A new piece of work by a Cumbrian composer will be heard for the first time at the City of Carlisle Orchestra’s winter concert next month.
James Booth’s Lake Land is a poem that evocatively conveys the different colours and moods of the lakes and hills at the centre of the county.
It will be performed by the orchestra on December 7.
James said: “Though Lakeland’s landscape can be charming, this picture postcard view is deceptive. From picturesque to bleak, the gentle slopes lead to wild and at times treacherous mountains. And so, the orchestra follows its changing moods to evoke moments of joy to lonely sojourns. I sincerely hope we will always protect and cherish this unique and beautiful landscape.”
From Barrow, James is the eldest of four children born to profoundly deaf parents.
His passion for music is diverse, having studied piano and orchestration with John Hammond and classical guitar with Scott Bradley. His mentors also included composer, Ronald Stevenson.
James has had an original guitar work performed by Scott Bradley in Carlisle Cathedral as well as piano music by concert pianist Kathryn Page at Cheetham’s School of Music in Manchester.
James now lives in north Cumbria and is currently recording a studio album of his own music in blues and jazz genres. He teaches music privately and in local schools.
As well as Lake Land, the concert programme features Gustav Holst’s Suite de Ballet, Sergei Prokofiev’s Lieutenant Kijé Suite and, in distinctly festive mood, A Carol Symphony by Viktor Hely-Hutchinson.
The orchestra will be conducted by Kentaro Machida, a Japanese conductor who is currently studying on the Masters in Orchestral Conducting programme at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, under Martyn Brabbins and Michael Bawtree.
Kentaro graduated with first-class honours in music from the University of Oxford, and was the Senior Organ Scholar at Merton College, accompanying the college’s renowned mixed-voice choir in their chapel services, BBC broadcasts and award-winning CD recordings as well as on UK and international tours.
An Associate of the Royal College of Organists, he is regularly invited to play recitals both in the UK and internationally.
He has received tuition from prominent conductors including Alexander Polishchuk, Sian Edwards, Stuart Stratford, John Wilson and Ryan Bancroft (a former conductor of the City of Carlisle Orchestra, now principal conductor with the Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra).
Kentaro is grateful to be supported by the Doggett Family Foundation, and the Leverhulme Trust Scholarship.
The concert starts at 7.30pm in St John’s Church, London Road, Carlisle. Tickets are £10 in advance from orchestra members, Bookcase in Castle Street and the Tourist Information Centre at the Old Town Hall, or £12 at the door. Under-18s free.
The orchestra wishes to express its appreciation to Cathedral Lodge Antiques for their generous sponsorship of this concert.
