really think about crafting the music and paying attention to detail. Working without a conductor gave me a chance to have a direct influence on how the music was played. So often when you are playing in an orchestra you have to play the music the way the conductor wants you to play it so it was great to have the opportunity to find my own voice. The vibrant energy and wide musical knowledge of all the players from Britten Sinfonia has really inspired me in both my ensemble playing and my practice. Rehearsing in such detail made me realise how important every element of the music is whether it is the articulation of a single note or a simple lead into a phrase. It has taught me more about listening to others and the importance of communication between players whilst performing and rehearsing music. Working with members of Britten Sinfonia and Britten Sinfonia Academy has been brilliant as it has helped me to develop as a musician and as a player.

The positive energy and virtuosic playing of everyone is so exciting and I can’t wait to see what happens next with the Academy. I have enjoyed every minute of the Academy so far and am learning more and more every time we play together. Britten Sinfonia do not come together to play the music - they come together to be the music. It has made me love music even more which I didn’t realise was possible! Thank you to everyone involved with the Academy.

To find out more about Britten Sinfonia Academy click here

Meet Gabrielle Deschamps

noreply@blogger.com (Britten Sinfonia) — Mon, 05 Nov 2012 13:55:00 +0000

Gabrielle started work at Britten Sinfonia as Development Assistant a couple of months ago. Gaby has been busy organising the receptions for our recent 20th birthday concerts but found the time to answer a few questions about herself;

What has been the highlight of your career so far?
Trying caviar for the first time at the Waitrose yearly party organised at the Orangerie in the Kensington Palace whilst I was managing a String Sextet.

When are you happiest?
When I’m surrounded by the people I love and we are laughing so hard I can’t breathe.

What is your greatest fear?
Our irrevocable replaceability: “I mean, they say you die twice. One time when you stop breathing and a second time, a bit later on, when somebody says your name for the last time.” Banksy

What is your earliest musical memory?
My mum singing all the Liza Minelli, Barbra Streisand and Shirley Bassey classics. Then being 5 and telling everybody I wanted to be an Opera “diva”.

Which living person do you most admire, and why?
I would lie if I said anybody else than Beyonce Knowles. Some classical musicians would do well to follow her lead and let their inhibitions let loose!

What was your most embarrassing moment?
When I let my inhibitions a little too loose and my skirt dropped to the floor when I was on stage and I had to run off to the dressing-rooms and cover my shame.

What is your most treasured possession?
A grand piano that is a family heirloom. It’s in bad shape and hasn’t been tuned in decades but my life-ambition is to restore it to its former glory.

What would your super power be?
I cannot share this publicly. Suffice it to say there would be far fewer wars as people would be too busy elsewhere!

If you were an animal what would you be?
A honey badger.

What is your most unappealing habit?
Auto-cannibalism. That makes it sound way worse than actual: I just eat and pick a lot at the skin around my fingers and it’s quite unappealing and incredibly painful.

What is your favourite book?
El amor en los tiempos del cólera by Gabriel García Márquez. A romantic story that is wonderfully and realistically flawed. Hopefully I will know such a sweeping passion!

What is your guiltiest pleasure?
Eating two chocolate éclairs one after the other.

Who would you invite to your dream dinner party?
Serge Gainsbourg and Whitney Houston.

If you could go back in time, where would you go?
The American 60’s as they had The Doors, Janis Joplin and Jimi Hendrix.

Photos from the last 20 years

noreply@blogger.com (Britten Sinfonia) — Mon, 22 Oct 2012 11:57:00 +0000

Here's a selection of photos from the Britten Sinfonia archive from the past 20 years;

An early publicity photo of Britten Sinfonia


1994 - Britten Sinfonia with Sir Michael Tippett at the 50th anniversay performance of A Child of Our Time

1999 - Huw Watkins and Nicholas Cleobury

1999 - Britten Sinfonia's BBC Proms debut

A publicity photo from the early 2000's featuring Miranda Dale

2006 - Imogen Cooper and the Britten Sinfonia taxi in Norwich


2006 - Moondog recording session with Joanna MacGregor and Seb Rochford

2009 Performing at Latitude

2009 - Greenpeace concert in the Earth Dome, Poznan

2010 - James MacMillan and Nicholas Daniel rehearsing for the premiere of MacMillan's Oboe Concerto

