Eaton Concert Series

11/11/2024

A couple more very short clips from yesterday - Andrew, Scott and Viv in rehearsal and part of Scott’s wonderful Arpeggione Sonata played on the viola. It was great to have parents/grandparents David and Elaine Storey back in Eaton too - they were responsible for founding the Concert Series 25 years ago 🎶🎹🎻

11/11/2024

Wow - what an amazing concert at St Andrew’s Eaton yesterday. This was chamber music at its finest. It was good to see a full house but surely aren’t all our concerts worthy of such a turnout?

Here’s a clip of father and son duo Andrew and Scott Storey with pianist extraordinaire Viv McLean playing part of their closing piece - one of the 3 duets for 2 violins and piano by Shostakovich played here on violin and viola. Bravo chaps!

03/11/2024

20/10/2024

The Eaton Concert Series was officially launched in September 2000. The idea was born out of David and Elaine Storey’s passion for live music as they sought to bring an exceptionally high standard of concerts to Eaton. This was facilitated by the fact that they had two musically talented sons, Martin (a cellist) and Andrew (a violinist), who had both studied at the Royal Academy of Music in London.

In the preceding years, a number of fund-raising concerts had been held to raise funds for a piano in order to provide an instrument of quality to meet the demands of the professional musicians coming to perform at St Andrew’s. Money was also raised to purchase a piano for Christ Church. Many of these fund-raising events were given by the brothers and their musical contacts and it was at a concert in December 1999 that it was decided to formalise the concerts, marking 25 years since the concept of a proper Concert Series.

On Sunday 10th November (3pm) at St Andrew's Eaton, we welcome back Andrew Storey who performed at that first concert in September 2000 along with pianist Viv McLean, another stalwart contributor to the Concert Series over the past two and a half decades. As well as being principal second violinist with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Andrew is also Chair of the RPO Board.

We are also thrilled to be welcoming the next generation of Storeys as Andrew’s son Scott will be performing as a viola player. Scott was awarded a full scholarship to study violin and viola at the Royal College of Music and he will be performing Schubert’s Arpegionne Sonata. As a trio, they will also be playing a work composed by Scott’s brother Sam Storey who is studying Film Music at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama. Other works in the programme will include pieces by Mozart, Debussy, Faure and Shostakovich.

Photographed here are Andrew Storey with his sons Sam and Scott, along with Elaine and David Storey, taken after a concert at St Andrew's in May 2014. This promises to be a wonderful concert so do support it if you can!

19/10/2024

Back in November 2013, Eaton Concert Series hosted a masterclass with violinist Adrian Adlam coaching local young musicians. One of those young people was Dylan Latham. How lovely to see him emerge as a fully fledged concert violinist playing concerti some 11 years later! Maybe it's time to invite Dylan back to do a recital in his own right. (With apologies for the camera shake!)

14/10/2024

What a fabulous concert yesterday afternoon with Matt, Kate and Nat. Here they are playing the final gigue from Bach’s Cello Suite in D minor arranged by Kate for the trio!

13/10/2024

This afternoon’s concert at St Andrew’s promises to be an absolute treat for lovers of baroque music with three world class performers. Theorbo player Matthew Wadsworth, baroque cellist Kate Bennett Wadsworth and harpsichordist Nathaniel Mander will present a programme exploring the musical connections between J S Bach and some of his contemporaries. The music will include works by Joseph Bodin de Boismortier, Robert de Visee, Vivaldi, Marcello and Bach himself. Check out this video to see Matt and Kate in action playing Vivaldi. 3pm at St Andrew's Eaton.

Kate Bennett Wadsworth, celloMatthew Wadsworth, theorboWigmore Hall, London24 July, 2014Baroque cello after Montagnana made by Zhiming Wang (Beijing, 2011)

06/10/2024

We're just a week away from our concert next Sunday 13th October at Eaton which promises to be a feast of baroque music! Matt Wadsworth, Kate Bennett-Wadsworth and Nathaniel Mander will be exploring the musical links between J S Bach and some of his contemporaries.

For a man who never travelled, it is incredible to think that J S Bach is responsible for connecting up so much music from so many different places.

Composers to include Vivaldi, Marcello, Telemann, Barrière and Bach himself. As a little teaser, here is Nat playing Bach's Goldberg Variations which he played for us when he last came to Eaton in 2021.

