About

Experience the music of Wendy Hiscocks, performed by talented students from Chetham's School of Music. Free ticketed event.

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Welcome to the colourful world of the Australian composer Wendy Hiscocks. After two days of masterclasses working with the talented piano students of Chetham’s School of Music, her music for piano solo and piano duet repertoire (including a work for unison voices) will receive a public performance by the students in the splendid showroom at Forsyth Music Shop.

This event is a wonderful opportunity to experience a range of Hiscocks’ compositions, from her early works like 'Toccata' to the recent 'Explorer goes East' duet series. Highlights include her arrangements of Arthur Benjamin’s 'Two Jamaican Street Songs' and Saint-Saëns’ 'Danse Macabre'. Scores will be available for sale and signing by the composer during the event from a variety of publishers such as Edition Peters, Schott Music, Revolution Arts, Wirripang, and Creativity & Music.

Performances will be by students from various year groups, showcasing pieces like 'Explorer', 'Four Portuguese Songs', 'Scenes from an Australian Childhood', and many more. Each piece reflects Hiscocks’ unique style, often inspired by the Australian landscape and literature, such as Kenneth Grahame’s 'The Wind in the Willows'.

This free event is ticketed, and all audience members, including parents, must reserve their seat via the online booking systems Eventbrite or Trybooking. Don't miss this unique musical experience celebrating the works of Wendy Hiscocks!

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Recital Programme:

Explorer goes East (2023) - Piano Duet:

• ‘Gamelan’ – Alex and Joseph (Year 8)

Fig & Fennel (2022) - Piano Solo:

• Artem (Year 7)

Explorer (2018) - Duets for Adventurous Students and Teachers:

• Amina and Salomeja (Junior class): Starry Steps; Black Dragon Dance; Cool Steps; Chords & Ladders; Clown Showtime; Line Dance; Double Black Waltz; Mirrors

Four Portuguese Songs (2004) - Unison Choir Accompanied by Piano Duet:

• ‘O grilo na toca’ (The Cricket) – Angus and Finlay (Junior class)
• ‘Na Primavera’ (Spring) – Tamara and Aiqi (Junior class)
• ‘Tres Pintainhos’ (Three Little Chicks) – Angela and William (Junior class)
• ‘La Pastorinha’ (The Shepherdess) – Imre (Year 7) and Jackson (Year 8)

Danse Macabre, Saint-Saëns arr. Wendy Hiscocks (1996) - Piano Duet:

• Selwyn and Erin (Junior class)

Explorer (2018) - Duets for Adventurous Students and Teachers:

• Harvey and Joanna (Junior class): Starry Steps; Black Dragon Dance; Cool Steps; Chords & Ladders; Clown Showtime; Line Dance; Double Black Waltz; Mirrors

A Dance for David (1998) - Piano Duet:

• Selwyn and Erin (Junior class)

Piper at the Gates of Dawn (1990-2003) - Piano Solo:

• ‘Prelude’ – Joseph (Year 8)

Two Jamaican Street Songs, Arthur Benjamin arr. Wendy Hiscocks (2002-3) - Piano Duet:

• Cookie; Mattie Rag – Jason and Nina (Year 11)

Four Rustic Dances (1990) - Piano Duet:

• ‘East Ukrainian Dance Tune’ – Daniela and Olivia (Junior class)
• ‘Kolo’ – Lia and Sophia (Junior class)
• ‘Tarantella’ – Zachary and Jimmy (Junior class)
• ‘Kruhové Tance’ – Emma and Chloe (Junior class)

A Dance for David (1998) - Piano Duet:

• Sebastian and Yi-En (Year 7)

Fig & Fennel (2022) - Piano Solo:

• David (Junior class)

Explorer (2018) - Duets for Adventurous Students and Teachers:

• Yingmei and Ling (Junior class): Starry Steps; Black Dragon Dance; Cool Steps; Chords & Ladders; Clown Showtime; Line Dance; Double Black Waltz; Mirrors

Explorer goes East (2023) - Piano Duet:

• ‘Kangding Love Song’ – Stanley and Joshua (Year 7)
• ‘Gamelan’ – William and Nathan (Year 7)
• ‘Kampuchea Song’ – Sophia and Sammie (Year 7)
• ‘Mongolian Horsemen’ – Amber and Julian (Year 8)

Piper at the Gates of Dawn (1990-2003) - Piano Solo:

• ‘Prelude’ – Alex (Year 8)
• ‘Nocturne’ – Amber (Year 8)
• ‘Caprice’ – Julian (Year 8)
• ‘Finale’ – Jackson (Year 8)

Danse Macabre, Saint-Saëns arr. Wendy Hiscocks (1996) - Piano Duet:

• Cassandro and Yaqi (Year 11)

Pavane, Fauré arr. Wendy Hiscocks and Roy Howat (1994) - Piano Solo:

• Alexander (Year 11)

Toccata (1983) - Piano Solo:

• Bardo (Year 11)

Scenes from an Australian Childhood (1987-2013) - Piano Solo:

• ‘Tarantella’ – Patrick (Year 11)
• ‘Trees and Lightning’ – Alexander (Year 11)
• ‘Garden Orb Web’ – Isaac (Year 11)
• ‘Rainforest Toccata’ – Alexander (Year 11)
• ‘Wombeyan Caves’ – Julie (Year 11)
• ‘Lanterns on Lake Illawarra’ – Luke (Year 11)
• ‘Fire Haze at Gerringong’ – Thomas (Year 11)

Location

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Forsyth Music Shop
126 Deansgate, Manchester, M3 2GR

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