Lunchtime Concert - Gwent Chamber Orchestra

Friday 12th July, 1:00pm

Symphony No. 4 in F - William Boyce (1711-1779)

I.   Allegro

II.   Vivace ma non Troppo

III.  Gavot-Allegro

Oboe concerto in G minor - George Frideric Handel (1685-1759), soloist Huw Griffiths

I.   Grave

II.   Allegro

III.  Sarabande-Largo

IV.  Allegro

Concerto Grosso, Op. 6 No. 4 - Arcangelo Corelli (1653-1713)

I.   Adagio-Allegro

II.  Adagio

III.  Vivace

IV.  Allegro

The Lamb (String Orchestra Version) - John Tavener (1944-2013)

Symphony in B flat, Op. 9 No. 1 - JC Bach

I.  Allegro con Spirito

II.  Andante

III. Presto

The Gwent Chamber Orchestra was formed in 1975 by David Gedge, organist and choirmaster of Brecon Cathedral, to work with him on the great choral works to be performed at the Cathedral. The enthusiasm of the players led to a widening of the repertoire to encompass the great classical chamber orchestra works. Sadly, in 2012, following David’s ill health and the unexpected passing of the orchestra’s leader, John Roberts, the orchestra entered a period of dormancy. In 2014 Julia Watkins, a member of the GCO in its early days, returned to live in the Brecon area from London whilst continuing to work as a successful freelance player. Contact was made with some other original members of the GCO and a move was made to restart the orchestra with Julia leading and Julia’s husband, Stephen Broom, conducting the orchestra. Stephen, originally from Pontypridd in South Wales has been a professional viola player for many years and was a member of several London orchestras most notably as Principal Viola with the Orchestra of the Royal Opera House for over twenty years. The orchestra has a mixture of professional, semi-professional and talented amateur players and mainly performs in the Gwent and Brecon areas. It has regular engagements with several music clubs as well as occasional visits over the border to perform in Peterstow and Ross-on-Wye.

Cardiff-born Huw Griffiths obtained a BSc in Physics and a PhD in X-ray Astronomy at the University of Bristol. After three years as an aircraft scientist with the Meteorological Office, he entered the field of medical physics and worked in the NHS and universities for the rest of his career, providing NHS physics services, pursuing research in electrical bioimpedance and teaching at undergraduate and postgraduate level. He is now Emeritus Professor of Medical Physics at Swansea University. Huw maintained his oboe playing throughout his career in science and following his retirement, returned to university as an undergraduate student in Music (studying alongside students more than 40 years his junior!) leading to a Bachelor of Music degree from Cardiff University. He found it a most enjoyable and rewarding experience and made a lot of new friends. Huw is a former member of the National Youth Orchestra of Wales and currently plays with the Gwent Chamber Orchestra, the St Woolos Sinfonia and Jubal’s Lyre.

Free with retiring collection