2011 - Violinist Ali Read in Mexico rehearsing with a youth orchestra

2012 - Britten Sinfonia's debut in New York

2012 - Relaxing in the Big Apple

Colchester Music of Place 2012 Workshops

noreply@blogger.com (Britten Sinfonia) — Thu, 18 Oct 2012 14:09:00 +0000

On a hot, sunny September Saturday (yes, its only weeks since t-shirt weather!), Britten Sinfonia’s Creative Learning department arrived at Colchester’s Firstsite gallery for a morning of creative music-making workshops. Armed with a van-load of instruments, we set up camp in a lovely curved room overlooking the lawn and welcomed three groups with people of all ages as workshop leader James Redwood guided us through rhythm and group composition games. Some participants brought their instruments; others just their enthusiasm and willingness to pick up a drum, shaker or xylophone and chime in. We even had the mayor of Colchester join in!

Using the gallery, and the juxtaposition of old/new and rural/industrial found in the town around it as inspiration, members of the public, assisted by Britten Sinfonia musicians Ali Reid (violin), Andrew Webster (clarinet) and Adam Mackenzie (bassoon) composed short pieces and performed them to one another. These pieces can be heard by following the links below:

Group 1
Group 2
Group 3

The Music of Place was a collaboration between Britten Sinfonia, Orchestras Live, Colchester Borough Council and Colchester Arts Centre.

Mr Big makes friends in Cambridge

noreply@blogger.com (Britten Sinfonia) — Fri, 12 Oct 2012 13:01:00 +0000

Last weekend Mr Big visited Cambridge and made lots of new friends! Children and their families came along to West Road Concert Hall and enjoyed our interactive family concert presented by Hannah Conway. The performance featured live illustrations on stage from Mr Big's author, Ed Vere. Below you can see some photos taken at the performances as well as some of the fabulous feedback which we have received.

Ed Vere

"...having Ed Vere there was wonderful – to see him create his beautiful drawings was really special."

"My little girl and I were spell bound. Hannah Conway was totally and utterly brilliant and couldn’t be a better role model for any child."

"I brought my two boys, aged 4 (just) and 5 ½ and they were fully engaged for the entire production."

"One of the fantastic violinists even stopped and let Abigail ‘play’ – it was incredibly kind."

"a huge THANK YOU to you all for such an amazing concert."

If you came along to one of our Mr Big concerts and would like to let us know your thoughts please complete our feedback form here.
All photos copyright Isobel Timms.

Running around the world with Britten Sinfonia

noreply@blogger.com (Britten Sinfonia) — Wed, 10 Oct 2012 12:26:00 +0000

Chariots of Fire team 2011

We've been asking our players what the highlights of touring with Britten Sinfonia have been over the past 20 years. Here Miranda Dale talks about activity away from the concert platform and her passion for running;

Alongside the wonderful memories of exciting programmes; fabulous playing experiences; exotic destinations and interesting concert venues there is a different side to touring which a few of our musicians delve into in varying degrees but once tasted find it hard to give up, namely "running".

There are a few of us in Britten Sinfonia who enjoy the 'antidote of touring' and will don trainers at any given opportunity. Take the great turn out (including Chief Exec David Butcher) in Central Park, New York, last year when a team of jet-lagged joggers stormed onto the American scene delighting in the blue sky and sunshine which greeted our only morning in the Big Apple! Once around the reservoir and after an hour's excercise still in time for a pancake and maple syrup breakfast.

David, a keen competitor in the yearly Chariots of Fire relay race around Cambridge which usually stirs up a fine team of office staff and players (unfortunately thwarted by a trip to Oslo with Jaga Jazzist this year) often joins the joggers and indeed was with us for our "altitude training" in Mexico during our trip with Joanna MacGregor. Reaching the parts that others sometimes don't, we happened upon the most beautiful flower festival in Morelia where the half mile path up to the local church was covered in mosaics made from fresh flowers including a 'Tower Bridge' especially for the Anglo-Mexican festival.

