EMMA HALNAN & ANTONIO OYARZABAL

Music by Anna Amalia, Madeline Dring, Margaret Lyell, Mel Bonis and Shena Fraser.

Anna Amalia, Princess of Prussia: Sonata in F major

Shena Fraser: Prelude & Scherzino

Madeleine Dring: Three Pieces for flute and piano

Margaret Lyell: Barcarollina

Shena Fraser: Sonatina for flute and piano

Mel Bonis: Sonata for flute and piano op.64

Shena Fraser was one of the founder members of Faversham Music Club in the 1940s. She was an incredibly versatile composer and deeply committed to education and bringing music to the community in which she lived and worked. We are delighted to be featuring works by Shena Fraser in our 23-24 season including this concert featuring rare performances of two of her works for flute and piano.

Emma Halnan first came to prominence as the woodwind category winner of BBC Young Musician 2010. In the grand final, she broadcast Reinecke’s flute concerto with the BBC National Orchestra of Wales live on BBC television and radio. Since then, she has gone on to perform at major venues worldwide; UK venues include Wigmore Hall, Cadogan Hall and St John’s Smith Square. She has performed live on BBC Radio 3’s “In Tune” on multiple occasions, as well as being broadcast on BBC Radio 2’s “Friday Night is Music Night” as soloist with the BBC Concert Orchestra. Emma has also appeared as concerto soloist with orchestras such as the London Mozart Players, European Union Chamber Orchestra and the Welsh Sinfonia. Emma won the Sussex Prize for Woodwind in the Royal Overseas League Competition 2019, and was selected as a “Making Music” Philip & Dorothy Green Young Artist 2018-20. Emma also won the Sir Karl Jenkins/Arts Club Classical Music Award 2016, in association with Classic FM. As a result, she recorded and broadcast on Classic FM a piece specially composed for her by Sir Karl Jenkins.

Antonio Oyarzabal is a is a versatile concert pianist, who combines solo and chamber music performance. He obtained his Masters and Artist Diploma at Guildhall School, studying with Caroline Palmer. He recently debuted at Cadogan Hall, LSO St Luke’s and Barbican Hall, and has also recently performed with Bilbao Symphony Orchestra and their conductor Juanjo Mena. Antonio regularly performs around the UK and abroad. Recently appearances include the Women at the Piano conference at the University of California and HERo conference in Tallahassee, Florida, as well as festivals in Ireland, Spain, France and Austria. Antonio has released four albums. La Muse Oubliée, a collection of piano works by women composers, received a Golden Melomano Award and glowing reviews in BBC Music Magazine and The Observer. It was selected as one of the five best piano albums of 2021 by Fanfare Magazine. Antonio’ latest release,El Fin del Silencio, focuses on music by Latin American women composers, and was Critic’s Choice in BBC Music Magazine. Because of Antonio’s work in the field of women composers, he was named Ambassador for Donne, Women in Music – one of the leading institutions for women in music.