Tuesday, June 17, 2008
Another update...finally
Finally I get the chance to post again - its been a long time, but I hope I can bring you up to date!
In March I performed the Hummel Concerto with the Penzance Orchestral Society, and also on the two following days, as principal trumpet with the London Contemporary Orchestra in their inaugural concert, and as principal in Strauss' Alpine Symphony with the University of London Symphony Orchestra. In addition, I performed as principal in the Britten-Pears Orchestra under Harry Bickett in Snape, and in a hugely rewarding (but very tiring!) recording with the RAM Brass of Strauss' complete works for brass (the CD is available very soon, I'm informed!)
April saw three recitals with The Brass Collective (at Regent's Hall, St Martin-in-the-Fields and the National Portrait Gallery), a concert of music by Jonathon Rathbone at St Alban's Abbey, a Mahler 2 performance with the LSO under Gergiev, and unbelievably, a concert with the Philharmonia at Buckingham Palace for HRH Prince Charles!
May was once again hectic, as most months! I appeared as solo trumpeter in the annual Ascension Day Service on Radio 4 from St-Martin-in-the-Fields, with the BBC Singers, played with the EC4 orchestra, recorded for the Jan Koetsier competition with my ensemble QuintEssence, and even got in a bit of piano accompanying! Concerts at the RAM included another quintet performance, and the Janacek Cappricio, as well as winning the internal competition to perform the solo part in the Shostakovich P/C with the RAM Soloists at the Wigmore Hall next year.
With the exam season at Academy over, I headed to the Cotswolds for a lovely few days performing with the City of London Chamber Orchestra at the Chipping Campden Festival, working with soloists including Paul Lewis, Emily Beynon and Julian Lloyd Webber. Next up was the Shostakovich P/C at the Sage Gateshead, with the Northern Sinfonia under Thomas Zehetmair and soloist Cordelia Williams, my former Chets colleague and BBC YM finalist. Immediately upon returning to Heathrow from Newcastle I headed to Bannf, Canada, for the ITG conference, hosted by Jens Lindemann. In addition to the outstanding array of solo and ensemble performances, classes and clinics, I was delighted to win 1st prize in the Orchestral Excerpts competition, where the adjudicators included Ryan Anthony and Maurice Murphy.
Most recently I have performed in the RAM Club Prize, in a masterclass with Eric Aubier (he is truly unbelievable!) and in a function alongside none other than Bruce Forsyth...the life of a trumpeter hey?!
Well, the summer is nearly upon me, and with that the chance for a mini world tour! - firstly I head to Tokyo for chamber ad solo performances (including the Telemann Concerto), then Corfu for the Melos Brass summer course, China with the RAM Brass Soloists, Banff for the Festival Orchestra and Brass residency with Mr. Lindemann, and finally Hong Kong, with the University of London Symphony Orchestra - not bad!
Further ahead, I have concerts lined up at Kings Place, for the Enescu Society, and a mini tour with the Irish Chamber Orchestra performing the Shostakovich. Hopefully I will find some time over the summer to put my feet up for a week or so, recharge the batteries, and hopefully update you on my travels!
Posted by Huw Morgan
Saturday, March 08, 2008
March Update
Well, another few hectic months and an opportunity to update you on what's been going on!
At the beginning of January, I won through the first round of the RAM Wigmore Competition, and thus performed in the final round (with adjudicators Gordon Back and Sir Charles Mackerras) at the Wigmore Hall in February...with accompanist John Reid, my programme consisted of Torelli - Sonata G1, Hugh Brunt - Searching Light (world premiere!), Francaix - Sonatine, Gubaidulina - Song Without Words, Mendez - Csardas...although I didn't win, it was a super opportunity to perform once again at such a beautiful venue, and performing Hugh's piece was a real pleasure.
Next up in January was a three concert tour of 'The Soldier's Tale' with Gareth Jones and Sinfonia Cymru - I'm a big fan of chamber music, so this was a great opportunity to perform (with narrator Donald Maxwell) a standard of the repertoire.
In addition there have been orchestral concerts with the RAM Media Ensemble, for the British Cello Society, and Handel's Messiah in Oxford. I also had a week in Aldeburgh with 10-piece ensemble 'The Brass Collective', which resulted in a very good (but hard on the chops) concert to finish our residency.
