Euphonium soloist, David Thornton is senior tutor of brass band studies at the RNCM and the Musical Director of the Brighouse & Rastrick Band. He is regarded as one of the foremost euphonium players of his generation and has a global reputation. Programme will include music by Andre Previn, Andy Scott as well as premieres by Liz Lane and Jesus Santandreu.
5:00pm Pre-concert Early Bird meal at La Casa Mia (not included in the ticket)
Why not make an evening of it and book your pre-concert dinner at La Casa Mia who are kindly helping to sponsor the concert series
Programme
6:30pm Doors open
7:00: Spotlight Concert
Music performed by talented young people from Sandbach
7:30 Intermission
Art Exhibition by Linda Ward
Sandbach Art Club
Refreshments
raffle in aid of Foden's Reconstruction Fund
8:00 Main Concert
Andre Previn – Sonata
I. With Energy II. Slowly III. Vivace
Liz Lane – Robin Robin *British premiere
Jesus Santandreu – Bestiarium of the Lost Dark Matter *British premiere
I. Mutabis Graviton II. Sphaericus Wimp III. Matrioskus Supersymmetrical
Andy Scott – Respectfully Yours….
Philip Sparke – Two Part Invention
Dr. David Thornton is regarded as one of the foremost euphonium players and teachers of his generation and has a global reputation. His work as a soloist, conductor and educator is renowned throughout the brass playing world to have a distinct hallmark of extreme virtuosity, professionalism and an ability to connect with audiences like few others in his field.
His work within the brass band world has seen him at the top flight for almost twenty years. He has held solo euphonium positions with the Fairey Band (1997-2000), the Black Dyke Band (2000-2010) and the Brighouse & Rastrick Band (2011-2015) having won five National titles, three British Opens and one European Championship during this time. David is currently the solo euphonium player with the world famous Foden's Band.
Born in Nottingham in 1978, David began his euphonium lessons at just eight years old and only five years later became the first ever euphonium player to gain a place at Chetham’s School of Music, one of the UK’s most prestigious institutions for specialist musical education.
Since then his success has earned him many awards, such as scholarships from the Countess of Munster Trust and the Yamaha Music Foundation of Europe, a hatrick of solo awards at the National Euphonium Conference 1995, 1997 and 1999, first prize at the Verso Il Millenio International Euphonium Competition, but most notably as the International Euphonium Player of the Year 2001.
David is constantly working to seek out new solo repertoire in as many different guises as possible. He has given world premieres by composers such as Philip Wilby, Peter Meechan, Simon Dobson, Torstein Aagaard-Nilsen, Peter Graham, Phillip Venables, Lucy Pankhurst, Richard Rock, Kit Turnbull and D. Edward Davis.
As a recording artist David has released four solo albums. His debut CD, ‘Three Worlds’, was awarded Solo CD of the Year for 2004 by the British Bandsman magazine. David released his second solo album, ‘Devil’s Duel’ in May 2007, Sempre Libera in January 2014 and Parallel Realities in March 2015. Furthermore, David features as a soloist on 30 different albums of band music, including ‘Epic Brass’ and ‘Jubilee Brass’ – live recordings of two concerts at the Royal Albert Hall.
Considering David’s relatively young age, his achievements in education are also quite remarkable. He tutors at the RNCM, the University of Huddersfield and Chetham's School of Music. His current and former students already hold principal positions in many leading bands around the UK.
David is a course director for the Bolsover Brass Band Summer School and has been a course tutor for the National Youth Brass Band of Great Britain, National Youth Brass Band of Wales, National Children's Brass Band of Great Britain, National Youth Wind Orchestra of Great Britain, the International Brass Band Summer School (Swansea) and the Wessex Band Summer School. David is also a fully certified member of ABBA.
David Thornton is a Sterling Musical Instruments performing artist and consultant and plays exclusively on the Sterling Virtuoso Euphonium. He also holds an undergraduate degree from the Royal Northern College of Music and a DMA from the University of Salford.
Ruth Webb (piano) enjoys a busy and varied performing and teaching career. She has performed extensively as a soloist, accompanist and chamber musician in UK venues such as the Bridgewater Hall, Manchester; the Sage, Gateshead and the Anvil, Basingstoke.
Ruth studied at the Royal Northern College of Music, Manchester with Mark Ray and Carole Presland. She graduated with first class honours, Postgraduate Diploma (distinction in solo performance) and Professional Performance diplomas in piano duo and accompaniment. Ruth was awarded a scholarship for her final year at the college to specialise in the art of accompaniment; she now works as a staff pianist at the RNCM and the University of Salford.
In addition to her performing career, Ruth runs a successful teaching practice in South Manchester, where she teaches privately as well as within the RNCM Junior School. She also works regularly with choirs and is the principal accompanist for Bolton Choral Union and Haydock Male Voice Choir.
Ruth was brought up in a brass banding family in Devon and plays solo baritone for the Roberts Bakery Band, based in Cheshire.