Johann Sebastian Bach - Goldberg Variations, BWV 988, Nathaniel Mander, harpsichordPurchase a CD of Nathaniel's new recording of the work: https://www.nathan...

06/10/2024

Here are the ladies of Serendipity with their MD, Andrew Mildinhall, raising a glass after their concert in Lammas last night – returning by popular demand! Delighted to say that they are going to perform for us at St Andrew’s Eaton on Sunday 12th January in a concert of music beautifully arranged for upper voices.

29/09/2024

On Sunday 13th October, we look forward to welcoming theorbo player Matt Wadsworth and baroque cellist Kate Bennett Wadsworth at Eaton. The last time Matt and Kate played for us was in September 2022 and here's a short clip of them in action. This time they will be joined by harpsichordist, Nathaniel Mander, so another good reason for coming to support!

Nat has played at Eaton on several occasions, the last being a memorable performance of Bach's 'Goldberg Variations' at a socially-distanced concert during lockdown. Happily we can afford to be a bit more relaxed this time and this concert of baroque trios is a must for all lovers of baroque and early music.

22/09/2024

We had a fabulous concert with Emma Johnson and David Parry two weeks ago. Emma danced around and smiled as she played - it was as though she was 17 all over again!

We have another wonderful concert coming up on 13th October - baroque trios with theorbo player Matt Wadsworth, baroque cellist Kate Bennett-Wadsworth and harpsichordist Nathaniel Mander. They have all played at Eaton but this is the first time they have performed together!

For details of all concerts in the series, visit www.eatonconcertseries.co.uk/events

01/09/2024

Just one week to go before we welcome Emma Johnson at Eaton next Sunday. This will be a treat so do come if you can!

Described as 'Britain’s favourite clarinettist’, Emma’s career was launched after winning BBC Young Musician of The Year at the age of 17, in front of a TV audience of 12 million. Emma was honoured by the Queen with an MBE in 1996 and in 2020 she received the Cobbett Medal from the Musicians’ Company Guild in the City of London for distinguished services to chamber music.

Emma will be accompanied by the distinguished conductor and pianist, David Parry, in a programme to include works by Weber, Schumann (Fantasiestucke), Verdi (Rigoletto Fantasy), Poulenc, Mozart and Bernstein (Scenes from West Side Story).

Admission to this concert will be £15 for adults, £7.50 for students and children admitted free of charge. For details of all concerts in the series, please visit www.eatonconcertseries.co.uk

29/07/2024

EMMA JOHNSON comes to Eaton on 8th September!

Described as 'Britain’s favourite clarinettist’ Emma Johnson is one of the few clarinettists to have established a career as a solo performer which has taken her to venues all over the world. Emma grew up in London and her career was launched when, at the age of 17, she won BBC Young Musician Of the Year in front of a TV audience of 12 million, followed by the Young Concert Artists Auditions in New York. Emma was honoured by the Queen with an MBE in 1996 and in 2020 she received the Cobbett Medal from the Musicians’ Company Guild in the City of London for distinguished services to chamber music. Rather appropriately, Emma plays a clarinet made by the English instrument maker, Peter Eaton!

Emma will be accompanied by the distinguished conductor and pianist, David Parry, in a delightful programme to include works by Weber, Schumann (Fantasiestucke), Verdi (Rigoletto Fantasy), Poulenc, Mozart and Bernstein (Scenes from West Side Story).

Please note that this is a change to our originally advertised concert. Admission will be £15 for adults, £7.50 for students and children admitted free of charge. For details of all concerts in the series, please visit www.eatonconcertseries.co.uk

28/06/2024

IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT: it is with huge regret that this Sunday’s Eaton concert is cancelled due to unforeseen circumstances. This is a massive disappointment to everyone concerned - a lot of work has gone into this concert so we will reschedule for a later date. Apologies for any inconvenience this may cause and we'll keep you posted.

23/06/2024

Just one more concert to go before our summer break and it will be a fun one. VoiceBox will perform a wide-ranging programme spanning the centuries to include international traditional music, secular and sacred items of every mood and style - with Jeremy Jackman at the helm, you can be guaranteed to be taken on a high-octane musical journey!

09/06/2024

A few photos from our fabulous Gryphon gig on Friday evening (courtesy of Michael Barnes). Musical talent and eccentricity in abundance! Attendance exceeded our expectations too. Thanks to everyone who came out to support. Will post more photos at a later date.