I've also been doing some media related work these past few months - firstly recording some demo stuff with Mike McEvoy for a film called 'Me and Orson Welles', plus a (slightly bizzare) performance on The Daily Politics Show on BBC2 TV, dressed in full evening wear at 1pm performing a brief fanfare and some of the closing theme tune! Fortunately for me, its now gone from the BBC iplayer!
I also won the Drummond Sharp Brass Prize at the Academy, performing Friedmann's Solus for adjudicator Richard Bissil, which was a pleasant surprise, and lead the Symphonic Brass ensemble in a concert of Strauss and Wagner last week. I also performed on Radio 3 with the Academy Wind/Brass Octet in Stravinsky's piece of the same name.
Also, I had the opportunity to do some teaching at Watford Grammar School, as part of my LRAM teaching diploma, and for some light relief, went to see Wales at the Millenium Stadium in the 6 Nations against Italy; fortunately for us, it was a win!
Over the next few weeks there are several things coming up - Park Lane Group auditions as soloist and with The Brass Collective, recording of Strauss and Wagner with the RAM Symphonic Brass Ensemble for Harmonia Mundi, concerts with the LSO, University of London SO, Britten-Pears Orchestra and London Contemporary Orchestra, the Hummel concerto with the Penzance Orchestral Society, and two TBC recitals in April. I'm also looking forward to a week off at Easter - time to put the trumpet in its case, get some good R&R and build up my energy reserves for the following term...until next time :) !
Posted by Huw Morgan
Monday, December 31, 2007
Happy New Year!
I write on the verge of 2008...I thought I should get one final post in before the New Year, seen as I've been neglecting my duties for a couple of months!
Since November I've had numerous performances as soloist, chamber and orchestral musician, including two lunchtime concerts at the RAM of Sibelius' little known Septets, and notably the world premiere performance of Leif Segerstam's Symphony No. 173 (yes, that is right!)'...Launching Thoughts into Nexties...', or whatever they are! It featured a solo trumpet line, with an accompaniment of sizeable orchestral forces, two pianos (one with the composer conducting!) and lasted approximately 25 - a bit of a marathon, but well worth it.
Most of the 1st week of November, however, was taken up as I performed with the LSO in three concerts - two at the Barbican and one at the Salle Pleyel, Paris! Although John Adams and Varese aren't two of the easiest composers to perform, it was a pleasure for me to be part of the wonderful, inspiring brass section, under conductor Krystian Jarvi, and the concerts were all very well received.
In addition to my regular weekly tuition from Prof. James Watson and Robert Farley (Nat), I also had the pleasure of performing Jolivet's Concertino for two visiting clinicians, Kristian Steenstrup (Royal Danish Academy), and James Wilt (Associate Principal - LA Philharmonic), when they were in town, not to mention some more fabulous lessons with Visiting Professor Howard Snell.
With my teaching in Oxford still going strong (a few of my pupils took exams this term), there was also the usual mix of choral society concerts, graduation ceremonies (for King's College, London and University of Central Lancashire), and weddings - not to mention a few Messiahs on both modern and period instruments, including one with the Elysian Baroque Orchestra in Kemble (where I returned home at 5am the next morning - I must remember to thank the train company for that...).
In early December, I also had the privilege of performing the Arutjunjan Trumpet Concerto with the Westmorland Orchestra in Kendal, with conductor Barry Sharkey. With a large and appreciative audience in attendance, it really was a lovely occassion, and I received some wonderful hospitality from a couple whose son (Peter Lawrence) is a first class trumpeter, composer and arranger based in Germany (I have ordered some of his stuff and its great...www.pledition.com)
Soon after I was in Manchester for rehearsals at my alma mater (Chetham's School of Music) with accompanist Nick Oliver, for an audition for the Manchester Midday Concert Society at the Bridgewater Hall (Fasch Concerto, Legende and Schelokov Scherzo). Christmas Eve a letter arrived stating that I'd won one of the lunchtime recitals that the society promotes, at the Brigewater Hall in the 2009/10 season...something really to look forward to!
