CHESHIRE MUSIC SOCIETY LAUNCHES DYNAMIC NEW SEASON OF CONCERTS

One of the North West's top music societies has announced an exciting and eclectic programme of events as it launches its 2023/24 Season, including performances by famous names, local musicians and rising young stars.

Chester Music Society's new season will begin on Wednesday 11^th October at St Mary's Creative Space in Chester city centre with a performance by The Brodsky Quartet which will feature works by Stravinsky, Rachmaninov and Debussy. For the last ten years, the quartet were "Artists in Residence" at the prestigious Kings Place concert venue in London's King's Cross and since its formation in 1972, the group has performed over 3000 concerts on the major stages of the world and released more than 60 recordings. 

The Music Society's series of six Celebrity concerts makes a welcome return with season tickets now available to enable concertgoers to attend all six concerts at a reduced cost. The new season includes a piano recital by acclaimed pianist Charles Owen at St Mary's Creative Space on Wednesday 8^th November. An extensive international career has seen Charles Owen performing a wide-ranging repertoire to outstanding critical acclaim. Appearances include many major UK venues such as Wigmore Hall, Bridgewater Hall and The Sage. Internationally, he has performed at Lincoln Center and Carnegie Hall in New York, the Brahms Saal in Vienna’s Musikverein, Paris Musée d’Orsay, Amsterdam Concertgebouw and the Moscow Conservatoire. 

Following on from Charles Owen's concert, the Bracken Trio will perform on Wednesday 13^th December. Since its formation in 2019, The trio have enjoyed performing a wide range of repertoire across the North-West. The group consists of musicians from The Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, violinist Lukas Hank, cellist Ian Bracken and his son, pianist William Bracken, praised by the Daily Telegraph for his 'courage and stamina and musicality in abundance'. William was Chester Young Musician of The Year 2016 and recently completed his studies under Music Society's President Martin Roscoe at The Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London. The trio's concert at Chester will feature music by Mendelssohn, Shostakovich and Beethoven.

The Music Society's Choir launches their season with an exciting performance of Verdi's Requiem at Chester Cathedral on Saturday 25 November, featuring a full orchestra and four celebrated soloists, all under the baton of Conductor Graham Jordan Ellis.

Chester Cathedral will also be the venue for the Choir's popular Christmas concert on Monday 18^th December which this year will be presented by renowned poet Lemn Sissay who has been described as "one of the most original challenging poets writing in Britain today… Full of light and hope” by the Daily Mail and the “Number One Sunday Times Bestseller”. The choir will be joined for the special festive concert by Chester Philharmonic Orchestra and Chester Cathedral Saturday Singing Club.

The society's popular series of Showcase concerts also makes a welcome return and includes performances by The City of Chester Brass Band and Bluecoat Training Band, The University of Chester Choir and Proud Marys, Chester's LGBTQ+ Choir. 

The Society is also once again staging its prestigious Chester Young Musician competition will which take place this year at Abbey Gate College on Sunday 19^th November and applications to participate in the competition are now being accepted online. 

Full details of Chester Music Society's 2023/24 season of concerts and events can be found at 

www.chestermusicsociety.org.uk 

...where tickets can be booked online.

Pictured - University of Chester Choir.