THE world premiere of a new work by a composer from Wrexham will help top music festival celebrate its 50th year.
The piece written by Jon Guy will be featured in one of two concerts in May which will be curtain raisers for the North Wales International Music Festival which in normal times is held at St Asaph Cathedral.
Like the main event last September, the concerts will be staged online – with the premiere of the music called Shining Dawn happening at 7.30pm on Saturday, May 8.
At the same time the day before, the globally-renowned choir Tenebrae will be delighting the festival audience.
There will not be a ticket charge but viewers will be invited to donate to festival funds.
Composer and professional clarinettist Jonathan Guy is writing a new musical piece, Smile, Smile, Smile, based on Pack up Your Troubles which will be premiered by young musicians of all abilities during a festival workshop. Pictured is Composer and
The festival was founded by royal composer William Mathias, one of Wales’ greatest composers, who was Professor and Head of the Department of Music at Bangor University between 1970-88.
Jon Guy’s new work, called Shining Dawn, will also showcase the talent of the festival’s resident orchestra, NEW Sinfonia, that’s based in Wrexham.
The orchestra was founded by Jon, who is also a talented clarinetist, and his brother, Robert, the artistic director and conductor.
Jon, 31, said: “I was inspired by the idea of how water glistens on the horizon as early morning sun shines on it. I thought of someone maybe sitting high on a hilltop looking down at the shimmering water and I have tried to reflect in the music the way the light plays on the rippling waves.”
His brother Robert takes the baton for the piece which was recorded at St Asaph Cathedral.
Composer and professional clarinettist Jonathan Guy is writing a new musical piece, Smile, Smile, Smile, based on Pack up Your Troubles which will be premiered by young musicians of all abilities during a festival workshop.
Due to social distancing limits on musicians recording and performing during the pandemic the concert orchestra had to be spaced two meters apart and consists of nine violinists, three viola players, three cellists, two double bass and one harp.
Robert said: “It is a truly inspirational piece and one which conveys a sense of hope as we emerge from the dark times of the pandemic.”
The festival went virtual last year, being hosted fully online for the time in its history as a result of the covid crisis.
Ann Atkinson said: “This year things are still very much up in the air and dependent on the status of the pandemic over coming weeks and months. The festival format remains uncertain but it is highly likely that a number of our events will again be online.”
She added: “Going online last year gave the festival access to a global audience with viewers worldwide tuning into our concerts and workshops, prompting some fantastic feedback. It was a great morale booster given the difficult times we were all embroiled in. But we are ever conscious of our audiences closer to home and how much they love to come to St Asaph Cathedral and enjoy the live musical experience in such beautiful surroundings.”
For more details about the forthcoming spring concerts and North Wales International Music Festival 2021 visit: https://nwimf.com/
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