Having returned from Manchester, it was back to the University of London Symphony Orchestra as principal trumpet in their termly concert, featuring Elgar: In the South and Walton: Symphony No. 1, under conductor John Forster. Again, a real treat, just a shame the accoustic in the church wasn't a little better (the first trombone and horns (in front!) were particularly strong, other than that...anyboday's guess!!)
A few days later it was back to the RAM and Duke's Hall for a special performance for HM The Queen, with the RAM Brass Soloists, performing a variety of suitably regal music for her visit, where she also presented the Queen's Medal for Music to composer Judith Weir. A bit of a hair-raising occassion (I guess these things always are) but fortunately it all went to plan.
Having returned home for my Christmas break, I attended the Brass Semi Finals of the BBC YM 2008 at the RWCMD, Cardiff. With 6 out of the 8 players from Chets, it was no surprise that the standard was so high, with some superb playing...the only unfortunate thing was that there was no trumpet at this stage of the competition, something which will have to change surely for next time! One performer deserves particular mention: trombonist Peter Moore. Suffice it to say that aged 11, and a BBC YM Brass Finalist this February, he has the world at his feet. If you ever have an opportunity to hear this kid - do. It is awesome to hear, and perhaps even more unbelievable to watch such a small, unassuming chap strutting his stuff. And the best thing? He goes to Chets :) !
Well, I hope 2008 holds many good things for all readers, and I also have some exciting things on the radar in the first few months of the year...chamber concerts with Sinfonia Cymru (Stravinsky's Solider's Tale), two solo contests at the RAM, the premiere of a new work by composer Hugh Brunt, auditions for the Stuttgart Festivalensemble, Britten-Pears Baroque and modern orchestras and Verbier Festival Orchestra, The Brass Collective 10-piece residency in Aldeburgh, competitions, recordings and concerts with QuintEssence, orchestral gigs with the London Contemporary Orchestra and ULSO (Alpine Symphony!), ROSL solo competition, and (fingers crossed!) the start of recording for my debut album! Unfortunately I have had to turn down the opportunity to play with EUYO this Easter, but I have several things to make up for it, including a prospective Strauss recording and concert with the RAM Symphonic Brass under James Watson...it promises to be one heck of a term! Did I mention academic work...no, though not!
Posted by Huw Morgan
Monday, October 22, 2007
October News
Hello again, and after a month or so I thought it was finally time to give you another update on my progress.
Following a mini-recital in Cardiff in September, I headed back to London and performed with contemporary group Radius in the Purcell Room, in the orchestra (conducted by John Traill) for a new opera called the Corley Conspiracy (music by Tim Benjamin). Tim has actually just sent me the music for his extremely well conceived trumpet concerto, which I'm hoping to perform in the next year or so. I also performed in a wonderful chamber music concert in Salisbury with A Littlemore Brass, presenting a full evening recital with the 5tet in aid of the Prince's Trust, which was very well received (and raised lots of cash!)
Other activites include performing in various RAM brass ensembles for a concert to mark the 20th Anniversary of the death of the wonderful tuba player John Fletcher. I was privileged enough to play alongside LSO Principal trumpet Rod Franks in Strauss' Festmusik, and also accompany Fletcher's widow, Margaret Cable, in a 5tet piece with solo singer. Other highlights of the concert was a performance of Lucerne Song (arr. Elgar Howarth), a world premier 10tet piece by Ben Ellin and Gregson's Tuba Concerto. It was also a pleasure to see so many people of the brass world attending the concert, which went down a storm!
Further events in September include playing with the City Side Sinfonia, accompanying LSO horn player Angela Barnes in Strauss' Horn Concerto, as well as the debut of my re-formed brass group QuintEssence, performing at the Royal Festival Hall no less!
I also succesfully auditioned for the University of London Symphony Orchestra (as principal trumpet), and performed as an 'extra' with the LSO under Daniel Harding in the Barbican in Janacek's Sinfonietta. Thrown in with this was a return to a bit of piano playing, accompanying a friend in Haydn's Trumpet Concerto for an audition CD, and a baroque trumpet/Gabrielli concert with The Sixteen and Harry Christophers at Westminster Cathedral (actually we had fun with a conductor for each brass section on opposite sides of the church trying to get us playing together!)
