HAYLEY SWANTON soprano
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Sunday 9 March 2025Doors: 6.00pm
Concert: 7.00pm (approx. 80 min, with interval) Tickets: £15 Adults, £10 Concessions (under 18, full-time students, pensioners, NHS workers). Tickets include a complimentary interval drink. |
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Music by highly regarded and experienced composer Julian Dawes.
The programme features music for soprano (Hayley Swanton) and piano (Jonathan Fisher) as well as solo piano works, including several first performances. ProgrammeSonatina
for piano first performance Songs from the Chinese for soprano and piano Suite for piano first performance Two songs for soprano and piano The Cave (Mabel Orford) A Slash of Blue (Emily Dickinson) Songs from Emma Lazarus for soprano and piano first performance Sonata for piano All music by Julian Dawes |
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Julian Dawes |
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Julian Dawes was born in 1942. He began his musical training in Birmingham, continuing at the Royal College of Music in London. he has worked extensively as a composer, accompanist and teacher, holding posts at Drama Centre London, Birmingham University, The Arts Educational Schools in London, and The Oxford School of Drama. He has directed the music for numerous theatre productions, and was for five years Musical Director of The Cherub Company London.
He has written extensively for the theatre. Credits include Marya by Isaac Babel for the Royal Court Theatre, A Doll's House by Ibsen and Don Perlimplin by Lorca for the Riverside Studios, The Royal Pardon by John Arden for the Arts Theatre, The Changeling by Middleton for a production in Sydney, Australia, and The Price by Arthur Miller for the Bristol Old Vic. His scores for Brecht's Caucasian Chalk Circle and Edward II are both recognised scores for these plays held by the Brecht Estate in Berlin and have provided the music for many productions. His musical The Braddocks Time was a commission from the Everyman Theatre, Liverpool, where it was followed by a tour of the north of England. The Sacrifice, a musical drama based on a Japanese No play was initially premiered at the Royal Court Theatre, and in a revised version by The Acting Company at the New End Theatre. As Musical Director of The Cherub Theatre Company he composed scores for The Tempest at the European Festival Antwerp, The Merchant of Venice at The Lyric Theatre Hammersmith, Ten Days A-Maze at the Edinburgh Festival, Edward II at the Battersea Arts Centre, and Kafka's The Trial at the Riverside Studios. He also composed a score for an adaptation of Twenty thousand leagues under the sea for the Watermill Theatre in Newbury.
In the concert hall he has written a Mandolin Concerto, a commission from the International Music Competition for professional mandolin players in Schweinfurt, Germany. He has written a large number of sonatas and suites for a variety of combinations of instruments, as well as thirteen song-cycles including Songs of Ashes, a setting of fifteen poems by the Polish poet, Jerzy Fikowski, about the Holocaust. This work has been broadcast in Israel four times. His output also includes a wide range of other vocal, choral and chamber music.
His cantatas The Death of Moses and Shirat Hayam (The Song Of The Sea), a setting of the biblical poem from the book of Exodus, together with the oratorio Ruth were both first performed in London to high acclaim, as was a recital of his music at the Wigmore Hall. Shirat Hayam (The Song Of The Sea) received its first performance in 2013, and his Pesach Cantata was first performed at the New London Synagogue in April 2016.
He has written extensively for the theatre. Credits include Marya by Isaac Babel for the Royal Court Theatre, A Doll's House by Ibsen and Don Perlimplin by Lorca for the Riverside Studios, The Royal Pardon by John Arden for the Arts Theatre, The Changeling by Middleton for a production in Sydney, Australia, and The Price by Arthur Miller for the Bristol Old Vic. His scores for Brecht's Caucasian Chalk Circle and Edward II are both recognised scores for these plays held by the Brecht Estate in Berlin and have provided the music for many productions. His musical The Braddocks Time was a commission from the Everyman Theatre, Liverpool, where it was followed by a tour of the north of England. The Sacrifice, a musical drama based on a Japanese No play was initially premiered at the Royal Court Theatre, and in a revised version by The Acting Company at the New End Theatre. As Musical Director of The Cherub Theatre Company he composed scores for The Tempest at the European Festival Antwerp, The Merchant of Venice at The Lyric Theatre Hammersmith, Ten Days A-Maze at the Edinburgh Festival, Edward II at the Battersea Arts Centre, and Kafka's The Trial at the Riverside Studios. He also composed a score for an adaptation of Twenty thousand leagues under the sea for the Watermill Theatre in Newbury.
In the concert hall he has written a Mandolin Concerto, a commission from the International Music Competition for professional mandolin players in Schweinfurt, Germany. He has written a large number of sonatas and suites for a variety of combinations of instruments, as well as thirteen song-cycles including Songs of Ashes, a setting of fifteen poems by the Polish poet, Jerzy Fikowski, about the Holocaust. This work has been broadcast in Israel four times. His output also includes a wide range of other vocal, choral and chamber music.
His cantatas The Death of Moses and Shirat Hayam (The Song Of The Sea), a setting of the biblical poem from the book of Exodus, together with the oratorio Ruth were both first performed in London to high acclaim, as was a recital of his music at the Wigmore Hall. Shirat Hayam (The Song Of The Sea) received its first performance in 2013, and his Pesach Cantata was first performed at the New London Synagogue in April 2016.
Hayley Swanton
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Soprano Hayley Swanton is a vibrant musician, often recognised for her energetic and refreshing approach to classical repertoire. Her concert highlights across Canada and the UK include Bach's B Minor Mass and Magnificat, Fauré's Requiem, Gounod's St Cecilia Mass, Handel's Alexander's Feast, Dixit Dominus, and Ode for St Cecilia's Day, Mozart's Coronation Mass, Solemn Vespers, and Requiem, as well as Vivaldi's Gloria. Since moving to Manchester, she has worked as a soloist with many established choral societies including the Altrincham Choral Society, Chesterfield Philharmonic Choir, Southport Bach Choir, Keele Bach Choir, Tatton Singers, Pershore Choral, and King Edward Musical Society.