Indeed, finding unusual things in unexpected places is a trait for the jogger, often wound up with the desire to find somewhere 'nice' to run. Imagine our feelings of despondancy on the Henning Kraggerud tour faced with a 26 story hotel on the outskirts of Mexico City overlooking a 16 lane highway and a shopping complex. On asking the concierge we were told about a country park, where he used to run, just behind the hotel. With thoughts of "yeah, right!" ringing in our heads we set off around the back streets in the early hours of the morning. At first light and only seven minutes run from the hotel we came across the most surprising mountain park complete with full compliment of athletes running around a specially created cinder track! Getting a little more adventurous the next morning we decided to get up early once more and this time brave the heights of the wooded mountain paths - we certainly had more excercise than we bargained for when we chose a path which we thought led back towards the hotel only to realise that the very familiar roller coaster we could see was only familiar because we had driven past it on our way to the concert hall at the University the night before! Incidently, the same university where the previous year Jo MacGregor and Britten Sinfonia players joined the local orchestra on the rooftop to dance Salsa before the performance!

I like to think that running (and dancing!) brings an extra feeling of energy, vitality and camaraderie to the performance and also gives us a sense of the audience to which we're playing, given that we understand a little more about the area and culture from which they came. We haven't graced the concert platform with our trainers yet, but if we do, you'll have to be the judge of whether we forgot to change or whether we just cut it a little bit too fine this time!

Miranda Dale
Principal Second Violin

Britten Sinfonia management at 20 years old

noreply@blogger.com (Britten Sinfonia) — Wed, 19 Sep 2012 15:49:00 +0000

Yesterday talk in the office turned to what we were all doing when we were 20 years old. Some of the stories are completely unpublishable but here's a selection of what the management team were up to. And by the way I'm not going to give away our current ages - now that would be embarrassing (for some of us anyway);

Development Assistant
Living with 2 video-game producers who never showered in Peckham Rye, unemployed and living off one bowl of cereal a day

Finance Director
backpacking around Australia

Creative Learning Director
I had to leave university to have my leg fixed and found a job working for the water board during which I got to drive a big white van (with a light on!)

Programme Note Writer
I started working at Britten Sinfonia as Concerts Assistant

Marketing Director
I was studying music at Southampton University. Spending most of my time wearing a big black baggy jumper and army boots whilst drinking cheap red wine and smoking roll-ups thinking (wrongly!) I was quite Bohemian!

Orchestra Manager
I was in my first year studying music at Manchester University

Concerts Assistant
I dated someone who sported a fozzie bear backpack, threadbare with matted fur. The person in question worked for a College bar at Uni and used to celebrate special days with a shape in the foam on my snakebite & black… e.g. a Cross for St. George’s Day, Shamrock for St. Patrick’s, heart for Valentine’s and so on…

Creative Learning Assistant
I was playing at the Casa del Jazz in Rome with my University Jazz Orchestra

Finance Assistant
I was working in Cambridge as a Bought Ledger Clerk, living with my parents. That summer I went on holiday to Tenerife with my boyfriend, our first holiday aboard together ( the boyfriend is now my husband). I drove an electric blue Mini which I loved and was growing out my perm that I had for most of the 80’s(not a good look).

Britten Sinfonia celebrates its 20th Birthday during the 2012-13 season. Check out our anniversary season here

A view from a steward

noreply@blogger.com (Britten Sinfonia) — Mon, 17 Sep 2012 14:47:00 +0000

As our 20th Birthday season approaches we've been asking various people their thoughts on Britten Sinfonia and what event has been a highlight for them. Beth Morgan, a regular steward in Cambridge picked out one of her highlights;

It has been a great delight and privilege to steward for the Britten Sinfonia for the last 5 years. The wide-ranging programmes, the new music, the relationships that the orchestra develops with guest performers and composers, all add up to series after series of special concerts.

