Over the years we have welcomed many soloists to perform with us. Here are just a few of them......
Anne Williams-King - May 2011
The Welsh opera singer, Anne Williams-King, was born and educated in Wrexham prior to studies at the Royal Northern College of Music, Manchester. Even before leaving Wrexham for her music studies the 17 year old had already leapt to prominence at the Welsh National Eisteddfod as winner of both the Soprano Prize and the David Lloyd Memorial Prize. She was also a prize winner in The Belgian Bel Canto Competition, and was awarded the prestigious Peter Styvesant Scholarship to the London Opera Studio. She studied at the Royal Northern College of Music under Frederick Cox and later Josephine Veasey, the renowned British mezzo-soprano.
Her professional opera debut was in Paris at the Opera du Chatelet, followed by her British debut at the Welsh National Opera as Amelia in Verdi’s “Un Ballo in Maschera”. Shortly afterwards her third placing in the final of the Cardiff Singer of the World competition launched her on the path to an international career, taking her throughout Europe and further afield to Australia, the USA, Canada, Japan, South Africa and South America.
She has sung major soprano roles at all the British and many European opera houses, in particular The Royal Opera Covent Garden, Deutsche Opera am Rhein, Glyndebourne, Welsh, Scottish and English National Operas.
Anne Williams-King regularly appears with principal British orchestras as well as internationally, notably in Tokyo for a series of Beethoven’s Choral Symphony NO. 9, sponsored by Sony. She makes regular appearances both in Television and Radio broadcasts with BBC Radio 2 and 3, BBC Wales and Welsh S4C Television.
Anne Williams-King debut, Royal Opera House Covent Garden
"Last night at the Royal Opera House Covent Garden Anne Williams-King made a stunning last minute debut in the title role of Katerina Ismailova in Shostakovich's opera 'Lady Macbeth of Mtsensk'. This is the critically acclaimed production by Richard Jones and was conducted by the Royal Opera's brilliant music director Antonio Pappano. Anne took over one of the most taxing roles in the soprano repertoire with the minimum rehearsal. This is the first time she has sung the role. The reaction from the full-house audience to Anne's performance was, at the curtain call, electric --- very vocal, loud and long. After the final curtain fell her fellow cast members, the director and maestro Pappano all burst into spontaneous applause on stage: a rare event at this high level of opera, but nonetheless a fair tribute to her achievement. The great bass-baritone Sir John Tomlinson, who is in the cast, said that he found it hard to believe this was her first time performing the role”.
Critique: “Opera” Jan 2007 “Lady Macbeth of Mtsensk” Shostakovitch Usually people boo at the end, not the beginning. But when the Royal Opera’s company manager stepped in front of the curtain to announce that Anne Williams-King would be replacing Eva-Maria Westbroek as Katerina at this performance, one man was ungracious enough to hoot his disapproval. I hope he regretted it later, for her performance turned out to be more than worthy of first call billing. Her stamina was unflagging, her generous spinto sound soared over the orchestra without strain and her dramatic portrayal (in a stylized and rigorously choreographed production) grew more and more compelling. Indeed, her petite size gave a wrenching physical vulnerability to the final scene which neither Westbroek, nor previously Katarina Dalayman - though both excellent Katerinas in this production – had been able to provide.
Williams-King has Salome, Butterfly and Lisa on her CV, all at good houses; I wouldn’t mind hearing any one of them soon.
WARWICK THOMPSON
Her professional opera debut was in Paris at the Opera du Chatelet, followed by her British debut at the Welsh National Opera as Amelia in Verdi’s “Un Ballo in Maschera”. Shortly afterwards her third placing in the final of the Cardiff Singer of the World competition launched her on the path to an international career, taking her throughout Europe and further afield to Australia, the USA, Canada, Japan, South Africa and South America.
She has sung major soprano roles at all the British and many European opera houses, in particular The Royal Opera Covent Garden, Deutsche Opera am Rhein, Glyndebourne, Welsh, Scottish and English National Operas.
