A programme of (mostly) British music for a November day, including Richard Rodney Bennett’s ‘Winter Music’ and Peter McGarr’s Pennine-inspired ghost story ‘Rare Dawn’
Geraldine Green Nocturne
Edward German Souvenir
Lennox Berkeley Sonatina
Richard Rodney Bennett Winter Music 1 & 2
Ian Clarke Spiral Lament
Peter McGarr Rare Dawn
Hamilton Harty In Ireland
Rachel and Jemima have been playing together as a Duo since March 2013, giving numerous recitals in venues including Manchester and Ripon Cathedrals, selection for the Bridgewater Introducing series, a forthcoming performance at St Martin-in-the-Fields, and award-winning performances in the 2013 & 2014 Buxton Fringe.
Rachel Johnson – Flute
Rachel is an active orchestral musician and soloist, particularly in demand as a piccolo player, and teaches both in schools in the Derbyshire region and privately from home. Rachel is a part-time doctoral student at the Royal Northern College of Music, supported by an AHRC Studentship, investigating music-making in early-Victorian Manchester.
Rachel holds a Masters in Flute Performance from the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama, prior to that studying Music at the University of Manchester. Rachel has studied flute with Richard Davis, Andrew Nicholson and Peter Lloyd, Piccolo with Nicola Dowton, and Baroque Flute with Katy Bircher. Her studies have been supported by awards from the Solti Foundation, EMI Music Sound Foundation, Laura Ashley Foundation, South Square Trust and Women’s Career’s Foundation.
As an orchestral musician Rachel appears regularly with the Cheshire Sinfonia, Apollo Sinfonia, Stockport and Wilmslow Symphony Orchestras. She has held the position of Principal Flute with the RWCMD Symphony and Opera Orchestras, been selected for a side-by-side wind project and concert with the BBC National Orchestra of Wales, and played Piccolo with the Amadeus Orchestra and in the orchestras of numerous music societies around the North West. Rachel is also a Musician in the Army Reserve, playing with the Lancashire Artillery Band. Solo and ensemble work includes recitals in the Chorlton Arts Festival, British Flute Society Convention 2010 (as a member of the Nicholson Flute Trio), Wales Millennium Centre and Norwegian Church Cardiff, and as concerto soloist with the Vacation Chamber Orchestra.
Jemima Palfreyman – Piano
Jemima is a Licentiate of the Royal Schools of Music, and studied at the Royal Northern College of Music under the tutelage of Jeremy Young. She has performed in venues with a variety of orchestras and ensembles including the Royal Albert Hall as part of the 2006 BBC Proms, Birmingham Symphony Hall (where she made her debut as a concerto soloist) and the Bridgewater Hall. Recent concerto repertoire includes Saint-Saen’s 2nd piano concerto in G minor, Gershwin’s Rhapsody In Blue and Beethoven’s 3rd piano concerto.
In 2010, Jemima was also invited to perform at the Rome International Piano Competition by renowned concert pianist Marcela Crudeli, who was taught by Cortot. Over her time in Manchester, Jemima has played to and learned with pianists including Peter Donohoe, Joan Havill, Julius Drake, Leon McCawley, Philip Martin, Graham Scott and Helen Krizos.
On top of being an active performer, accompanist and orchestra musician, Jemima enjoys sharing her experiences and knowledge through teaching, and on top of her busy schedule of private students, has also worked freelance alongside the North West Music Trust and Aimhigher Greater Manchester to bring music workshops to disadvantaged schools in the Greater Manchester area, with upcoming workshops specifically for young offenders. Jemima also holds the dipABRSM for teaching and the ABRSM Certificate of Teaching. Recently, Jemima has also worked as a hand double on BBC’s “Doctors” and “Our Zoo”.