Bedfordshire Orchestral Society Podcast

Bjorn Bantock, guest conductor: Introducing the BSO May 2025 concert

Send us a text [https://www.buzzsprout.com/twilio/text_messages/2405400/open_sms] We welcome Bjorn Bantock, our guest conductor for our BSO May concert onto the podcast.   As a young musician, Bjorn followed his dream to be a cellist, studying across the world with renowned teachers, only to have a serious accident that meant he couldn't continue to play.   Determined to stay in the music profession, he tried other instruments, but it wasn't until he found conducting that he really started a new chapter.   In this episode, he talks about his journey from South Africa to the UK and talks about the upcoming concert programme on the May 24th, which includes a piece of music written by his great-grandfather, Granville Bantock, The Sea Reivers (or pirates), which is an atmospheric piece with a Celtic feel. Tune in and don't forget to book your tickets for the upcoming BSO concert! Events and booking tickets: www.bedfordsymphony.com [https://bedfordsymphony.com/] Follow us: Facebook: @beds_orchestral_society [https://www.facebook.com/BedfordshireOrchestralSociety] Instagram: @beds_orchestral-society [https://www.instagram.com/beds_orchestral_society/]

Ian Smith and Paul Harris: Introducing our 3rd May Concert

Send us a text [https://www.buzzsprout.com/twilio/text_messages/2405400/open_sms] Ian Smith, our guest conductor of Bedford Sinfonia, and Paul Harris, our clarinet soloist, join together in this special podcast where we talk about the May 3rd programme, Malcolm Arnold and music education - something that they are both passionate about. Paul is well known to clarinet teachers and students alike as he is not only a performer, but also a composer of their key books for learning the clarinet, which he started composing whilst still studying music.  Many young clarinettists are keen to come to meet him at the concert!   Tune in to hear more about him and the lovely concert focusing on music that is perfect for an English springtime! Events and booking tickets: www.bedfordsymphony.com [https://bedfordsymphony.com/] Follow us: Facebook: @beds_orchestral_society [https://www.facebook.com/BedfordshireOrchestralSociety] Instagram: @beds_orchestral-society [https://www.instagram.com/beds_orchestral_society/]

Carolyn Sampson OBE: The Power of Local Music Making

Send us a text [https://www.buzzsprout.com/twilio/text_messages/2405400/open_sms] Carolyn Sampson is a soprano at the top of her game, both here in the UK but also internationally.  This last year has seen her release her 100th album, called "But I like to sing!"  However, that's not all!  She's also been named Gramophone Artist of the Year, was awarded an OBE in the King's New Year's Honours List for her services to music and named Honorary Member of the Royal Academy of Music.   She is also from Bedford and came through the Bedfordshire Youth Music Service - and speaks often about the positive impact that it had on her as a young musician. In this episode she speaks candidly about how those experiences mattered and how young musicians today continue to need local support.   Carolyn is singing at St Andrew's Church in Bedford in November 2025 in a special anniversary year concert for their Concert Series.   For more info about Carolyn: www.carolynsampson.com [https://carolynsampson.com/] Follow her on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/carolynsampsonsop/], LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/carolyn-sampson-obe-534211233/] and Bluesky [https://bsky.app/profile/carolynsampson.bsky.social].  Events and booking tickets: www.bedfordsymphony.com [https://bedfordsymphony.com/] Follow us: Facebook: @beds_orchestral_society [https://www.facebook.com/BedfordshireOrchestralSociety] Instagram: @beds_orchestral-society [https://www.instagram.com/beds_orchestral_society/]

Dr Lucy Walker: Britten and his Violin Concerto

Send us a text [https://www.buzzsprout.com/twilio/text_messages/2405400/open_sms] Dr Lucy Walker, a writer, researcher and speaker on classical music and cultural heritage, is our guest.  What a privilege to have her on the show!  Lucy is a renowned expert on Benjamin Britten and spent many years working at The Red House in Aldeburgh, his former home.  She has spent years researching, writing, presenting, curating exhibitions and speaking about Benjamin Britten and his work.  She is a much sought after podcast guest, so we are delighted that she accepted our invitation to talk about our upcoming BSO programme featuring Britten's Violin concerto played by Charlie Lovell-Jones. She also comes from Bedford and started her musical journey as a pupil of Ian Smith, our Bedford Sinfonia conductor and played the horn in the County Youth Orchestra and credits much of her musical journey to her music education here in Bedfordshire. In this episode she talks very engagingly about Britten, his journey to America in 1939 and what we can listen out for in his violin concerto.  She brings the music alive as she fills in the background to Britten and explains what we can listen out for as we play or listen to this quite amazing piece that he started writing at the age of 26.  Tune in find out more... To book tickets for all of our concerts: www.bedfordsymphony.com To connect with Lucy or follow her online: www.lucy-walker.co.uk [https://www.lucy-walker.co.uk] Instagram: @lucybeewalker [https://www.instagram.com/lucybeewalker/] Events and booking tickets: www.bedfordsymphony.com [https://bedfordsymphony.com/] Follow us: Facebook: @beds_orchestral_society [https://www.facebook.com/BedfordshireOrchestralSociety] Instagram: @beds_orchestral-society [https://www.instagram.com/beds_orchestral_society/]

Ian Smith's Pre-Concert Talk: Panufnik, Dvorak, Milhaud and Svendsen

Send us a text [https://www.buzzsprout.com/twilio/text_messages/2405400/open_sms] We welcome Ian Smith back on the podcast to introduce us to the music in the January 2025 Bedford Sinfonia concert. With a programme that takes us on a whistle-stop tour of mainland Europe, showcasing different instruments of the orchestra across various styles of music, this is a concert that will delight many! Ian gives us a quick and accessible guide to the programme.  This is a concert that is a piece of theatre, with the percussionists taking centre stage.  With our percussionist soloists, David Hext and Rachel Gledhill, who are at the top of their game, playing in the West End and in top London orchestras, this is going to be an incredible concert with drama, virtuosity and emotion! Tune in to hear more about it and we hope to see you at the concert! Details below... Events and booking tickets: www.bedfordsymphony.com [https://bedfordsymphony.com/] Follow us: Facebook: @beds_orchestral_society [https://www.facebook.com/BedfordshireOrchestralSociety] Instagram: @beds_orchestral-society [https://www.instagram.com/beds_orchestral_society/]