Anne Williams-King regularly appears with principal British orchestras as well as internationally, notably in Tokyo for a series of Beethoven’s Choral Symphony NO. 9, sponsored by Sony. She makes regular appearances both in Television and Radio broadcasts with BBC Radio 2 and 3, BBC Wales and Welsh S4C Television.
Anne Williams-King debut, Royal Opera House Covent Garden
"Last night at the Royal Opera House Covent Garden Anne Williams-King made a stunning last minute debut in the title role of Katerina Ismailova in Shostakovich's opera 'Lady Macbeth of Mtsensk'. This is the critically acclaimed production by Richard Jones and was conducted by the Royal Opera's brilliant music director Antonio Pappano. Anne took over one of the most taxing roles in the soprano repertoire with the minimum rehearsal. This is the first time she has sung the role. The reaction from the full-house audience to Anne's performance was, at the curtain call, electric --- very vocal, loud and long. After the final curtain fell her fellow cast members, the director and maestro Pappano all burst into spontaneous applause on stage: a rare event at this high level of opera, but nonetheless a fair tribute to her achievement. The great bass-baritone Sir John Tomlinson, who is in the cast, said that he found it hard to believe this was her first time performing the role”.
Critique: “Opera” Jan 2007 “Lady Macbeth of Mtsensk” Shostakovitch Usually people boo at the end, not the beginning. But when the Royal Opera’s company manager stepped in front of the curtain to announce that Anne Williams-King would be replacing Eva-Maria Westbroek as Katerina at this performance, one man was ungracious enough to hoot his disapproval. I hope he regretted it later, for her performance turned out to be more than worthy of first call billing. Her stamina was unflagging, her generous spinto sound soared over the orchestra without strain and her dramatic portrayal (in a stylized and rigorously choreographed production) grew more and more compelling. Indeed, her petite size gave a wrenching physical vulnerability to the final scene which neither Westbroek, nor previously Katarina Dalayman - though both excellent Katerinas in this production – had been able to provide.
Williams-King has Salome, Butterfly and Lisa on her CV, all at good houses; I wouldn’t mind hearing any one of them soon.
WARWICK THOMPSON
Katherine Lacy - October 2009
Katherine Lacy has been Principal Bass Clarinettist of the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra since January 2005. Over the last five years she has also played Principal clarinet with BBC National Orchestra of Wales, the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, the Halle, the London Chamber Orchestra, the London Symphony Orchestra, BBC Symphony Orchestra and the Northern Sinfonia, as well as performing with the BBC Philharmonic, Birmingham Contemporary Music Group, London Sinfonietta and the Philharmonia.
Katherine was brought up in Wrexham and attended Acton Park Infants and Junior Schools and St. David’s Comprehensive School. At sixteen she went to Chetham’s School of Music in Manchester and then studied for five years at the Royal Academy of Music in London where, in her first year, she won the prestigious Geoffrey Hawkes Clarinet Prize. Whilst at the Academy, Katherine was chosen to play the Mozart clarinet concerto with the RAM Sinfonia and was also soloist with the RAM Wind Ensemble, performing Stravinsky’s Ebony Concerto. She also performed the world premiere of “Veni Creator Spiritus”, a duet for flute and bass clarinet by Maxwell-Davies, with the renowned flautist, the late Sebastian Bell.
In July 2001 Katherine gave her first concerto performance with the Wrexham Symphony Orchestra, playing Mozart’s clarinet concerto. Since then she has performed as soloist with the Opus One Chamber Orchestra in Wrexham, the Märkischer Youth Orchestra in Germany, The Lydian Orchestra in Kent and the National Chamber Orchestra of Wales. Last May she appeared as the soloist with the RLPO at the William Aston Hall in performances of Weber’s Concertino and Finzi’s Five Bagatelles.
