Welsh Sinfonia
Encyclopedia
The Welsh Sinfonia is a professional chamber orchestra based in Cardiff and is a full member of the Association of British Orchestras
. It employs between 15 and 35 musicians, led by Robin Stowell. The Principal Conductor and Artistic Director is Mark Eager
.
It was relaunched in 2009 after serving choirs and choral societies for 20 years, and now concentrates on exploring the ever-widening chamber music repertoire, from the 16th Century to the present day.
The Welsh Sinfonia performs regularly in a popular Cardiff
series of concerts, and tours Wales
taking chamber music
to smaller venues and areas where live classical music provision is limited. It also works closely with schools offering an interactive education programme.
The Welsh Sinfonia has commissioned and performed many new works for chamber orchestra; recent works include Damian Rees ‘Happily Ever After’, Eilir Owen Griffiths ‘The Emoticons of Time’ (Percussion Concerto) and Rhian Samuel
‘The Path through the Woods’ (Recorder Concerto). There are developing links with emerging Welsh musicians including the Official Harpist to the Prince of Wales
Claire Jones, percussionist Dave Danford
and world-renowned recorder
soloist Pamela Thorby.
Association of British Orchestras
The Association of British Orchestras exists to support, promote and advance the interests and activities of professional orchestras in the UK...
. It employs between 15 and 35 musicians, led by Robin Stowell. The Principal Conductor and Artistic Director is Mark Eager
Mark Eager
Mark Eager is an English-born conductor and former BBC National Orchestra of Wales Principal Trombone. He lives in Salisbury, United Kingdom.-Biography:...
.
It was relaunched in 2009 after serving choirs and choral societies for 20 years, and now concentrates on exploring the ever-widening chamber music repertoire, from the 16th Century to the present day.
The Welsh Sinfonia performs regularly in a popular Cardiff
Cardiff
Cardiff is the capital, largest city and most populous county of Wales and the 10th largest city in the United Kingdom. The city is Wales' chief commercial centre, the base for most national cultural and sporting institutions, the Welsh national media, and the seat of the National Assembly for...
series of concerts, and tours Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
taking chamber music
Chamber music
Chamber music is a form of classical music, written for a small group of instruments which traditionally could be accommodated in a palace chamber. Most broadly, it includes any art music that is performed by a small number of performers with one performer to a part...
to smaller venues and areas where live classical music provision is limited. It also works closely with schools offering an interactive education programme.
The Welsh Sinfonia has commissioned and performed many new works for chamber orchestra; recent works include Damian Rees ‘Happily Ever After’, Eilir Owen Griffiths ‘The Emoticons of Time’ (Percussion Concerto) and Rhian Samuel
Rhian Samuel
Rhian Samuel, born in Aberdare, Wales in 1944, is a Welsh composer.She was educated in Britain and the United States, and joined the teaching staff of City University, London in 1995 becoming Professor of Music in 1999...
‘The Path through the Woods’ (Recorder Concerto). There are developing links with emerging Welsh musicians including the Official Harpist to the Prince of Wales
Official Harpist to the Prince of Wales
The Official Harpist to the Prince of Wales is a position within the Royal Household. In 2000, Charles, Prince of Wales revived a tradition of having Welsh harpists, which was the first time the post has been occupied since it was last granted to John Thomas in 1871 by Queen Victoria.The harp is an...
Claire Jones, percussionist Dave Danford
Dave Danford
David Joel Danford is a British percussionist. He is best known for his work as a classical percussion soloist but has also worked with numerous dance music producers including BBC Radio 1 DJ Judge Jules.-Background:...
and world-renowned recorder
Recorder
The recorder is a woodwind musical instrument of the family known as fipple flutes or internal duct flutes—whistle-like instruments which include the tin whistle. The recorder is end-blown and the mouth of the instrument is constricted by a wooden plug, known as a block or fipple...
soloist Pamela Thorby.