Southern Sinfonia - Lighting up 2013

 By Chris Billingham 

2013 has been a very special year for Southern Sinfonia. We have taken part in many educational projects, received amazing reviews and witnessed incredible musicians performing an array of thought-provoking and challenging pieces. The end of the year is the perfect time to reflect on these events and share some of the images associated with them. 

One of the first events of the year was a fascinating 
Café Concert with Sasha Calin (oboe) and Simon Lane (piano). With the support of our friends at Gardner Leader, Southern Sinfonia is able to provide unique lunchtime events in Newbury's wonderful venue, The Corn Exchange. As well as Sasha and Simon, 2013 Café Concerts also included a range of performances including a fascinating insight into violins from maker Phillip Brown and violinist Theresa Caudle, a stunning performance from Southern Sinfonia Leader Alexander Hohenthal and pianist Sally Goodworth, the educational and inspirational recorder ensemble The Flautadors, and a winter jazz performance from bassist Chris Hill, pianist Dave Newton and singer Heather Cairncross, as well as the always fascinating Dr Jill White who introduced performances from the stars of the Newbury Older Musician of the Year: 

This year our bi-annual Newbury Older Musician of the Year competion was held in June, at the stunning West Woodhay Garden Show. The competition was fierce but pianist Alan Fantom was our winner (with runner-up clarinettist Philip Shirtcliff), delivering mesmerising performances that had every judge impressed. The older musicians weren't the only ones given an opportunity to shine this year, with last year's stars of our Newbury Young Musician of the Year competition giving performances in our October concert, 'The romance of Brahms meets Britain's Britten': 

 

The concert featured powerful performances of Brahms' Fourth Symphony and Tragic Overture, as well as our young stars dazzling the audience with movements from Britten's piano and violin concertos. This concert was a personal favourite of mine, being only slightly eclipsed by June's 'Magical Mendelssohn and More!' which also took place in St Nicolas Church. The orchestra performed with Downe House Junior Choral and two local actors... Arguably, this concert is memorable for me because I was one of those actors! 

                                                                 

Downe House Junior Choral and I weren't the only performers with whom Southern Sinfonia performed this year. A number of other concerts with talented individuals and societies also took place, including, amongst others, the City of Bath Bach Choir, Exeter Festival Chorus, the Old Royal Naval College Chapel Choir, Bournemouth Symphony Chorus, Henley Choral Society, Southern Voices, Romsey Choral Society, Windsor & Eton Choral Society and Newbury Choral Society.

With renowned conductors including David Hill, Howard Goodall and Ralph Allwood, the concerts took place in a number of spectacular venues including St. Nicolas Church, The Lighthouse, Poole, Southwell Minster, Winchester Cathedral, Wells Cathedral and the School Hall at Eton College. We performed to large audiences and received wonderful feedback:

Education is always at the heart of Southern Sinfonia's work.. Amongst many events in 2013, our touring education project 'On Dover Tracks' saw Luke Daniels (melodeon) and John Dipper (fiddle) joined by musicians from around the country. Together they created 12 contemporary folk songs with composer Anna Rice. These songs celebrated the historical and cultural history of the many drove roads in Wiltshire and West Berkshire. As well as this, Helen Fitzgerald (cello), Richard Smith (violin) Bruce Wilson (viola) and Katie Neaves (violin) also entertained and inspired the many children who watched their recital as part of the Portsmouth Music Hub. 

In the wider musical world, 2013 has celebrated a number of anniversaries of many great composers. These include Wagner, Verdi and Britten, the last of whom we remembered in our October concert (above).
We at Southern Sinfonia attended some wonderful concerts too, including The Proms 2013, the Sao Paolo Symphony Orchestra at Royal Festival Hall, the Music for Youth Schools Prom and much more. 

Next year looks set to be just as busy; events include our Newbury Young Musician of the Year competition and a Café Concert season to look forward to. It includes Winds Exposed, an insight into the work of our wind principals, and a thrilling recital from one of the country's most exciting young pianists, James Sherlock. Southern Sinfonia will also join Bath Choral Society in the beautiful setting of Bath Abbey for a performance of Mozart's Mass in C minor and Pangbourne Choral Society for Mendelssohn's Elijah. 

Thank you to everyone who has, over the course of this year, performed at a concert, took part in an educational programme, read this blog or attended one of our many concerts. We can't wait to see what 2014 brings. Before that, however, we want to wish you a...

Happy New Year from Southern Sinfonia! 

We recently launched an appeal for the victims of Typhoon Haiyan, which ripped through the Philippines on Friday 8th November.To donate and find out more, click here.

To get in touch with us, comment below or join in the discussion on Facebook or Twitter. 

To find out more about Southern Sinfonia, please visit our website or Instagram page.