Alongside her work as Principal Bass Clarinet with the orchestra, Katherine enjoys playing chamber music and regularly performs as part of the RLPO’s Fusion wind quintet and the Cerberus trio. She is also very committed to Education and Outreach work and, through the RLPO’s Education Department, is the “Adopted Musician” of Kensington Infant School, as well as being involved in many other projects
Katherine was brought up in Wrexham and attended Acton Park Infants and Junior Schools and St. David’s Comprehensive School. At sixteen she went to Chetham’s School of Music in Manchester and then studied for five years at the Royal Academy of Music in London where, in her first year, she won the prestigious Geoffrey Hawkes Clarinet Prize. Whilst at the Academy, Katherine was chosen to play the Mozart clarinet concerto with the RAM Sinfonia and was also soloist with the RAM Wind Ensemble, performing Stravinsky’s Ebony Concerto. She also performed the world premiere of “Veni Creator Spiritus”, a duet for flute and bass clarinet by Maxwell-Davies, with the renowned flautist, the late Sebastian Bell.
In July 2001 Katherine gave her first concerto performance with the Wrexham Symphony Orchestra, playing Mozart’s clarinet concerto. Since then she has performed as soloist with the Opus One Chamber Orchestra in Wrexham, the Märkischer Youth Orchestra in Germany, The Lydian Orchestra in Kent and the National Chamber Orchestra of Wales. Last May she appeared as the soloist with the RLPO at the William Aston Hall in performances of Weber’s Concertino and Finzi’s Five Bagatelles.
Alongside her work as Principal Bass Clarinet with the orchestra, Katherine enjoys playing chamber music and regularly performs as part of the RLPO’s Fusion wind quintet and the Cerberus trio. She is also very committed to Education and Outreach work and, through the RLPO’s Education Department, is the “Adopted Musician” of Kensington Infant School, as well as being involved in many other projects
Stephanie Conway - November 2008
Stephanie hails from Northop and began playing the Trombone at the age of eight with her local brass band, Northop Silver. In 2004 she became a member of the National Youth Brass Band of Wales and held the Principal Trombone position for two years, a position she currently holds with the National Youth Symphonic Brass Wales.
In 2005 Stephanie accepted her place at the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester. Now in her final year, she studies with Christopher Houlding and Robert Holliday.
Stephanie works regularly with various orchestras and ensembles across the country. Recently she performed with the world famous Halle orchestra at the Bridgewater Hall in Manchester, and in the summer of 2008 she toured Vienna with the Liverpool Philharmonic Youth orchestra. She has performed in 2007 and 2008 at the BBC Proms at the Royal Albert Hall, with the RNCM. In December 2007 she performed on the Royal Variety show, as part of an onstage orchestra for Paul Potts, winner of Britain’s got Talent.
As a soloist, Stephanie has had the privilege of performing in master-classes with such artists as Ian Bousfield, Principal Trombone of the Vienna Philharmonic, Gareth Small, Principal Trumpet of the Halle Orchestra and Haken Hardenberger, world famous Trumpet soloist. She has given recitals at the Royal Northern College of Music and makes her concerto debut tonight with the Cambrian Philharmonic.
Stephanie has performed with all of the Royal Northern College of Music’s major ensembles, including Symphony Orchestra, Opera Orchestra, Brass Band, Big Band and New Ensemble. Most notably last year was her role as principal Trombone in Ravel’s operas, L’Enfant et Les Sortileges and L’heure Espagnol.
In 2005 Stephanie accepted her place at the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester. Now in her final year, she studies with Christopher Houlding and Robert Holliday.
Stephanie works regularly with various orchestras and ensembles across the country. Recently she performed with the world famous Halle orchestra at the Bridgewater Hall in Manchester, and in the summer of 2008 she toured Vienna with the Liverpool Philharmonic Youth orchestra. She has performed in 2007 and 2008 at the BBC Proms at the Royal Albert Hall, with the RNCM. In December 2007 she performed on the Royal Variety show, as part of an onstage orchestra for Paul Potts, winner of Britain’s got Talent.
As a soloist, Stephanie has had the privilege of performing in master-classes with such artists as Ian Bousfield, Principal Trombone of the Vienna Philharmonic, Gareth Small, Principal Trumpet of the Halle Orchestra and Haken Hardenberger, world famous Trumpet soloist. She has given recitals at the Royal Northern College of Music and makes her concerto debut tonight with the Cambrian Philharmonic.
