Autumn Concert 2011

For their Autumn Concert in Solihull School’s Bushell Hall on Saturday 12 November, Solihull Symphony Orchestra will be joined by pianist Simon Callaghan in Rachmaninov’s Third Piano Concerto.

Simon Callaghan (c) B Ealovega

Described by Sir Roger Norrington as “a wonderful pianist, who combines complete understanding of the style of music he is playing with a rare subtlety and brilliance of execution”, Simon Callaghan‘s intelligent and compelling performances on the concert platform and in the recording studio are quickly earning him a reputation as an exciting and versatile artist of the new generation. He has appeared at Symphony Hall in Birmingham, Wigmore Hall in London and toured widely, most recently to Canada, Spain and South Korea. He has also broadcast on BBC Radio and appeared on ITV and BBC Television. His recent CD of English piano music received outstanding reviews, including the following comment from musicweb-international (2009): “an essential purchase…one can ask nothing more…stunning playing”

Following his studies at Chetham’s School of Music with Bernard Roberts, Simon was awarded a full scholarship to study with Yonty Solomon at the Royal College of Music, from where he graduated with first class honours and won numerous prizes. He has also received guidance from Noretta Conci, Claude Frank, Stephen Hough and Frank Wibaut. Simon has taken awards at the Bromsgrove International Competition, Jean Françaix Concours (Paris) and the Liverpool Young Musician of the Year, and is grateful to the Craxton Memorial Trust and to his sponsors for their continued support.

The concert also includes Mahler’s 1st Symphony, featuring a much larger orchestra with extra woodwind, brass and percussion. Conductor and Musical Director Martin Leigh said, “It is a measure of how far the orchestra has come in the last few years that we are now able to offer Solihull’s many music lovers such amazing works such as these in the best concert venue in town”.

The concert begins at 19:30. Tickets and further details are available from this site, or the Solihull Library Box Office (0121 704 6962).