This of course, is all on top of my regular lessons, classes, academics and teaching at Christ Church Cathedral School, Oxford...plus I'm in the middle of trying to sort out an ERASMUS exchange course at the Paris Conservatoire for the next year....so many things, so little time.
I also conspired to lose my cherished Bach 37 trumpet on a train in the middle of Spetember, but thankfully I managed to sort myself out pretty quickly with a new Yamaha New York hooter, as somebody obviously decided that a trumpet and 3 mouthpieces in a nice leather case was excatly what they were after...an early Christmas.
Well, on to future activites, and I have quite a few gigs lined up in chamber, solo and orchestral settings, the highlight being the World Premiere of Leif Segerstam's Symphony 173 with the RAM Concert Orchestra on Friday 2nd November as trumpet soloist! I'm looking forward to it immensely, as you can imagine. It is, however, hard work! Another offer which I've recently received is to tour Japan in the summer, as soloist in Telemann's trumpet concerto, including a performance in Suntory Hall! I can't wait!
More to follow soon, after the next few hectic weeks have passed.....be sure to check www.huwmorgan.net for all the latest news, reviews and concerts.
Posted by Huw Morgan
Wednesday, September 05, 2007
Italian Brass Week
Well, another eventful month has nearly passed by, and very soon I'll be starting my second year undergraduate course at the Royal Academy of Music. However, before all that I must tell you about a wonderful week I spent in Santa Fiora, deep in the Tuscan Hills, as part of Italian Brass Week. With tutors including Jens Lindemann, Tage Larsen (2nd trumpet in the Chicago Symphony - who deputised for principal Chris Martin), Davide Simoncini, Andrea Tofanelli, Dale Clevenger, Charles Vernon, Gene Porkony and Gomalan Brass, the whole event was a fantastic opportunity to play alongside, listen to and be coached by some of the most outstanding brass musicians in the world. With all the artists performing daily concerts (in solo and 5tet capacity), it was also a pleasure to hear some other students from around Europe performing. In particular, it was great that we were all able to 'sit in' on each others lessons, thereby allowing us to gain 'free' tuition on most of the great trumpet repertoire. Added to that the wonderful Tuscan scenery and superb food made it certainly a week to remember!
Well, back to the present, and next week another year starts at the RAM, where I'll be continuing my studies with James Watson, Robert Farley and Howard Snell. I've also got several concerts coming up in various capacities - as soloist on Sunday with piano in Cardiff and the Arutuinian concerto with orchestra in December, as part of a the pioneering Radius Ensemble in a new opera - 'The Corley Conspiracy' at the Purcell Room in mid September, and in the pit for a production of 'West Side Story.' Added to that the usual melee of auditions, internal concerts, assessments and masterclasses means that it should be a very profitable and busy term. I'm also looking forward to learning a lot of new repertoire in preparation for various competitions and exams which Im hoping to take in 2008.
If anything else exciting comes up, I'll post, but until then, I hope you all had a great summer break! Im now off to spend 2 hours queuing to prom for the Leipzig Gewandhaus orchestra concert at the RAH this evening...wish me luck!
Posted by Huw Morgan
Thursday, August 16, 2007
Summer post
Firstly, apologies for not posting sooner; I was horrified to see that my last update was as far back as June! I've been kept enormously busy since then, with a variety of chamber, solo and orchestral engagements. Casting my mind back, late June especially was a manic period, including concerto performances with the Hamburg Camerata (cond. Max Pommer), playing Torelli's Sonata in D G1 and the Tartini concerto in the Mecklenburg-Vorpommern festival in Germany. No sooner had I arrived back in the UK I was heading down to the Suffolk coast to perform with the Britten-Pears Baroque Orchestra - sporting my Keavy natural trumpet, I performed 3rd trumpet (the wonderful principale role, doubling timpani!) in Bach's Mass in B minor under Masaaki Suzuki, a wonderful Japanese maestro who regularly leads the acclaimed Bach Collegium Japan. The concert was a magnificent experience, and I can honestly say that this piece has now become one of my firm favourites, especially the two 'Ladamaus te' movements, one of which concludes the work....magnificent!