One lunchtime concert earlier this year was devoted to a cycle where Luke Bedford took Franck’s Piano Quintet in F minor and interspersed its 3 movements with 3 of his own. The result was wonderfully stimulating and the audience left the auditorium on a high. I lost count of the number of people who wanted to share their excitement with the stewards. I think we all went home very happy that day.

Beth Morgan

Take-off for Britten Sinfonia Academy!

noreply@blogger.com (Britten Sinfonia) — Wed, 12 Sep 2012 14:09:00 +0000

After six lengthy days of auditions across the East of England, where we met many lovely enthusiastic and talented musicians, we have finally selected 18 young instrumentalists to join the first year of Britten Sinfonia Academy. The chosen young talented musicians represent the whole of the East of England, and come from Saxmundham to St Neots, Colchester to Cambridge, and rural Norfolk to Newmarket! The ensemble comprises a ten person string section, three wind and three brass players, a harpist and a pianist, who range in age from 12 year-old violinist, to 17 year-old double bass player.

We were delighted to finally meet the group this Sunday, and to spend time getting to know one another. Starting with rhythms and modes, we created music together as a group, through improvisation. The essence of the afternoon was to start to communicate as an ensemble; to listen to one-another and to make music together, to build trust, and to look forward to what is to come. Qualities which are present in so much of Britten Sinfonia’s own music making – the spark of energy on sharing a musical moment with another member of the group, or the excitement of starting on a musical adventure together – were captured during the afternoon, and we hope that this flavour for exploration and communication will remain when the group meet again at the end of the month. At the end of September, the ensemble will start to work on repertoire, including the new composition by Alissa Firsova, which the Academy will be performing, alongside Britten Sinfonia at our 20^th Birthday concerts in Cambridge, Norwich and at the Barbican Centre in London this October.

After the session, the gang relaxed and got to know each other better over pizza in the park.

Find out more about Britten Sinfonia Academy here

Isobel Timms

Creative Learning Director

A View from the Audience

noreply@blogger.com (Britten Sinfonia) — Tue, 28 Aug 2012 11:15:00 +0000

As our 20th Birthday season approaches we've been asking audience members their thoughts on Britten Sinfonia and what event has been a highlight for them. Roger Rowe, a regular audience member in Norwich picked out one of his highlights;

Britten Sinfonia entered an already-rich Norwich music scene some 10 years ago like a breath of fresh air. During the course of that time I must have attended most of their evening and lunchtime concerts and I cannot recall ever coming away without feeling that I have experienced something very special. To my mind this has been for two reasons. Firstly the players are of the very highest calibre and although a sizable band they play with the sensibility of chamber musicians always listening to each other, giving a wonderful feeling of making music for the first time. Secondly their programming is always fresh and original, often juxtaposing works which on paper look odd bed-fellows but which always work in performance - and presenting newly commissioned works in a context which makes them relevant. This is particularly true of the imaginative lunchtime chamber series which have featured many new pieces alongside established favourites.

The highlights over the years? - well there have been so many, but I remember vividly their collaborations with international visiting artists especially Pekka Kuusisto, Alina Ibragimova and Angela Hewitt – and then, most recently of all, there was an unforgettable performance by Mark Padmore of a newly commissioned song cycle The End by Jonathan Dove.

Britten Sinfonia are popular visitors to Norwich. I congratulate them on their 20^th anniversary season and look forward to their visits here for many more years to come.

Roger Rowe MBE

We will be celebrating our 20th anniversary in Norwich on Tuesday 23 October with a special birthday concert at Norwich Theatre Royal - you can find out more details here. the orchestra will also be performing special birthday concerts in Cambridge and in London.

A highlight a year!

noreply@blogger.com (Britten Sinfonia) — Mon, 20 Aug 2012 15:39:00 +0000

As we approach our 20th Birthday season we've been looking back at some of the highlights over the past twenty years. We've selected a highlight a year (but you can also read what else we were up to each year here).

1992

Britten Sinfonia launches following an initiative from Eastern Arts and a number of key figures including Nicholas Cleobury, who recognise the need for a world class orchestra in the East of England.

