MUSIC BY RENOWNED WELSH FEMALE COMPOSER TO FEATURE IN WREXHAM ORCHESTRA REMEMBRANCE CONCERT

Final rehearsals are underway for a special Remembrance Sunday featuring music by a renowned Welsh female composer.

The concert is set to be staged by Wrexham Symphony Orchestra at William Aston Hall in Wrexham on Sunday 9^th November at 2.30pm. Conducted by Bedwyn Phillips, the orchestra will be joined by renowned solo violinist Madeleine Mitchell for the special event which will feature music on a theme of 'Remembrance' exploring memory and national pride through poignant works that reflect the shadow of war including Grace Williams' Violin Concerto, her Fantasia on Welsh Nursery Rhymes and Sir Edward Elgar's iconic Symphony No.1.

Written in 1940, Grace Williams' 'Fantasia on Welsh Nursery Rhymes' is based on a number of traditional Welsh nursery tunes and lullabies. Although not typical of her work, it brought Grace Williams to prominence and remains her most popular work. Williams is regarded  by many as Wales ' finest composer. Williams wrote her often overlooked Violin Concerto in 1950.  Born in Barry in 1906, Grace Williams studied at the University College of South Wales and Monmouthshire (now Cardiff University) and at the Royal College of Music under Ralph Vaughan Williams. In 1949, she became the first British female composer to score the music for a feature film - Blue Scar, set in a Welsh mining village. 

One of two completed symphonies, Elgar's Symphony No.1 received its first public performance in December 1908 at The Free Trade Hall in Manchester with Hans Richter conducting the Hallé Orchestra. Its London première soon followed with a performance by the London Symphony Orchestra at The Queen's Hall also conducted by Ritcher. The work soon attracted widespread and unprecedented critical acclaim and achieved what the Musical Times described as "immediate and phenomenal success" with over 100 performances in Britian, Europe and America within a year of its première.

Speaking about the concert, Matthew Ellis, Chair of Wrexham Symphony Orchestra said:

"Our concert on November 9th features Grace Williams' 'Fantasia on Welsh Nursery Tunes', which though not in her regular style is one of her most popular and endearing works. It had its premiere during the second world war, and had a big impact for its nostalgia and camaraderie. Our programme continues with her massively overlooked violin concerto. There cannot have been that many performances of it ever, but the work is quickly being rediscovered, with both a recent new CD and the efforts of our guest conductor Bedwyn Lloyd Phillips, and soloist Madeleine Mitchell. One of the foremost British violinists of the last few decades, Madeleine has Welsh connections and has a Wrexham Mayor within her family tree! It is a delight to have the chance to work with such an esteemed soloist and we feel certain you will enjoy her performance."

Following on from the Remembrance concert, Wrexham Symphony Orchestra will stage a special festive event,  'Christmas with WSO' on Sunday 30th November at 2.30pm featuring beloved seasonal classics to kick off the festive season in style. Conducted by Mark Lansom, the orchestra will be joined by soprano Rachael Hughes. 

Full details of Wrexham Symphony Orchestra's Remembrance themed concerts can be found at: 

www.wrexhamorch.co.uk 

...where tickets can be booked online.

Pictured - Acclaimed violinist Madeleine Mitchell.

Picture Credit - Wrexham Symphony Orchestra.