I enjoy performing: it’s an important aspect of my work, whether I’m performing my own compositions or other repertoire.  As a pianist, I do give solo recitals, but take a particular pleasure in work (not just concerts) in which I partner singers or instrumentalists in one combination or another.  Audiences can also be thought of as partners, and this is one reason why it is good to talk to them: just know what you want to say, keep it short, and speak up!

Recent work has included the Schumann Piano Concerto with the Buxted Symphony Orchestra (Seaford and Uckfield, 2019),  solo recitals in Uckfield (2019) and Brighton (2019), a recital with mezzo Tina Gelnere (Buxted, 2017) and a concert with violinist Ellie Blackshaw (Seaford, 2017).  Solo work has also included appearing alongside Howard Moody in Bartok’s Sonata for Two Pianos and Percussion (Sarum Orchestra, Salisbury Arts Centre, 2008). In 2010, I was pianist for the premiere of John Barber’s dramatic cantata ‘Consider the Lilies’ (with La Folia, St. Martin-in-the-Fields, London).

From 1993 to 2000 I was conductor and artistic director of Sussex Philharmonic Chorus.  In 1995 I set up a "featured composer" scheme which ran annually.  During this period the Chorus commissioned and/or performed new work by composers such as Barry Seaman, Michael Finnissy, and Gabriel Jackson. In both 1996 and 1997 we received a Performing Right Society Enterprise Award for our programming of contemporary music.  Since 2013 I have been conductor and artistic director of the Buxted Symphony Orchestra.

Pedlar’s Dream

Pedlar’s Dream is about music and words: you could call it a space in which actors, singers and instrumental musicians work together to create a new kind of event.  We include new compositions and/or poems in all our programmes, always with a view to creating the richest possible conversation between words and music, and between past and present.  See Listen/View for an example -  my setting of a recent poem by Peter Abbs, whose text responds to an existing poem by Geibel. This poem had been set previously by Brahms.  Brahms’s Two Songs op.91 thus shared the programme with my new The Long Negation, which added a clarinet and a speaking voice to the Brahms combination of mezzo, viola and piano.

Our programmes are usually themed, but without being too strict.  Thus one programme might concern itself loosely with autumn, while another takes ‘root and branch’ as its inspiration. Future plans include ‘Folkwise’, exploring the influence of folk poetry and folk music, ‘Night Thoughts’, and ‘Nature is your nature’ – a celebration of the natural world both as itself, and as metaphor.

The ensemble is flexible, but core members include Emily Blows and Adriana Festeu (mezzo sopranos), Nicholas Logie (viola), Steve Dummer (clarinets), and actor Steven Deproost.  I am the ensemble’s pianist and artistic director.

(Banner photo (detail) by Robert Broughton)