Music on Thursdays
Aurora Trio
Emma Halnan, flute Joe Bronstein, viola Heather Wrighton, harp courtesy of the Royal Academy of Music |
Supported by: Leatherhead Concert & Arts Society |
Programme
Arnold Bax (1883-1953) Elegiac Trio, for flute, viola and harp, (1916) Sergei Prokofiev (1891-1953) Four Dances from the Ballet 'Romeo and Juliet' Op 64 (1935-36) Arr. Aurora Trio I The Street Awakens II Gavotte III Aubade IV Dance of the Five Couples Edward Elgar (1857-1934) Salut d'amour Liebesgruss Op 12 (1888) Arr. Aurora Trio Maurice Ravel (1875-1937) Sonatine Arr. Skaila Kanga I Modéré II Mouvement de Menuet III Animé Ian Krouse (b1956, USA) Tri Chairde Three Friends (1994) |
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Aurora Trio
The Aurora Trio was established by Heather Wrighton (harp), Joe Bronstein (viola) and Emma Halnan (flute) in 2012 whilst studying at the Royal Academy of Music. Emma and Heather had previously played as a flute and harp duo; in 2010 they performed Mozart’s flute and harp concerto with the European Union Chamber Orchestra. The trio’s engagements have included a performance for The Chief Executive Innovation Awards held at The Victoria and Albert Museum and recitals at Wigmore Hall, London, Benslow Music Trust, Hertforshire, The Castle Theatre, Wellingborough and The Royal Academy of Music. They have been awarded a prestigious chamber music fellowship at the Royal Academy of Music for the academic year 2014/15.
Emma Halnan
Emma Halnan studied at the Royal Academy of Music with Kate Hill and William Bennett. She previously learned with Anna Pope at the Purcell School of Music where she won the 2010 Fenton Leavers’ Award. She recently won first prize in the International Award Carl Reinecke (Italy) and in the Croydon Festival Concerto Competition 2013.
Emma won the woodwind category of BBC Young Musician of the Year 2010. In the grand final, she broadcast as soloist with the BBC National Orchestra of Wales live on BBC television and radio. Emma has also appeared as concerto soloist with orchestras such as the BBC Concert Orchestra, the European Union Chamber Orchestra and the Welsh Sinfonia. Emma recently won a full place in the European Union Youth Orchestra, and performed in the BBC Symphony Orchestra.
Emma works regularly with pianist Daniel King Smith. They have given recitals together at venues all over the UK and also in Milan, Italy. Emma is generously supported by the Hattori Foundation, the Martin Musical Scholarship Fund and the Countess of Munster Musical Trust.
Emma won the woodwind category of BBC Young Musician of the Year 2010. In the grand final, she broadcast as soloist with the BBC National Orchestra of Wales live on BBC television and radio. Emma has also appeared as concerto soloist with orchestras such as the BBC Concert Orchestra, the European Union Chamber Orchestra and the Welsh Sinfonia. Emma recently won a full place in the European Union Youth Orchestra, and performed in the BBC Symphony Orchestra.
Emma works regularly with pianist Daniel King Smith. They have given recitals together at venues all over the UK and also in Milan, Italy. Emma is generously supported by the Hattori Foundation, the Martin Musical Scholarship Fund and the Countess of Munster Musical Trust.
Joe Bronstein
Joe Bronstein has recently completed his postgraduate studies at the Royal Academy of Music, studying the viola with Martin Outram. Prior to this, he achieved a first class honours degree in Mathematics from the University of Manchester. Joe is the violist of the Aurora Trio, holders of a Chamber Music Fellowship from the Royal Academy of Music this year, and has a busy freelance career involving work with orchestras, chamber ensembles and solo performances – he will be performing Berlioz Harold in Italy twice early next year.
Joe has taken part in training schemes with the London Sinfonietta and the Britten Sinfonia, and travelled to Japan for the Pacific Music Festival 2013 as a result of a nomination by the Academy. Current projects include the arrangement of a suite of dances for the Aurora Trio from Prokofiev Romeo and Juliet, and the establishment a jazz string quartet. Joe's long term ambition is to have a full time playing career combining orchestral and chamber music.
He plays a fine modern viola by James Stephenson.
