Autumn concerts for all
As the leaves fall and the nights draw in what better way to be entertained, with family and friends, than enjoying a fantastic night out at a live performance at Ilminster Arts Centre.
The arts centre, a renowned venue for top class live music, has arranged a galaxy of star performers this autumn.
On Friday, 29 September the extraordinary talents of 'Ladies in Jazz' are celebrated. Singer Annika Skoogh takes a look at the legendary jazz divas who have influenced and inspired her over the years and pays tribute to their voices and songs. Annika, who was born in South America but raised in Sweden, is supported by special guest Ian Ellis on saxophone and the incomparable Craig Milverton Trio.
The following Friday (6 October) Concerts in the West present the sublime talents of Emmanuel Bach on violin and Julian Trevelyan on piano.
Winner of the Royal Over-Seas League Strings Competition in 2018, Emmanuel Bach on violin has performed as a soloist at venues including Queen Elizabeth Hall, Wigmore Hall, St Martin-in-the-Fields and St James's Piccadilly.
He studied at Magdalen College, Oxford, gaining a Double First. He then took a Masters as a scholar at the Royal College of Music.
Julian Trevelyan has won many awards and prizes. He studied at the École Normale Alfred Cortot in Paris. He also studied composition there and is composer in residence with Ensemble Dynamique.
On Friday, 13 October the rhythms of Mardi Gras are celebrated. Tim Eyles’ 'Mardi Gras' is a four-piece jazz group, led by Tim on vocals with backing from double bass, drums and reeds, playing a selection of New Orleans to jump jive and spirituals. They will be joined by special guest and Arts Centre regular Craig Milverton on piano.
On Friday, 20 October the musical magic of the Budapest Café Orchestra comes to town. A small but impeccably formed ensemble of just four players, the Budapest Café Orchestra combines violin, guitar, accordion, double bass, saz & balalaika to dazzling effect. Hugely entertaining, immense skill and profound musicianship, get ready for an amazing show!
Established by award-winning British composer, violinist and teacher Christian Garrick in 2009, the Budapest Café Orchestra are an eclectic group who play gypsy and folk-flavoured music from all around the world. They deliver traditional Balkan, Russian, Hungarian and Romanian traditional gypsy and folk music in their own fresh and surprising way with jazz nuances and their own unique arrangements. The group are specialists of the 'distilled concerto' (eg the Rachmaninov, Tchaikovsky and Greig Squeezebox Concertos) and are admired for their artful re-workings of masterpieces by the greats of the Romantic era.
And, on Wednesday, 1 November, in addition to the normal programme, there's a great opportunity to hear an illustrated talk on the life and work of the brilliant artist L.S Lowry. It's a fundraising event for the arts centre, presented by Gaynor Arrowsmith, one of our wonderful volunteers. Entry is free, but a £5 donation is welcome.
All performances start at 7.30pm and can be booked online or by telephoning 01460 54973 (Tuesday to Saturday).