1993

Britten Sinfonia’s part in Jonathan Miller’s production of Strauss’ Ariadne auf Naxos provides the orchestra’s first critical success.

1994

The number of concerts increases from 12 in 1993 to 27 in 1994, including the orchestra’s first foreign tour, a residency at the Wratislava Cantans Festival in Poland.

1995

Britten Sinfonia’s debut CD is released to critical acclaim, featuring David Pyatt in the Strauss Horn Concertos and the Duet-concertino and Serenade for Wind Op.7. It wins a Gramophone Award.

1996

Orchestra works with tenor Ian Bostridge for the first time, with a young Daniel Harding conducting. This successful collaboration leads to other concerts and an EMI recording of Britten repertoire including Our Hunting Fathers.

1997

Britten Sinfonia awarded £150,000 from the Arts Council’s Arts for Everyone scheme for the development of its work in the East of England.

1998

Landmark concert series Frank Zappa and the Fathers of Invention, setting Zappa’s music against Bach, Stravinsky, Varese, Ives and Steve Reich

Proms debut

1999

Britten Sinfonia makes its BBC Proms debut, featuring a new symphony by David Matthews.

2000

Britten Sinfoina’s first tour to Germany includes performances at Munich’s Gasteig and Frankfurt’s Alte Oper.

2001

Joanna MacGregor directs a 10 date tour – Light and Shade - featuring music by Arvo Pärt, Lou Harrison, Schnittke and a new work from Nitin Sawhney. The tour is featured in a Joanna MacGregor South Bank Show profile for LWT.

2002

Celebrations for the orchestra’s 10th Anniversary begin with a national tour featuring Evelyn Glennie.

2003

Following a national review of the chamber orchestra sector, Arts Council England announces 100% increase in Britten Sinfonia’s funding.

2004

A major tour with Nitin Sawhney takes the ensemble to Brussels and around the UK in the autumn, including a debut at the Royal Festival Hall.

2005

We launched our first ever lunchtime series, Britten Sinfonia at Lunch, at West Road Concert Hall, Cambridge.

Jacqueline Shave was appointed leader in September.

2006

Lux Aeterna, our Hyperion recording of music by Morten Lauridsen, was nominated for a Grammy award.

2007

The ‘Britten Sinfonia at Lunch’ tour continued to be recorded for broadcast by BBC Radio 3 and the tour expanded to include Krakow (Poland), Aldeburgh, Cambridge and Norwich.

2008

In a truly unique production that attracted a great deal of press and attention, Britten Sinfonia joined the Michael Clark Company for the Stravinsky Project at the Barbican.

2009

Britten Sinfonia appears at the Latitude Festival in Suffolk , the first classical group to appear at the festival.

Latitude Festival 2009 - photographer: Rebecca Walsh

2010

Nico Muhly was in residence with Britten Sinfonia throughout January and February 2010. A new work by the composer featured as part of Britten Sinfonia’s award-winning lunchtime series in January, and Impossible Things, a major commission for voice and violin, premiered as part of an acclaimed 14 date European tour which brought together Mark Padmore and Finnish violinist Pekka Kuusisto.

2011

The orchestra launched a new residency at Brighton Dome and Festival and founded its own choir, Britten Sinfonia Voices.

2012

Britten Sinfonia became Associate Ensemble at the Barbican.

We will be clebrating our 20th Birthday with special concerts at the Barbican and in Cambridge and Norwich

Opus 2013

noreply@blogger.com (Britten Sinfonia) — Mon, 30 Jul 2012 10:33:00 +0000

James Brady, Britten Sinfonia's new Creative Learning Assistant talks about Opus 2013, one of the key projects he is involved in;

With about a month to go before the closing deadline, applications for our open submission composition competition are steadily coming in. As a composer myself, I was both pleased and dismayed to be handed the task of keeping track of all the applications and getting them ready for our Artistic Advisor, composer Huw Watkins, to look at after the first stage of the competition closes. Pleased because I can see what a great opportunity this is for unpublished composers: no restrictions on age or experience, no need to write new material unless chosen for the second stage, and, for one lucky winner, not one but three performances by top professionals, mentoring from Huw, a BBC broadcast and a proper commission fee! I know from my own experience that a competition with such a smorgasbord of prizes is rarely open to so many applicants – usually there’s some sort of application fee, or you have to write a lot of new music first which may never get selected, or you have to be in a certain age bracket. Dismayed though, because my role means I won’t be able to enter!

