THE TOWN’S long-standing orchestra will soon present its 75th anniversary concert as a contribution to events marking the 80th anniversary of the D-Day landings.
The Redditch Orchestra’s concert at the Palace Theatre at 4pm on June 9 will include iconic items from the WW2 period, conducted by Graham Longfils who was educated and later taught in Redditch.
Belarusian pianist Tanya Avchinnikova joins the orchestra to play Richard Addinsell’s Warsaw Piano concerto.
Born in Minsk, Tanya is a graduate of the Belarusian State Academy of Music. She leads an active concert life in her native country and abroad.
She has given concerts in Russia, France, Switzerland, China and the UK. Tanya combines concerts with teaching, and she has lived in the UK since 2018.
Redditch soprano Katie Leaver will sing well known songs from both world wars. Katie studied music at Manchester University, where she specialised in 19th century opera as well as studying voice, clarinet and piano.
She regularly performs as a soloist with choral societies, choirs and orchestras, singing arias from opera and operetta as well as choral works.
Katie is much in demand for recitals and concerts and has frequently sung for both the Sir Arthur Sullivan Society and the Gilbert and Sullivan Society.
The orchestra is delighted to welcome as guest leader, John Bradbury, formerly leader of the BBC Midland Light Orchestra, City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, BBC Concert Orchestra.
John Bradbury is also Director of Johann Strauss Gala performances for Raymond Gubbay Ltd and the RPO Pops Orchestra under Henry Mancini.
The 75th anniversary concert will be hosted by Sue Beardsmore, the popular Midlands BBC presenter.
Works featuring in the concert include: Beethoven, Richard Addinsell, Vaughan-Williams, Haydn and Eric Coates.
Songs from the trenches will include Keep the Home Fires Burning, Waltz of My Heart, I’ll Walk Beside You and We’ll Gather Lilacs in the Spring.
