Players’ juniors win NANDA festival award
THE Loughborough Orchestra’s June concert promises to be a popular occasion with some all-time favourite classics making up the programme.
Well-known local musician, Jeremy Kimber, will be the soloist in one of the best loved piano pieces, as he plays Rachmaninov’s second Piano Concerto. This lovely piece is a favourite with so many audiences.
In the second half, Jeremy swaps places to play the organ for the Saint-Saëns Symphony no. 3, (often referred to as the Organ Symphony). The Piano also features in the piece with talented wife and husband team, Nina and Ed de Salis Young, also members of the Orchestra.
The last movement of the Symphony is the best known but the earlier themes and textures are also masterfully crafted and make beautiful listening.
Jeremy’s career has taken him to many far flung countries to perform and conduct. He now has a busy and varied schedule of teaching piano at Nottingham University, accompanying, performing in chamber music and examining for the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music awards, including international diplomas.
The concert is on Saturday, June 16, at Emmanuel Church, Forest Road. Further details are on the orchestra website at http://www.loughboroughorchestra.org.uk THE juniors from East Leake Amateur Players have won the NANDA (Notts and Nottinghamshire Amateur Drama Association) youth festival for 2018.
This year ELAPS performed Cinders by Geoff Bamber and had the biggest and youngest cast ever. The group are normally around 17 strong but this year with earlier rehearsal times the audition group quickly became 32 with the majority of those being under 11 years old and with no drama or stage experience. The production team had to quickly adapt a play for 19 by creating an additional 13 parts.
ELAPS beat difficult and much older competition represented by the Lace Market and the Youth People’s Theatre groups with the average age being teenage years.
Not only did the group win the best play for the festival but they also won three out of four personal acting awards and a cluster of highly commended. Erin Doherty won Best Actress of the festival with her fabulous character of the queen, the judge likened her to a young Lily Savage. Her sister Freya Doherty won best actress in the under 11 category with her portrayal of the Ugly sister Begonia.
Newcomer and on stage for the first time ever was Alex Mitchell who played a bodyguard for the prince and won the boys best actor trophy for under 11s.
Highly Recommended certificates were also presented to Noah Baguley for playing a great comic Prince, Laura Walker for playing a charming cheeky Buttons, Evie-Grace Keller for her eloquent Dandini and Imogen Keller for her great double act with Freya Doherty and portrayal as the second ugly sister Petunia.
The judge loved the play and liked the bright and colourful costumes with great entertaining characters and a very inventive festival set with the introduction of talking flat packed furniture. The judge also commended the whole communication of the piece that was narrated perfectly by Katie Jansen who not just spoke but sang her way through the entire show making sure the pace flowed brilliantly and the audience were kept engaged the whole time.
Chairman Keith Benedict said that ELAPS were extremely proud of the group considering their age and experience and very happy that we are bringing the trophy back to ELAPS for the second year. Thanks went to the director and producers Hayley Masom, Sophia Thorne, Sally Slaney and Sharon Torr.
Elaps will soon start auditions for the 2018 Panto Christmas Island written by Geoff Freeman.