Following its first performance in nearly 30 years at the recent RNCM Brass Band Festival in Manchester, Edward Gregson's 'Concertante for Piano and Band' is to be heard twice in matter of weeks in Cardiff and London.

St David's Day

One of Welsh music's rising piano stars Conal Bembridge-Sayers will be the featured soloist in a special St David's Day concert (Thursday, March 1st — 7.30pm) at the Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama in Cardiff, featuring the RWCM Brass Band conducted by Andrew Wareham and Dr Robert Childs.

The work will form the musical centre piece to an evening that will also include performances of Gareth Wood's 'Actaeon' and 'A Celtic Suite' by Philip Sparke, as well as other traditional Welsh repertoire.

On Friday March 23rd, it will be heard again, this time at Regent Hall in London (1.00pm) where the partnership will reprise it alongside repertoire from the likes of Peter Graham, Samuel Hazo and Ben Hollings.

Wonderful piece

Dr Childs told 4BR that he was delighted to be able to showcase the work, especially as it will feature Conal, who is a former RWCMD under-graduate and now a junior fellow, and will be conducted by Andrew Wareham, who is currently working towards the completion of his degree course.

"It's a wonderful piece and one that gives a new dimension for our brass students to both study and perform. It's also real coup to be able to provide a Welsh premiere and to take it to London where it was first played by the composer almost 50 years ago.

Conal is a superb pianist who has already made his mark on the piece in rehearsals and Andrew is a conductor who is developing into a fine talent."

Appreciate

He added: "I've also thoroughly enjoyed working on it, and even though it is an early composition from Edward Gregson you can readily appreciate his understanding of how to successfully bring both elements together. I'm sure the audience will enjoy it every bit as much as they did at the recent RNCM Brass Band Festival."

So interesting

Meanwhile, the soloist himself was looking forward to the challenge. "It's a lovely piece to work on and so interesting to play both off and with the band,"Conal said.

"It packs so much into each movement and you appreciate that Edward Gregson must have been a very fine player as a young man — it's taken a lot of practice!"

It packs so much into each movement and you appreciate that Edward Gregson must have been a very fine player as a young man — it's taken a lot of practice!Soloist, Conal Bembridge-Sayers

Concerts:

RWCMD Brass Band
Conductors: Dr Robert Childs & Andrew Wareham
St David's Day Concert
7.30pm
Dora Stoutzker Hall
RWCMD Cardiff
Thursday March 1st

RWCMD Brass Band
Conductors: Dr Robert Childs & Andrew Wareham
Regent Hall (1.00pm)
London
Friday 23rd March