In July we open the final concert of the season with The Montgomery Variations by Margaret Bonds. Written in
1964, they were dedicated to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and are full of hope, determination, pathos and prayer.
The renowned percussionist and vibraphone master, Sacha Johnson joins us to perform Nathan Daughtrey’s
Vibraphone concerto, a two movement work sparkling with joie de vivre. Gary Washington’s Ancestral Prayer is
from his stunning work A Story of a People Called Black, which takes one on a journey from West Africa to the
American South and finally to Manchester, aka Cottonopolis. I proudly conducted the world premiere in August 2024. Appalachian Spring by Aaron Copland is a work close to my heart, depicting a newly-wed couple whose community come together to build them a new home, and incorporates the famous Shaker hymn, Tis a Gift to be Simple. Join us for the final concert of my 20th anniversary celebrations.

Shaun Matthew

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Sponsored by Lady Ayckbourn