Stephanie has performed with all of the Royal Northern College of Music’s major ensembles, including Symphony Orchestra, Opera Orchestra, Brass Band, Big Band and New Ensemble. Most notably last year was her role as principal Trombone in Ravel’s operas, L’Enfant et Les Sortileges and L’heure Espagnol.
Nina Reddig - June 2010
“High musicality, concentrated devotion to the work and a strong will to express are characteristic features of the violin playing of Nina Reddig”
Märkische Kulturkonferenz Scholarship 2001
Nina Reddig studied with Vesselin Paraschkevov at the Folkwang-Hochschule Essen, as soon as with Jean-Jaques Kantorow in Paris. She completed her studies by masterclasses with Herman Krebbers, Igor Oistrach and Michele Auclair. In March 2007 she passed her examination with distinction. Since 2006 she is assistant of Prof.Paraschkevov.
As concertmaster and soloist she plays continuosly with several chamber orchestras, such as the Deutsche Kammerakademie Neuss, the Folkwang-Kammerorchester or the Aachen Symphony Orchestra (2003/04).
Since 2004 she has performing with the Chamber Orchestra of Europe and previously won the 1st Prize at the International Violin Competition “I. Petrela” in Albania, the Lions-Club Music Competition and the Academy Competition Essen in 2001.
Nina Reddig was scholarship holder of the Werner Richard – Dr.Carl Dörken – Foundation, of the Märkische Kulturkonferenz as well as of the renowned german foundation, StudienstiftungdesDeutschenVolkes. In 2005 she founded the Morgenstern Trio. Only one year later they received the scholarship of the Deutsche Musikwettbewerb.
In 2007 within half a year the Trio won the 1st Price at the Haydn-Competition in Vienna, the 2nd Price at Melbourne-Competition and the 2nd Price (combined with the Audience Award) at the ARD-Musikwettbewerb in Munich, three of the most prestigious international competitions for piano trio.
Concerts of the Morgenstern Trio have been broadcast by every main classical radio stations in Germany and Austria(ORF, WDR, BR..) as well as ABC classic in Australia.
Märkische Kulturkonferenz Scholarship 2001
Nina Reddig studied with Vesselin Paraschkevov at the Folkwang-Hochschule Essen, as soon as with Jean-Jaques Kantorow in Paris. She completed her studies by masterclasses with Herman Krebbers, Igor Oistrach and Michele Auclair. In March 2007 she passed her examination with distinction. Since 2006 she is assistant of Prof.Paraschkevov.
As concertmaster and soloist she plays continuosly with several chamber orchestras, such as the Deutsche Kammerakademie Neuss, the Folkwang-Kammerorchester or the Aachen Symphony Orchestra (2003/04).
Since 2004 she has performing with the Chamber Orchestra of Europe and previously won the 1st Prize at the International Violin Competition “I. Petrela” in Albania, the Lions-Club Music Competition and the Academy Competition Essen in 2001.
Nina Reddig was scholarship holder of the Werner Richard – Dr.Carl Dörken – Foundation, of the Märkische Kulturkonferenz as well as of the renowned german foundation, StudienstiftungdesDeutschenVolkes. In 2005 she founded the Morgenstern Trio. Only one year later they received the scholarship of the Deutsche Musikwettbewerb.
In 2007 within half a year the Trio won the 1st Price at the Haydn-Competition in Vienna, the 2nd Price at Melbourne-Competition and the 2nd Price (combined with the Audience Award) at the ARD-Musikwettbewerb in Munich, three of the most prestigious international competitions for piano trio.
Concerts of the Morgenstern Trio have been broadcast by every main classical radio stations in Germany and Austria(ORF, WDR, BR..) as well as ABC classic in Australia.
Annette Walther - June 2010
Annette Walther was born in Hagen (Westfalen) and started playing the violin at the age 4.
