In this concert, Thomas will explore music by Andrew York, Abigél Varga and Martin Schley as well as improvisations. There will also be an opportunity to request musical postcards that will be recorded as part of the concert.Thomas Siemens (Germany) grew up in a musical family where he received a broad musical education from a young age. This included lessons on the piano and on the violin (later viola) and singing lessons. His main focus quickly became the classical guitar where he was able to achieve multiple successes like winning a first prize at the “Federal Competition for Young Musicians” held by the German Music Council. Other notable achievements include winning the Isolde-von-Müller prize and playing at the international festival “Eurofestival der Zupfmusik”.He completed his guitar studies with Michael Tröster, additionally, he attended Masterclasses with Aniello Desiderio, Scott Tennant, and Carlo Marchione among others. His artistic and musical work includes regular performances as soloist, as well as chamber music, and teaching. In recent years the pursuit of classical improvisation became a special focus.Currently, Thomas Siemens is a doctoral student at Guildhall School of Music and Drama where he investigates improvisation on the guitar in the 19th century. His work focuses on the intersection between historiography, autoethnography, and practice, exploring what stories we carry in our practice and how if we change the story we tell our practice changes alongside it. He is supervised by Dr. Amy Blier-Carruthers, Professor David Dolan, Matthew Kaner, and Toby Carr.
An Organ Recital on our Grade 1 listed, William Hill Organ by organist Klaus-C van den Kerkhoff.Saturday March 1st at 6.00pm. Tickets on the door £10, Concessions £5. All monies raised will go to our Refurbishment Programme.The concert features music by Johann Sebastian Bach, 'Rhosymedre' by Ralph Vaughan Williams and the 5th Organ Symphony by Charles-Marie Vidor.There will be refreshments after the concert [for a small donation] which will provide an opportunity to meet and talk to the organist Klaus.Come along and bring your friends - it should be a wonderful evening.
The wording on our certificate is as follows:'The organ in Christ Church, Streatham, London has been awarded a certificate Grade 1.A large and important organ by William Hill & Son of 1886, when the firm was under the direction of Thomas Hill [the founder's son] carefully moved here in 1987 without significant tonal or mechanical alteration.It is therefore listed in the Institute's Register of Historic Pipe Organs as being an instrument of importance to the national heritage and one deserving careful preservation for the benefit of future generations.The corticate was signed by Nicholas Thistlethwaite - Chairman and Melvin Hughes - Secretary on 13 May 2023.
