A concert for Salisbury and Wilton Swifts which works in the Salisbury area to help reverse the decline of our beautiful swifts.

Tickets available from eventbrite: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/concert-for-swifts-tickets-1986350993292?aff=oddtdtcreator

Concert in aid of SALISBURY AND WILTON SWIFTS

PLEASE NOTE: DRINKS ARE NOT PROVIDED BUT YOU ARE WELCOME TO BRING YOUR OWN

Bill Benham – violin Alistair Watson – piano

Sarum College Chapel 19 The Close Salisbury SP1 2EE at 7.30 pm

Mozart – Sonata for Piano and Violin in A major K 526

Interval

Dvorak – 4 Romantic Pieces Op 75 Debussy – Sonata for Violin and Piano

Bill studied the violin with John Sealey, Homi Kanga, Jean Pougnet and Alfredo Campoli. He was a member of the Bath Festival and London Symphony Orchestras. During his five years with the LSO, he performed in the Nash Ensemble and the Academy of St Martin–in-the Fields, before being appointed co-leader of the Northern Sinfonia. From 1975 to 2003, he was a session musician playing in a wide variety of films and recordings. He has given many recitals, some at International festivals, and has made several CDs of his concerts. In 1979 he qualified as an Alexander Teacher and has taught a number of people over the years. He has also developed an Ergonomic Chin Rest which is adjustable in height and angle. With this equipment, Bill has helped many people with long arms as well as long necks to play without pain. His violin is a copy of Paganini’s “Canon”, made by Tibor Semmelweis.

New Zealand born, Alistair Watson has performed piano concertos with the Dunedin Sinfonia and the Christchurch Symphony Orchestra, with whom he won the National Piano Concerto Competition in 2000. Since arriving in the UK he spent two years studying piano and singing at the Royal College of Music, under the tutelage of Nigel Clayton and Roderick Earle. A highlight from his time in London was performing Mozart’s Double Piano Concerto in Cadogan Hall in 2006.

In 2010 Alistair became a Lay Vicar at Salisbury Cathedral, where he now sings almost every day. This position has seen him perform bass/baritone solos in various pieces, including Duruflé Requiem, Messiah, St John Passion, and Tippett’s