Aurora Ensemble

Full programme:

Dvorak String Quartet 12 in F major Op 96 ‘The American’
Andy Evans ‘The Sutors Suite’ – World Premiere
INTERVAL
Beethoven Septet in E flat Op 20

Tickets:  £13 (£11 concession) SCHOOL KIDS GO FREE! 
To purchase: email or tel 01381 600354 or can purchase on the door
Tea & coffee available

Award-winning composer, Andy Evans, commented on his new work, The Sutors Suite: "I enjoyed writing this piece as I am very fond of Cromarty and the Black Isle having visited my brother Simon and his family here for many years. Each movement is aimed to be a mood painting or mini tone poem. The first movement, ‘Dawn’, is a description of the sun rising over the peaceful firth, beginning in semi-darkness and then landmarks immerging into the light.  The second movement, ‘Giants’, is based on the playful but frightening image of giants standing on each Sutor throwing tools to each other over the firth as legend would have us believe. The third movement, ‘Pilgrims’, recalls the route from Cromarty across the firth to visit the bones of St Duthac in Tain, which even had royal patronage in the past. It is based on a short Scottish medieval chant I found on the internet and tries to produce a mood of quiet endurance and spiritual reflection. The last movement, ‘Nocturne’, is a simple song to the wonder of the sea by moonlight."

Meet the Aurora Ensemble: 

Katy Bell (Cello)

Katy grew up in Glasgow and studied at the Guildhall London and then in the USA. She was a member of the Arba String Quartet in the Netherlands. She is now settled in Inverness and is a busy teacher and performer.

Andy Evans (Composer)

Andy is principle horn of the Dundee Symphony Orchestra and a Professor of Radiology. He has composed classical music for the last 20 years winning the iCompose competition run by the National Gallery of Scotland and had “Danse” performed by members of the Scottish Chamber Orchestra. Andy was also prize winner in a BBC competition, his work “and Mary said” being recorded by the Henschel Quartet and the Tölzer Knabenchor from Munich.   His suite for 13 wind instruments is published by Phylloscopus.  Other compositions include a horn concerto, and a string quartet also premiered in Cromarty.

Simon Evans (Violin)

Simon was leader of the North Wales Youth Orchestra and as a teenager he was taught by Fred Brough (ex-leader of the RLPO), and now studies with Katie Hull in Glasgow. He has previously participated in masterclasses with Chloe Hanslip, Thomas Gould and members of the Skampa and Heath Quartets.

Rachel Farmer (Violin and Clarinet)

Born in Sydney Australia, Rachel began playing the violin at the age of 14 and took up the clarinet six months later. She went on to study both instruments at the University of Melbourne, Conservatorium of Music and then at the University of Tasmania Conservatorium of Music in Hobart and played with the Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra. In 2002 Rachel bought a one-way ticket to London and ended up in the Scottish Highlands. She teaches strings full time in the Dingwall area. She plays with The Highland Chamber Orchestra and is a founding member of The Mahler Players.

Rob Farmer (Horn)

Rob was born and educated in Tasmania, completing his Bachelor of Music in Performance and Conducting in 1989. After graduation he taught and played freelance with ensembles including the Australian Youth Orchestra and the Sydney Symphony Orchestra.  Rob conducted the Derwent Symphony Orchestra which presented the Tasmanian premiere of Bruckner’s Fourth Symphony. Since migrating to Scotland in 2001, he has taught brass and wind instruments in Argyll and Bute and now for the Highland Council. Rob has founded and led the Highland Youth Big Band and the Inverness Schools Wind Band. With his French Horn Rob considers himself lucky to have studied with players such as Wendy Ritchie (Symphonisches-Orchester Berlin), Lizzie Davis (Manchester Camerata), Jouni Suuronen (Tampere Filharmonia) and Fergus McWilliam (Berlin Philharmonic).

Bruce Gordon (Bassoon)

Bruce was principal bassoon of the National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain as a teenager and later played with the SCO and BBCSSO. During a career in law and translation he has continued to play chamber and orchestral music, being a longstanding member of the Northern Winds Quintet.