Joe has taken part in training schemes with the London Sinfonietta and the Britten Sinfonia, and travelled to Japan for the Pacific Music Festival 2013 as a result of a nomination by the Academy. Current projects include the arrangement of a suite of dances for the Aurora Trio from Prokofiev Romeo and Juliet, and the establishment a jazz string quartet. Joe's long term ambition is to have a full time playing career combining orchestral and chamber music.
He plays a fine modern viola by James Stephenson.
Heather Wrighton
Heather Wrighton was inspired to play the harp at the age of six and as a junior student at Trinity College of Music she studied harp with Gabriella Dall’Olio and Frances Kelly and continued her studies at The Royal Academy of Music, London, with Karen Vaughan, graduating with an MA (Distinction), BMus(Hons) and an LRAM.
From a young age Heather has been interested in different types of harps and in addition to the Classical Harp she plays Celtic, Baroque triple and Paraguayan Harps. Heather currently freelances as a soloist, orchestral and chamber musician which has led her to perform at prestigious concert venues including The Royal Festival Hall, Cardiff Millennium Centre, Royal Opera House, Cadogan Hall, St John’s, Smith Square, Kings College Chapel, Cambridge, Glyndebourne Opera House, Kensington and St James’ Palaces.
From a young age Heather has been interested in different types of harps and in addition to the Classical Harp she plays Celtic, Baroque triple and Paraguayan Harps. Heather currently freelances as a soloist, orchestral and chamber musician which has led her to perform at prestigious concert venues including The Royal Festival Hall, Cardiff Millennium Centre, Royal Opera House, Cadogan Hall, St John’s, Smith Square, Kings College Chapel, Cambridge, Glyndebourne Opera House, Kensington and St James’ Palaces.
Harp Haiku Trail
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giant oven mitt
sits astride the trolley wheels hiding heather's harp silent instrument padded glove of deepest blue safe protection singing strings glide effortlessly nimble fingers Aurora Trio dawn of sound coordinates viola and flute blended music varied concert programme joyful expression after performance comfortably cocooned move to next venue |
Peter Horsfield 31/10/2014
Inspired by the lunchtime concert performed at Leatherhead Methodist Church on 30th October 2014
by Emma Halnan, flute; Joe Bronstein, viola; and Heather Wrighton, harp.
Inspired by the lunchtime concert performed at Leatherhead Methodist Church on 30th October 2014
by Emma Halnan, flute; Joe Bronstein, viola; and Heather Wrighton, harp.
Concert at Home
If you cannot be with us at the lunchtime concert
you can enjoy a similar Concert at Home by clicking the buttons below:
you can enjoy a similar Concert at Home by clicking the buttons below:
This 2012 performance of Elegiac Trio for flute, viola, and harp comes from the Jacobs School of Music at Indiana University Bloomington, where it is played by the Formosa Trio:
Andrei Yeh is the pianist in these pieces from Prokofiev's ballet music for Romeo and Juliet.
The Opus 75 piano arrangement is a different selection from the one played at the concert, but they are fine descriptive character pieces too. No 6. Montagues and Capulets is probably the most familiar.
The Opus 75 piano arrangement is a different selection from the one played at the concert, but they are fine descriptive character pieces too. No 6. Montagues and Capulets is probably the most familiar.
Another quite familiar piece is Edward Elgar's Salut d'Amour. On the left button you will find a
harp and cello version, on the right button an interesting flute quintet version, and there's more
about that quintet on their facebook page. We also found a version for three harmonicas,
but that novelty item is more suited to Peter's Musical Curios on another website.
harp and cello version, on the right button an interesting flute quintet version, and there's more
about that quintet on their facebook page. We also found a version for three harmonicas,
but that novelty item is more suited to Peter's Musical Curios on another website.
Skaila Kanga's harp, flute, and viola arrangement of Ravel's Sonatine is available on you-tube.
So here are links to each of the three movements, played at the Royal Academy of Music
by students Charlotte Ashton, flute, George White, viola, and Mary Reid, harp:
So here are links to each of the three movements, played at the Royal Academy of Music
by students Charlotte Ashton, flute, George White, viola, and Mary Reid, harp:
Our concert closes with Ian Krouse's beautiful Tri Chairde. Here it is played by the Beau Soir Ensemble, in the Anderson House, Washington DC. After you have listened to the music you might want to find out about the Anderson House, one of Washington's little known architectural gems.