Soon after B-P followed my end of year recital, performing the Telemann concerto, Ravel's Kaddish and Cascades by Allen Vizzutti. Added to that the inaugural Brass Collective concert, engagements with QuintEssence and the RAM end of year festivities and graduation ceremony concert meant that I was ready for a holiday....what happened next, however, was anything but.....!
I was enormously priviledged to be the sole UK representative in the Pacfic Music Festival Academy in Saporro, Japan, and after a 12-hour flight it was pretty much right down to business. Working with our tutors from the Vienna Phil, Berlin Radio Orchestra and Philadelphia Orchestra (Gotthard Eder, Falk Maertens and David Bilger respectively), we performed over 20 concerts in just over a month, ranging from symphonic concerts (with meastri Riccardo Muti, Philippe Jordan and Andrey Boreyko) to chamber music recitals (with conductor Ian Bousfield) and new works by Herbert Willi. The brass also had the opportunity to work with the Sapporo Symphony Orchestra (under Tadaaki Otaka) and perform in the 10th anniversary concert of the beautiful 'Kitara' concert hall. Several of our concerts, however were on the Leonard Berstein 'Outdoor Stage' at the Sapporo Art Park, with crowds of over 3,000 people sitting on the grass watching numerous ensembles and the PMF orchestra. We were warmly welcomed by all the Japanese people, throughout the northern island of Hokkaido to our concerts on tour in Osaka, Tokyo and Nagoya. The food and hospitality were second to none, and the company fantastic...not only was it a great experience, but also a learning curve. It has to be said that the 'outreach' concerts we performed were some of the best experiences, with hoards of identically dressed children clamouring for autographs and photos....I can only imagine how the Beatles felt!!
Well, having been back now for 2 weeks, I'm about to leave for a brass course with Jens Lindemann & Chris Martin in Santa Fiora, Tuscany, Italy. It promises to be another exciting week, and I'll let you know about it soon after.
Meanwhile, my website will be updated in the forthcoming weeks, so if you fancy a browse, feel free to pop along www.huwmorgan.net
Posted by Huw Morgan
Wednesday, May 16, 2007
May Update
Well, another busy month goes by, and another one looms on the horizon. I've just got a few days post academic exams with hardly any commitments so I'm taking a semi-rest while catching up on mountains of admin that I've seemingly neglected over the last few weeks.
My recital in Marlborough earlier this month seemed to go down very well, which is always good, and I'm now looking forward to another concert next week with accompanist Helen Davies in the Beaumaris Festival, Anglesey. One of the pieces Im performing in this concert is Solus, by the American Stan Friedmann. Any trumpeters who enjoy contemporary compositions take note - this one is superb! It is literally brass theatre, and also requires an enormous amount of imagination, varying sounds colours, different mutes, deconstructing your instrument and even going completely mad for a line! It also works marvellously with an audience (as long as they're not embarrased to laugh!)
Recently, I also had the opportunity of a lesson with Alison Balsom, which I found very refreshing and technically and musically rewarding. I performed both Solus and the 1st mvt of the Tartini for Alison, and we also discussed strategies for the 1st mvt of the Telemann, which Im hoping to crack soon. Talking of which, I have also discussed this with my new natural trumpet tutors, Robert Farley and John Hutchins, who have both been instrumental in setting me up on the 'nat' only a few weeks before my assessment.
Before I sign off, I'd just like to make you aware of the launch of a new and exciting 10-piece ensemble, "The Brass Collective" - of which I am a member. The inaugural concert will be held at 7:30pm on Tuesday 12th June in the Duke's Hall, Royal Academy of Music, so if you're free, please do come along and support us.
The programme is:
Enrique Crespo: Spirit of Brass
J.S. Bach arr. Snell: Prelude and Fugue
Gustav Mahler: 'Ich bin der Welt abhanden gekommen' from Ruckert-Lieder
Rimsky-Korsakov: Procession of the Nobles from Mlada
Chris Batchelor: Vozpelo et Pile
Derek Bourgeois: William and Mary
The players are:
Trumpets: Simon Cox, David Geoghegan, Huw Morgan & Chris Bunn
Trombones: Ed Jones, Blair Sinclair, Iain Maxwell & Daniel West
French Horn: Kira Doherty
Tuba: Daniel Trodden
As always, if you have any questions or queries, please get in contact via the forum, and keep an eye out on my website www.huwmorgan.net for the latest information.
