York Minster

York Young Soloists in concert for York Minster

Published Monday 17th July 2006 by Eleanor Course

The York Young Soloists and Banks Music Shop are working together in a year of special anniversaries to help raise money for the Minster’s Development Campaign.  A concert of music by Mozart and Strauss will be performed to celebrate 250 years since Banks Music Shop opened in York, and also 250 years since the birth of Mozart.

The York Young Soloists, sponsored by Banks Music Shop, will be performing in the Minster on Friday 21st July at 7.30pm.  Tickets cost £10 (concessions £8), and include a glass of wine, and are available from the Development Office, Church House, Ogleforth, York YO1 7JN; telephone 01904 557245 or on the door on the night.

The programme for the evening consists of Mozart's ever-popular 40th Symphony and the rarely heard Romance for Cello and Orchestra by Richard Strauss with soloist Alastair Knowles. Two York works will also be performed, including ‘Six Shakespeare Songs for Soprano and Orchestra’ by the Minster’s own Dr Richard Shephard.  ‘Fantasy’, a newly composed piece by James Freeman, will receive its first performance at the concert.  James Freeman was a chorister in the Minster Choir, and is now reading music at Cambridge.

Now in its fourth year, the York Young Soloists provides much needed opportunities for young musicians to perform concertos and to explore the full range of the chamber orchestra repertoire. The players are chosen by Maggy Lamb from some of the most talented young musicians in and around York, with the aim of keeping a link between those still at school and those in further education.

Maggy Lamb says: "It seems entirely appropriate that the new generation of musicians from in and around York should be closely involved in this exciting project to help with the regeneration of the fabric of York Minster and it is great for us to have the support of Banks Music Shop as it enters a new era in its history. The concert programme is a real mix of old and new, and I am particularly looking forward to hearing James' piece for the first time: he has been involved with the orchestra since the inaugural concert in September 2002, as principal horn, piano soloist, and now as a composer."

James Pertwee, the newly appointed manager of Banks Music Shop said, “We at Banks Music are delighted to have the opportunity to be involved with the York Young Soloists. It is crucial for a shop such as Banks to support music making in York, particularly from the younger generation, who will be the virtuosi, orchestras and teachers of the future. What better way for Banks to celebrate this milestone in our history than to support music-making and the Minster Development Campaign at the same time? The fact that we share our birthday with Mozart makes the concert even more special for us.”