If you’re a composer, all you need to do is send us two existing pieces (and preferably a recording of at least one of them – but this isn’t essential) for instrumental ensembles of 3-10 players and fill in a brief form. The form and all the details are available on the OPUS 2013 page of our website, which can be reached via this handy link: http://bit.ly/opus2013. The deadline is 31 August so what are you waiting for?

James Brady

Creative Learning Assitant

A Latitude Experience

noreply@blogger.com (Britten Sinfonia) — Wed, 25 Jul 2012 12:58:00 +0000

Britten Sinfonia performed with Van Dyke Parks at this years Latitude Festival. Our new Development Assistant, Gabrielle Deschamps, went to discover the festival vibe and hear the orchestra for the first time. Here's what she thought;

Not even one month into my new job as the Development Assistant at Britten Sinfonia I got the chance to see them play live at the Film and Music Stage at the superb Latitude Festival, accompanying Van Dyke Parks.

Gabrielle Deschamps (Development Assistant), Isobel Timms (Creative learning Director) and Will Harriss (Development Director)

I had never been to a British festival, I had never seen the orchestra perform yet nor had I ever heard of Mr Parks so it promised to be an exciting day! Luckily the heavens looked kindly upon on us and the torrential rain we’d known all week stayed at bay. The festival was wholly mine to enjoy.

Upon our arrival at 12.30pm I was disappointed to have missed Lang Lang play on the Lake Stage but I knew there were many other treats awaiting me. Indeed I got to see the whole Saddler’s Wells performance including two of their own soloists, legendary Jonzi D whose work I’ve been following for years and Candoco who inspired many with their great technique and passion.

Matthew Bourne's dancers

After wandering through the different tents (poetry, literature, comedy, cabaret, etc…) we settled at the Lake Stage once more to see Matthew Bourne’s dancers perform excerpts of Spitfire. Their show quickly became the highlight of my day, and not just because of the muscles, I swear!

We tired a bit after that as the relentless bass from the main stage could be heard from all sides of the camp, disrupting other stages’ performances. We were ready to see what we came for: Britten Sinfonia and Van Dyke Parks!

Being a French child of the late 80’s, I don’t feel completely at fault for having never heard of him before. But I had a done a bit of research about him before their Barbican Performance and was quite surprised to discover such a hefty discography. Upon reading reviews and articles, I decided to keep the mystery alive and not to listen to any of his music.

I went to the concert completely unprepared, intrigued and eager

It was enchanting

Thom Gould (c) Rhydian Peters

The music managed to transport me fully although I didn’t recognise any of the songs. The orchestra played as one, Thom Gould leading them in graceful, dramatic sweeps. Parks’ singing voice was charming; he owned the songs completely and played the piano without a hint of hesitation, in true American showman style.

Van Dyke Parks (c) Rhydian Peters

I was pleasantly surprised to find the lyrics politically charged, engaging and full of humour. Overall the whole concert had a lot more depth than I expected and I loved the fact each and every song had a distinctive style and colour.

It was delightful to notice the whole audience were enjoying it as much as I did, with people bopping from their seats and erupting into raucous applause at the end of each song. They also clearly appreciated his numerous anecdotes and political speecheswhich transformed the show into more than just a concert and into a personal retrospective and entertaining history lesson.

A standing ovation completed the performance, which was absolutely appropriate for both the orchestra and Parks himself. I felt like I had spent an hour with my mad yet loveable uncle.

Britten Sinfonia (c) Rhydian Peters

All in all my day at Latitude was fantastic. I thoroughly enjoyed Britten Sinfonia’s performance. I look forward to seeing them again and discovering what they have in store in the next season.

Gabrielle Deschamps

Development Assistant