Posted by Huw Morgan
Monday, April 23, 2007
Easter Greeting
Firstly, I trust all B-F readers have enjoyed a relaxing Easter break...I certainly have! However, having started back at the RAM last week, I'm now getting into a hugely busy period, with my end of year recital coming up, as well as academic deadlines, Keyboard Skills and Aural exams and Natural Trumpet and Orchestral assessments.
In addition, I have rehearsals and concerts with QuintEssence, performances with the National Youth Symphonic Brass Wales, recitals in Marlborough and Beaumaris with pianist David Smith, a concerto performance with the Hamburger Camerata in Germany and even some piano accompaniment concerts! Hopefully I'll also be working with Howard Snell again in June (in his capacity as Visiting Professor at the RAM) and of course, I'm looking forward to attending the Pacific Music Festival Orchestra and Academy course in Sapporo in July, where I'll be working alongside principal players from the Vienna Philharmonic, Berlin Philharmonic and Philadelphia Orchestra, as well as maestros Riccardo Muti, Philippe Jordan and Andrey Boreyko.
I've also recently performed with the Britten Pears Orchestra in the Snape Maltings, Aldeburgh under Alexander Polianichko and as one of the resident fanfare trumpeters at the International Artist Managers' Association conference in London. The variety and fun of being a brass musician is second to none!
Posted by Huw Morgan
Sunday, March 25, 2007
Brief Update
Just a quick post to update you on what I've been up to these last few weeks. The most exciting news has been that I've been accepted into both the EUYO and the Pacific Music Festival Orchestra in Japan for courses this summer, and I'm awaiting results from the Stuttgart Festival Ensemble. I'm also starting to rehearse regularly with my quintet QuintEssence for a June gig at Grange Park Opera, have performed Handel's Messiah in Rugby, played a fanfare for the Lord Mayor and Stelios (the Easyjet owner!) at London's Mansion House, the offstage part in Verdi's Requiem with the Ealing Symphony Orchestra, music for trumpet and organ at an honorary graduation ceremony at KCL and even depped in an LSO Brass Ensemble rehearsal!
We also performed a contemporary programme with the RAM Brass Soloists at the Academy and I've had the pleasure of being tutored by Howard Snell, former LSO principal trumpet, and Fergus McWilliam from the Berlin Phil. I've also just started natural trumpet lessons with Bob Farley, so a busy summer term beckons. Next week sees me play Mahler 10 at St. John Smith's Square, before heading off to Suffolk for a course with the Britten Pears Orchestra. Fun, fun, fun! Will post soon, next time in a more organised fashion!
Posted by Huw Morgan
Brief Update
Just a quick post to update you on what I've been up to these last few weeks. The most exciting news has been that I've been accepted into both the EUYO and the Pacific Music Festival Orchestra in Japan for courses this summer, and I'm awaiting results from the Stuttgart Festival Ensemble. I'm also starting to rehearse regularly with my quintet QuintEssence for a June gig at Grange Park Opera, have performed Handel's Messiah in Rugby, played a fanfare for the Lord Mayor and Stelios (the Easyjet owner!) at London's Mansion House, the offstage part in Verdi's Requiem with the Ealing Symphony Orchestra, music for trumpet and organ at an honorary graduation ceremony at KCL and even depped in an LSO Brass Ensemble rehearsal!
We also performed a contemporary programme with the RAM Brass Soloists at the Academy and I've had the pleasure of being tutored by Howard Snell, former LSO principal trumpet, and Fergus McWilliam from the Berlin Phil. I've also just started natural trumpet lessons with Bob Farley, so a busy summer term beckons. Next week sees me play Mahler 10 at St. John Smith's Square, before heading off to Suffolk for a course with the Britten Pears Orchestra. Fun, fun, fun! Will post soon, next time in a more organised fashion!
Posted by Huw Morgan
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