As we reach the twenty-second season of Stowmarket Concerts it is interesting to look back at the programmes of more than one hundred concerts and marvel at the wide variety of music and performers we have seen and heard. Apart from the pianists, percussionists, string and wind players and singers in groups, or as soloists, there have been a few orchestras and even, in the early days, dramatic readings!

But we have always aimed to present excellent players many of whom display much youthful enthusiasm.

All concerts take place in the Regal Theatre, refurbished in 2007. Never in the building's seventy-two years had there been such a transformation. A new colour scheme highlights the theatre's Art-Deco features whilst the new seating, with generous leg room, means greater comfort which, together with superb acoustics, makes Stowmarket's Regal probably the best place in East Anglia to experience live music.

We look forward to welcoming all lovers of good music to this season of concerts.

All concerts are held at 2:45pm on Sundays at the Regal Theatre, Stowmarket.

Click for concert details or for programme notes.

GRAND PIANO RECITAL

Beatrice Nicholas

piano

Her programme will include:

Liszt's Sonata in B minor

Schumann's Carnival and

Debussy's Images.

THE HEATH STRING QUARTET

Oliver Heath

Rebecca Eves

Gary Pomeroy

Christopher Murray

violin

violin

viola

'cello

Their programme includes:

Schubert's Death and the Maiden quartet

www.heathquartet.com

Flights of Fancy and Fantasy

Mark Oldfield

Timothy Lole

baritone

piano

His programme includes works by Warlock, Schubert, Fauré and Ravel.

Mandolin Journey

Ali Stephens

classical mandolin

L'ART DU HAUTBOIS

James Turnbull

Elizabeth Burgess

oboe and cor anglais

piano

The entirely French programme includes sonatas by Poulenc and Saint-Seans.

GRAND PIANO RECITAL

Beatrice Nicholas

piano

Beatrice is a captivating performer in the early stages of her career. Those who heard her play at hte privately arranged recital in Finborough earlier this year were extremely impressed by her musical sensitiviy and technical prowess.

After early training at the Royal College of Music she graduated at the Royal Academy and is now persuing post-graduate studies at the Hans Eisler Hochschule für Musik in Berlin. Her studies are supported by the prestigious Myra Hess Award, which she has won two years running, and an award given by the Michael Simms Memorial Trust from Thomas Mills High School, Framlingham, where Beatrice studied when her family moved to Suffolk.

Her programme will include:

Liszt's Sonata in B minor

Schumann's Carnival and

Debussy's Images.

THE HEATH STRING QUARTET

Oliver Heath

Rebecca Eves

Gary Pomeroy

Christopher Murray

violin

violin

viola

'cello

Last season the Heath Quartet awed us with their musicianship and charisma. One of the audience went so far as to compare them with the young Amadeus Quartet.

During the last year the quartet has given recitals throughout Britain. They have recently been selected by the Young Covert Artists' Trust and they continue to perform in the Park Lane Group Young Artist Series and are currently Artists-In-Residence at the Lake District Summer Music Festival.

The quartet enjoys a close relationship with the Britten-Pears School, having twice attended the International String Quartet Academy and this year sees them taking part in the Artists-In-Residence programme at Aldeburgh.

Their programme includes:

Schubert's Death and the Maiden quartet

www.heathquartet.com

FLIGHTS OF FANCY AND FANTASY

Mark Oldfield

Timothy Lole

baritone

piano

A song recital with a difference! Mark uses an informal and accessible approach to transform the traditional recital. His versatile lyric baritone has secured him an international career since his debut with Scottish Opera and includes appearances with La Monnaie in Brussels, New Israeli Opera and the Royal Opera, Covent Garden. He has performed at many of Britain's most prestigious venues and for royalty.

We are proud that he received his early musical training in Stowmarket playing in the Concert Band, forming and conducting the Tea Rooms Ensemble and getting his first taste of singing in one of Stowmarket High School's musicals.

His programme includes works by Warlock, Schubert, Fauré and Ravel.

MANDOLIN JOURNEY

Ali Stephens

classical mandolin

Ali featured in a Radio 3 programme in May last year tracing the 400-year history of the mandolin.

Her solo recital programmes are a spell-binding combination of playing, technical explanations and historical reference. For five years now she has enjoyed success all over the world and this is her second visit to our concerts in Stowmarket.

L'ART DU HAUTBOIS

James Turnbull

Elizabeth Burgess

oboe and cor anglais

piano

James began playing the oboe at the age of seven. After achieving first-class honours in music at Christ Church, Oxford, he spent a post graduate year at the Royal Academy of Music and for the last two years has been studying with Nicholas Daniel at Trossingen University of Music in Germany. He has been successful in winning many prozes and awards and has already performed live on national radio and television. He recently formed a new ensemble in Germany which is sufficiently well established to be able to commission new works from several young composers.

The entirely French programme includes sonatas by Poulenc and Saint-Seans.