After completeng her Abitur , she continued her studies in the class of Prof. Ida Bieler at the Robert-Schumann- Hochschule in Düsseldorf, and in 2003 she graduated her Diploma with distinction. During this time she spent a year studying with Prof. David Takeno at the Guildhall School for Music and Drama in London. Furthermore, masterclasses with Michelle Auclair, Yuri Bashmet, Thomas Brandis, Jürgen Kussmaul and Charles- Andre Linale have been of lasting importance to her musical development.
Annette has been a stipendiary of the Villa Musica and the Hartmut-Schuler Foundations, and in 2004 she was awarded the Artland Musikpreis. She performed as a soloist with the Bergischen Sinfoniker, thereby completing her Aufbaustudium Konzertexamen with Prof. Vesselin Paraschkevov at the Folkwang- Hochschule in Essen with distinction. In 2005 she gave her debut in the Philharmonie Essen, playing the first concerto by Dimitri Shostakovich.
In the summer of 2008, Annette was appointed to the position of Violin Lecturer at the University of Witten. She is a founding member of the SIGNUM String Quartet ,which was shaped by studies with the Alban-Berg, Artemis and Melos Quartets. The quartet is a laureate of the Premio Paolo Borciani 2008 and the London International String Quartet Competition 2009, where it was also awarded the coveted audience prize. It is performing in notable venues such as the Laiezhalle Hamburg, the Konzerthaus Dortmund, the Philharmonie Essen and Köln, at the Aldeburgh Music Festival and the Festival Aix-en-Provence and has been broadcast on WDR, NDR, Deutschlandfunk, DRS, ORF, and Arte.
After completeng her Abitur , she continued her studies in the class of Prof. Ida Bieler at the Robert-Schumann- Hochschule in Düsseldorf, and in 2003 she graduated her Diploma with distinction. During this time she spent a year studying with Prof. David Takeno at the Guildhall School for Music and Drama in London. Furthermore, masterclasses with Michelle Auclair, Yuri Bashmet, Thomas Brandis, Jürgen Kussmaul and Charles- Andre Linale have been of lasting importance to her musical development.
Annette has been a stipendiary of the Villa Musica and the Hartmut-Schuler Foundations, and in 2004 she was awarded the Artland Musikpreis. She performed as a soloist with the Bergischen Sinfoniker, thereby completing her Aufbaustudium Konzertexamen with Prof. Vesselin Paraschkevov at the Folkwang- Hochschule in Essen with distinction. In 2005 she gave her debut in the Philharmonie Essen, playing the first concerto by Dimitri Shostakovich.
In the summer of 2008, Annette was appointed to the position of Violin Lecturer at the University of Witten. She is a founding member of the SIGNUM String Quartet ,which was shaped by studies with the Alban-Berg, Artemis and Melos Quartets. The quartet is a laureate of the Premio Paolo Borciani 2008 and the London International String Quartet Competition 2009, where it was also awarded the coveted audience prize. It is performing in notable venues such as the Laiezhalle Hamburg, the Konzerthaus Dortmund, the Philharmonie Essen and Köln, at the Aldeburgh Music Festival and the Festival Aix-en-Provence and has been broadcast on WDR, NDR, Deutschlandfunk, DRS, ORF, and Arte.
Llŷr Williams - April 2001, June 2007, March 2012
…one of the truly great musicians of our time. … Those with ears to hear will have followed Williams’s playing as it has grown ever more secure and expansive. The hallmark of his Schumann Fantasy was its rare ability to take us deep into a very private world of dream, while at the same time creating a generously projected and truly virtuoso performance.
The Times, 4 April 2007, Hilary Finch (Wigmore Hall recital)
One of the most outstanding pianists of his generation, Llŷr Williams brings an extraordinary musical intelligence to all his work, as soloist, accompanist and chamber musician. In 2005 he made his Proms début with the BBC Symphony Orchestra conducted by Jiri Belohlavek, opened the Queen’s Hall series at the Edinburgh Festival and appeared with the Academy of St. Martin-in-the-Fields at the Barbican’s Mostly Mozart Festival. This year he returned to the Edinburgh International Festival for the fourth time, appearing with the Minnesota Orchestra conducted by Osmo Vänskä as well as giving an extraordinary peformance of Beethoven’s ‘Hammerklavier’ Sonata and Schubert’s ‘Trout’ Quintet with the Hebrides Ensemble.
