Dorset, Cheshire, Cambridge, Oxford…

A little trip round the country this week, leaving the cello course in Dorset slightly early, for a concert near Warrington with James Turnbull. The Live at St Wilfrid's series take place in the picturesque Grappenhall Village, and seems to be extremely well supported. From there to Cambridge, to teach on the Oundle For Organists 'Advance' course (for current or incoming organ scholars, working on the range of broader skills needed as an organ scholar – in my case, how to play the piano without 'sounding like an organist', how to play for auditions, how to play for or lead rehearsals from the piano, and how to accompany). Always interesting to reflect on how my own training as an organ scholar has set me up so well for the range of things I do now, even though they seem at first glance to be unrelated! And then to Oxford, to give one of the popular Oxford Coffee Concerts in the Holywell Music Room, with recorder player Ian Wilson (Head of Wind at Eton at professor at Guildhall). Always a joy to be back at the Holywell, something of a second home having studied at Oxford and been so involved with the Oxford Lieder Festival! And finally back to London….