Photos by Keith Woolford unless otherwise stated – click on any image to start.
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‘A Family Concert’ – May 2025 (27)
A concert where Alice in Wonderland and Mother Goose rub shoulders! Throw in a new composition by Kai Moohan-Shotan and a touch of Ravel’s ‘Bolero‘ and you have another delightful family concert.
And add to the mix two young dancers from Translucent Dance Studio and the choir from Crown Meadow First School in the village – what more could you ask for on a Saturday afternoon!
‘The Good, The Bad & The ?’ – April 2025 (11)
Performing away from our natural home in Alvechurch, we popped down to nearby Feckenham Village Hall.
We were made most welcome at this new venue by the enthusiastic volunteers front of house and a packed audience. Artisic Director Shulah Oliver-Smith, offered a varied programme of works under this intriguing title, which included that influential piece by Morricone.
Other works heard were by Shostakovich, Liszt and Tavener. Not for the faint hearted, the Suite from ‘Psycho’ had everyone on the edge of their seats as did Saint-Saens’s ‘Dance Macabre’! The expressive expanse of music played also had a world premier from music student Oliver Howlett entitled ‘Donnie’ based on the cult film ‘Donnie Darko’.
To conclude the evening, guest soprano soloist Wendy Nieper sang ’The Devil Went Down to Georgia’ by Charles Daniel’s in her own inimitable way.
‘Young Musicians’ Showcase‘ – March 2025 (36)
Nine young pianists and a violinist brought a soothing afternoon to our annual event – now in its 15th year.
A wonderful opportunity for aspiring musicians up to the age of 18-years-old to experience near-concert conditions. Supported by family members and teachers, this free event included a workshop conducted by TMS Music Director Shulah Oliver-Smith. This allowed an insight on how the musicians should present themselves including their own introductions.
Pieces performed included works by Beethoven, Arnold, Faure and Chopin. Early on, Hannes Farmer played Liszt’s ‘Consolation No.5’ and followed it by singing ‘O for the Wings of a Dove’ by Mendelssohn.
Diverse offerings saw works by composer Kuhlau, performed by Gemma Ng, and Bruno Mars, played by Emily Game-Gilces, rubbing shoulders!
TMS Chair Marian Barwell said she was extremely impressed with the standard of music played. “What seems to reach a pinnacle year, appears to be exceeded the following! The maturity demonstrated in front of their peers and the audience was wonderful.”
The concert’s figurative curtains fell after a splendid performance by Sam Harper-Mills.
‘Expect the Unexpected‘ – October 2024 (21)
For those expecting the customary slice of classical music from TMS – the title should have given the game away!
Enter Pachelbel’s popular Canon and its accompanying piece Gigue in D. A marvellous opener followed by the six movement Suite for Strings – a light work by Janacek.
Belying her young age, the extraordinarily talented Samantha Atkinson was a particular highlight of the evening as she wowed the audience with her saxophone offering playing Glazunov’s Saxophone Concerto in E flat.
Written in 2011, a touch of Jazz for Strings Ensemble came next by the German composer Sigi Busch and had a trio of string musicians and the double bass player David Burndrett free styling!
You can usually recognise Baroque music from several miles away – think Bach, Vivaldi etc. but the penultimate ten-movement Battalia à 10 by the Bohemian-Austrian composer Heinrich Ignaz Franz von Biber was way ahead of its time for the 18th century.
A touch of Rossini completed an unexpected programme as the String Sonata No.5 in E flat concluded a spectacular start to our new season.