Anglia Ruskin University

Our regular series of weekly lunchtime concerts is promoted by Anglia Ruskin University's Department of Music and Performing Arts. It draws some of the country's finest performers to the University and has become one of the highlights of Cambridge's musical calendar.

The series is generously supported by the Anglia Ruskin University Arts Council and we are therefore able to offer free admission to all concerts.

All concerts take place at the Mumford Theatre and begin at 1.10pm unless otherwise stated.

Friday 1 February

Haddo

Will Pound (melodeon and harmonica)
Nicky Pound (viola and fiddle)

The husband and wife folk duo take well known tunes and twist them 180 degrees. Nicky graduated from the Royal Academy of Music with a masters degree in Baroque viola in 2009 where she worked with Sir Charles Mackerras and Sir Colin Davis. Will recently received a BBC Radio 2 Folk Award nomination for Best Musician and is making a name for himself as a top harmonica and melodeon player. From morris to bluegrass, traditional tunes to their own compositions, Haddo create an original vibrant sound.

Friday 8 February

Charanga del Norte

Director: Sue Miller

Charanga del Norte is the UK's only full charanga 'orquesta', set up in 1998 by bandleader and Anglia Ruskin University Popular Music lecturer Sue Miller. The band consists of flute, violins, bass, piano, singers, timbales, congas and guiro and plays 1950s 'old skool' Cuban dance styles of mambo, chachachá, son montuno, danzón and pachanga. Sue's book Cuban Flute Style: Interpretation and Improvisation will be published by Scarecrow Press in summer 2013.

Today Charanga del Norte perform music from their more recent albums Our Mam in Havana and Look Back in Charanga.

Friday 15 February

(This concert will be slightly longer than usual - estimated finishing time 2.10pm)

Hazard Chase Celebrity Recital

Markus Schäfer (tenor) and Piers Lane (piano)

The renowned German tenor Markus Schäfer has established an international reputation for his interpretation of Mozart's operatic roles and Baroque operas by Monteverdi, Scarlatti, Handel and Hasse. Recent concert performances have included Bach's Matthäus-Passion under Nikolaus Harnoncourt at the Wiener Musikverein. His sophisticated Schubert interpretations, exquisitely shaped and always alive to emotional contrasts, have been heard at the Schubertiade Schwarzenberg and New York's Lincoln Center.

His accompanist, London-based Australian pianist Piers Lane has a flourishing international career. Highlights of the current season include the European premiere of Carl Vine's Piano Concerto with the London Philharmonic Orchestra under Vassily Sinaisky, his participation at the Sitka Summer Music Festival in Alaska and collaborations with Markus Schäfer. They will also perform today's all-Schubert programme at Wigmore Hall, London on Sunday 17 February.

This recital is promoted in association with Hazard Chase Concert Agency.

Friday 22 February

Brooks Williams

With fiery guitar, a rich and silky voice, and hook-laden songs, Brooks Williams is one of the most commanding performers on the roots music scene. Walking the line between Blues and Americana, he is ranked one of the world's Top 100 Acoustic Guitarists. In the time-honoured road-warrior tradition, Williams has honed his songs on stages from Dallas to London, Istanbul to Anchorage, Toronto to Dublin, Detroit to Glasgow, Nairobi to Belfast, New York to Sardinia. Recent appearances include Celtic Connections, Glastonbury, Cambridge Folk Festival and Birmingham Jazz and Blues Fest.

His recorded work weighs in at a staggering 21 CDs to date, including State of the Union, his on-going collaboration with legendary songwriter Boo Hewerdine. Born in Statesboro Georgia USA - the land of blues legend Blind Willie McTell - Williams' music is informed by his southern roots. Whether performing a classic blues standard or one of his newer compositions, his compass points to the blues and country crossroads.

"How soulful a solo guitarist can be when he has talent, taste and astonishing technique." - Blues Revue

Friday 1 March

Mifune Tsuji (violin), Jin Theriault (saxophone) and Paul Jackson (piano)

Mifune Tsuji is concertmaster of Xenakis Ensemble and frequently gives solo concerts throughout Europe; Jin Theriault completed his Masters course at Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance in 2011 with a distinction; Paul Jackson is Head of the Department of Music and Performing Arts at Anglia Ruskin University. Here the trio play original compositions for this unique combination of instruments by Will Gregory, Astor Piazzolla and Marc Eychenne.

Friday 8 March

Rite of Spring

Paul Jackson and Maurice Hodges (piano duet)

Venue: Recital Hall, Helmore 029

'A solemn pagan rite: wise elders, seated in a circle, watching a young girl dance herself to death. They were sacrificing her to propitiate the god of spring.'

So runs Stravinsky's description of his ground-breaking score of 1913, first performed at the Theatre des Champs-Elysees, Paris. Paul Jackson and Maurice Hodges commemorate the 100th anniversary of the premiere of Rite of Spring with a performance of his arrangement for piano duet, the first version to be published.

Friday 15 March

Music for Santouri Duo

Iris Pissaride and Jon Banks

Dances and instrumental pieces from Cyprus and the Eastern Mediterranean played on two santouris, the traditional Greek island hammer dulcimers.

Friday 19 April

Robert Mitchell (solo piano)

Award-winning Steinway artist Robert Mitchell performs material from his new solo piano album The Glimpse (Whirlwind).

As well as leading Panacea, his long running group, Robert is also creator and curator of the brand new festival Leftitude, celebrating the jazz/classical art forms of left hand-only solo piano performance.

This is part of his first solo piano UK tour supported by Jazz Services/ Arts Council England.

"Mitchell seemed to be looking to surprise himself at every turn, in turn surprising his audience too. You can't ask for more from a jazz musician than that." - Jazz FM

Friday 26 April

David Kirby (clarinet) and Peter Hewitt (piano)

David Kirby has worked in the recording studio and on stage alongside many famous musicians including Sir Elton John and Sir Paul McCartney. Peter Hewitt plays an average of 60 concerts a season around the UK, America and the Middle East. Today the distinguished duo play French music by Saint-Saëns and Poulenc (Clarinet Sonata) plus works by Gerald Finzi.

Friday 3 May

Anglia Ruskin Jazz Voices

Chris Ingham (piano), Andrew Brown (bass) and Nic France (drums)

A professional jazz rhythm section, led by Anglia Ruskin lecturer Chris Ingham, joins jazz voice students for their final year assessed recital.

More information on past, current and future events presented by the Department of Music and Performing Arts can be found on the Department's webpages.

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