Landmark Bangor date for Sinfonia will be a ‘gift’
ONE of the UK’s most talented conductors who worked on the hit Sony Playstation 4 advertisement is preparing for two landmark concerts.
NEW Sinfonia, which was set up to showcase young classical musical talent in the region, will perform at Wrexham Methodist Church, at 7.30pm on Saturday, June 3, and Bangor University’s Prichard-Jones Hall at 3pm the day after.
Artistic director and joint founder Robert Guy was also the conductor of the world famous Manchester Camerata orchestra when it recorded the haunting theme tune for Sony Playstation 4. Dubbed The King, the gripping TV and cinema advertisement brought his conducting skills to the ears of computer gamers all around the globe.
Robert said: “The concert in Bangor will be a real landmark occasion for us because it will be the first time we’ve appeared at the university. However, we know that Wyn Thomas, a senior lecturer in its famous School of Music, has previously seen us perform and was so inspired that he was kind enough to contact us afterwards to say he thought we were a gem in the North East Wales crown.
“With this in mind it’s fantastic that we will be playing at the university on Sunday June 4. The concert is a collaboration with the Archive of Welsh Music which is based at Bangor.”
As well as his guest spot with the Manchester Camerata for the Playstation ad, Robert was recently appointed by the University of Manchester as conductor of its Chorus and as a tutor of choral conducting in its prestigious music faculty.
NEW Sinfonia was formed in 2011 by Robert, 29, and his 27-year-old brother Jonathan. They are originally from Wrexham and both studied at the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester.
Both concerts are entitled Simple Gifts after one of the pieces in the programme of American and French music. Robert will be conducting while Jonathan will play the clarinet.
Robert explained: “Connections between America and France go as far back as the American Revolutionary Wars and there have been many examples of musical links throughout history. In these performances NEW Sinfonia will focus on composers who all played a significant part in estab- lishing a national identity for the music of their nation.”
Robert added: “Apart from our appearance at Bangor University, it will also be good to be performing the Simple Gifts concert at Wrexham Methodist Church where we have strong connections.”
● Tickets for the Simple Gifts concerts, priced at £15 for adults, £10 concessions and £3 for students and young people, are available through NEW Sinfonia’s website at www.newsinfonia.org.uk, Wrexham Tourist Information Centre, and also on the door at both venues.