During the last year Llŷr Williams has appeared with the BBC National Orchestra of Wales, Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, Royal Scottish National Orchestra and the Hallé. He performs regularly with Sinfonia Cymru and last autumn directed two Mozart Concerti from the keyboard as well as continuing the complete Beethoven Concerti series, culminating in 2006 with a 10th Anniversary Concert with Bryn Terfel. Llŷr Williams has just completed a very successful tour of the United States with the BBC National Orchestra of Wales and conductor Thierry Fischer.
In 2005 Llŷr Williams was awarded the MIDEM Classique ‘Outstanding Young Artist Award’ in partnership with the International Artist Managers’ Association. His first commercial CD featuring Chopin’s Préludes was released in March 2006 on the Quartz label. He is also the subject of a film - Y Pianydd – Llŷr Williams - by Opus TF for S4C (the Welsh language broadcaster) which recently won a Welsh BAFTA for Best Music Programme. The programme also won an award at the Celtic Media Festival, held on the Isle of Skye, for Best Entertainment Programme.
Born in 1976 in Pentrebychan, North Wales, Llŷr Williams read music at Queen’s College, Oxford, graduating in 1998 with a first class alpha degree. He went on to take up a postgraduate scholarship at the Royal Academy of Music where he won every prize and award. From 2000-02 he was a ‘Shinn’ Fellow at the Academy, coaching singers and studying conducting. He was also an active member of the Live Music Now! scheme for several years. In 2002, Llŷr Williams was selected for the Young Concert Artists Trust scheme and received a Borletti-Buitoni Trust Award in 2004.
The Times, 4 April 2007, Hilary Finch (Wigmore Hall recital)
One of the most outstanding pianists of his generation, Llŷr Williams brings an extraordinary musical intelligence to all his work, as soloist, accompanist and chamber musician. In 2005 he made his Proms début with the BBC Symphony Orchestra conducted by Jiri Belohlavek, opened the Queen’s Hall series at the Edinburgh Festival and appeared with the Academy of St. Martin-in-the-Fields at the Barbican’s Mostly Mozart Festival. This year he returned to the Edinburgh International Festival for the fourth time, appearing with the Minnesota Orchestra conducted by Osmo Vänskä as well as giving an extraordinary peformance of Beethoven’s ‘Hammerklavier’ Sonata and Schubert’s ‘Trout’ Quintet with the Hebrides Ensemble.
During the last year Llŷr Williams has appeared with the BBC National Orchestra of Wales, Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, Royal Scottish National Orchestra and the Hallé. He performs regularly with Sinfonia Cymru and last autumn directed two Mozart Concerti from the keyboard as well as continuing the complete Beethoven Concerti series, culminating in 2006 with a 10th Anniversary Concert with Bryn Terfel. Llŷr Williams has just completed a very successful tour of the United States with the BBC National Orchestra of Wales and conductor Thierry Fischer.
In 2005 Llŷr Williams was awarded the MIDEM Classique ‘Outstanding Young Artist Award’ in partnership with the International Artist Managers’ Association. His first commercial CD featuring Chopin’s Préludes was released in March 2006 on the Quartz label. He is also the subject of a film - Y Pianydd – Llŷr Williams - by Opus TF for S4C (the Welsh language broadcaster) which recently won a Welsh BAFTA for Best Music Programme. The programme also won an award at the Celtic Media Festival, held on the Isle of Skye, for Best Entertainment Programme.
Born in 1976 in Pentrebychan, North Wales, Llŷr Williams read music at Queen’s College, Oxford, graduating in 1998 with a first class alpha degree. He went on to take up a postgraduate scholarship at the Royal Academy of Music where he won every prize and award. From 2000-02 he was a ‘Shinn’ Fellow at the Academy, coaching singers and studying conducting. He was also an active member of the Live Music Now! scheme for several years. In 2002, Llŷr Williams was selected for the Young Concert Artists Trust scheme and received a Borletti-Buitoni Trust Award in 2004.
