One of Port Sunlight's oldest societies
Conductor: David Straughan
Soloists
December 3rd 2017 and February 18th 2018
The orchestra are very pleased to welcome Elizabeth Elliott for two performances this season. Lizzie started the cello at the age of 7 with Nick Byrne and went on to study with Tim Smedley at the Royal Northern College of Music Junior School. She is currently studying with Gillian Thoday at the RNCM. Lizzie enjoys solo playing and has performed the Elgar Cello Concerto with the Easter Orchestral Society and has performed as a soloist with the Port Sunlight Orchestra in 2014 and 2015. Lizzie has a passion for orchestral playing and plays in many orchestras at the RNCM such as the Symphony and Chamber Orchestras. She was principal cello of the National Youth String Orchestra and has led the cellos in the Concert Orchestra and Brand New Orchestra at the RNCM. Lizzie has had masterclasses with esteemed cellists such as Hannah Roberts, Miklos Perenyi, Karine Georgian, Rebecca Gilliver and Giovanni Sollima, and has attended summer schools with both Hannah and Gillian Thoday. Chamber music is Lizzie's favourite thing to do with friends and colleagues. She has recently played in the solo quartet for Elgar's introduction and Allegro at the Great Bowden Music Fest in the Midlands. She currently plays in the Alegria Piano Trio at the RNCM and has enjoyed playing recitals with them at the Great Bowden Music Fest, the Mendelssohn Festival in Bognor Regis and at the RNCM Piano Day.
October 16th 2016
Our soloist for our return to the Lady Lever Art gallery is Gemma Wild
In 2006 she graduated from Leeds College of Music with a Masters and 1st Class BA (hons) Degree in Music Studies (classical style).
As a performer, she has performed all over the world on luxury cruise ships as a sideman and as a solo headline entertainer. She has toured China, Prague and the Edinburgh Fringe Festival with the National Saxophone Choir of Great Britain and currently tours the UK with the Rat Pack Vegas Spectacular Show.
December 4th 2016
The oboe soloist for our Christmas concert at the Leverhulme Hotel is Hilary Duncombe. Hilary started playing the oboe at the age of 10 after trying the flute for a year. At the age of 13 she went to Chethams School in Manchester, where she studied with Sonia Wrangham and Evelyn Rothwell/Barbirolli. At 18 she left school and began working as a 'Freelance' oboist in various orchestras and smaller groups. Having decided not to make music a full time occupation Hilary has a 'day job' in a Special School in Moreton whilst enjoying a variety of musical engagements at evenings and weekends.
December 2nd 2018
Calli Hughes has a wealth of experience in the world of Music and Drama.
She has been a member of the multi award winning 'Hand in Hand Theatre Company' where she performed both as an actress and a singer. She has performed with the Royal Shakespeare Company as part of their' Open Stages' programme which also involved singing on the RSC stage in Stratford Upon Avon.
Calli works as a professional singer, both as a soloist and as part of the acoustic trio, 'Calli'. Recently she has enjoyed great success performing two sell out shows at the Floral Pavilion New Brighton. Her ‘Songs of the Poets’ concert, which showcased re-worked versions of songs by the great Bob Dylan and Leonard Cohen, featured a nine piece band and received 5 star reviews.
Calli has welcomed the opportunity to work again with David Straughan and The Port Sunlight Orchestra, thus fulfilling a lifetime ambition of singing live with a full orchestra!