She is an accomplished recitalist, and in 2017 gave the world premiere of the Henry Kunkelmann autographs of Debussy's Pierrot, Les roses, and Rondel Chinois with pianist David Jones. Hayley also regularly works with collaborative pianists Rachel Fright and Jonathan Fisher. Jonathan and Hayley are a featured duo on Julian Dawes Love, Life, and Lyric album produced by Simon Weir from Classical Media released in 2022. They recently appeared at 1901 Arts Club performing Julian Dawes’ Songs of Ashes. Rachel and Hayley have enjoyed many successes together and were finalists in the 2020 Oxford Lieder Young Artists Platform as well as the prestigious 2019 Patricia Routledge National English Song Competition. They have also been featured performing Debussy's Apparition on BBC Radio 3's Music Matters programme entitled Debussy's Paris. When she is not singing, Hayley enjoys being a community radio broadcaster and is host of her own classical music radio show, Classical Escapades, which airs each Sunday at 8pm on 97.2 Wythenshawe FM. Her motto is to bring Wythenshawe, the surrounding communities, and beyond their weekly fix of the not so boring classics. She also uses her show to help promote local classical musicians. An enthusiast of sacred and secular choral music, she has held multiple choral conducting, vocal coaching, and choral scholarship positions and is a dedicated teacher of singing. Hayley holds her Master of Music in Performance (Distinction) from the Royal Northern College of Music where her studies were graciously supported by the Royal Canadian Legion. |
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Jonathan Fisher
Jonathan Fisher is an accomplished and sought-after collaborative pianist, having had notable performances at Leeds Lieder, Oxford Lieder Festival, Ryedale Festival, Harrogate Festival, and The Richard Strauss Society, along with many other recitals for music societies across the UK. He has performed in many prestigious venues throughout the UK including The Purcell Room, The Wigmore Hall, The Bridgewater Hall, and Philharmonic Hall Liverpool.
Jonathan has built his career around art song collaboration, having worked with internationally recognised singers such as Roderick Williams, Benjamin Appl, Sir John Tomlinson, Rachel Nichols, Kathryn Rudge, Anna Stéphany, Lynne Dawson, Linda Richardson, Paul Nilon, and Louise Winter. He has served as a collaborative pianist for the London Master Classes, working alongside tutors Sir John Tomlinson (2018), Nelly Miricioiu (2012 and 2016), and Jennifer Larmore (2017).
Jonathan also regularly performs with award winning instrumentalists. He has performed and toured with the young and vibrant saxophonist Jess Gillam and has collaborated with Józef Bazsinka (tuba), Chris Swann (clarinet), and Jonathan Rimmer (flute).
In addition to his active performance schedule, Jonathan is committed to working with the next generation of musicians. He works as a Staff Pianist and Coach for the Royal Northern College of Music (RNCM), where he is the co-founder and Artistic Director of the RNCM Songsters. The RNCM Songsters are a specially selected group of singers and pianists who are trained to excel in song repertoire and promote the unique and intimate setting of recital performance; as part of their 2017-2018 season, Jonathan led the RNCM Songsters in a joint project with The Paris Conservatoire that culminated in a final performance at The Opéra Comique. He is also Artistic Director of the RNCM’s annual Day of Song and holds the position of Head of Keyboard and Pianist-in-Residence at the University of Huddersfield.
Jonathan graduated with first class honours from The University of Huddersfield and has a Master of Music in Performance from the Royal Northern College of Music. He has taken masterclasses and private tuition from Malcom Martineau, Julius Drake, and Roger Vignoles. His teachers have included Benjamin Frith, John Gough, and David Jones.
Jonathan has built his career around art song collaboration, having worked with internationally recognised singers such as Roderick Williams, Benjamin Appl, Sir John Tomlinson, Rachel Nichols, Kathryn Rudge, Anna Stéphany, Lynne Dawson, Linda Richardson, Paul Nilon, and Louise Winter. He has served as a collaborative pianist for the London Master Classes, working alongside tutors Sir John Tomlinson (2018), Nelly Miricioiu (2012 and 2016), and Jennifer Larmore (2017).
Jonathan also regularly performs with award winning instrumentalists. He has performed and toured with the young and vibrant saxophonist Jess Gillam and has collaborated with Józef Bazsinka (tuba), Chris Swann (clarinet), and Jonathan Rimmer (flute).
In addition to his active performance schedule, Jonathan is committed to working with the next generation of musicians. He works as a Staff Pianist and Coach for the Royal Northern College of Music (RNCM), where he is the co-founder and Artistic Director of the RNCM Songsters. The RNCM Songsters are a specially selected group of singers and pianists who are trained to excel in song repertoire and promote the unique and intimate setting of recital performance; as part of their 2017-2018 season, Jonathan led the RNCM Songsters in a joint project with The Paris Conservatoire that culminated in a final performance at The Opéra Comique. He is also Artistic Director of the RNCM’s annual Day of Song and holds the position of Head of Keyboard and Pianist-in-Residence at the University of Huddersfield.
Jonathan graduated with first class honours from The University of Huddersfield and has a Master of Music in Performance from the Royal Northern College of Music. He has taken masterclasses and private tuition from Malcom Martineau, Julius Drake, and Roger Vignoles. His teachers have included Benjamin Frith, John Gough, and David Jones.