Newly crowned Midlands Regional Champion, Virtuosi GUS will be celebrating the 70th birthday of one of the brass band movement's finest composers later this month — with a musical tribute to Edward Gregson.

In attendance

The concert, with the composer in attendance, will take place on Saturday 23rd April in Kettering, and will feature the band alongside the Belcanto Female Voice Choir.

The two performers have long-standing connections with the composer, who was for many years the respected Principal of the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester, with Virtuosi GUS performing his 'Concertante for Piano and Band' at London's Royal Albert Hall, with him as soloist.

Fellow student

The choir's conductor, Barry Clark, was also fellow student The Royal Academy of Music, with them also giving the first performances of a number of his compositions. The highly respected ensemble were winners of the female category at the Llangollen International Eisteddfod in 2012 and 2015, and in May embark on their second tour to New York.

Music featured will include two Gregson's 'classics' — 'Dances and Arias' from 1984, and his more recent tone poem, 'Of Distant Memories', whilst the choral music will include his 1966 cantata 'In the Beginning', with the text being partly written by his wife to be, Susan Smith, and two movements from his later 'Missa Brevis Pacem'.

Music featured will include two Gregson's 'classics' — 'Dances and Arias' from 1984, and his more recent tone poem, 'Of Distant Memories'4BR

Interviews

4BR will soon be undertaking a series of interviews with Edward Gregson to look back on his compositional career, as well as exploring his new musical horizons.

Time and place

The concert is at The Salvation Army, Rockingham Road, Kettering starting at 7.00pm.

Tickets are available from Alison Wise: ajwise61@yahoo.co.uk or 07855 406766 or Kafe Bloc, Kettering.