Tribute to composer striking a real chord

ACONCERT celebrating the music of the late Newcastle-born composer Michael Jon Smith takes place tonight in his home city.

The event at the Lit and Phil Library on Westgate Road has been organised by his sister Sue Hedworth.

Sue, 70, who lives in Greenside, Tyne and Wear, said: “It will be very emotional. I never feel he has left because of his music which means so much too me.”

Michael, who died in 2009 aged 68, attended the Royal Grammar School, played violin in the National Youth Orchestra and then the Scottish National under renowned conductor Alexander Gibson.

He later moved to Holland to live but returned every year to visit Newcastle and to camp in Cumbria.

He became a viola player and went on to lead the viola section of the North Holland Philharmonic.

Michael composed all his life and when he died a trust to promote his music was formed in his name. A CD of his works called ‘Running to Paradise’ - after the poem of the same name by WB Yeats - is on sale in JG Windows’ music shop.

His last composition, an oratorio based on Wordsworth’s ’The Prelude’, was performed just a week before his death by Ryton Community Choir.

Sue added: “Michael died after a heart attack and I sometimes wonder if the emotion of hearing his music might have contributed.”

Youngsters will be performing at the Lit and Phil as well as professionals either from Newcastle or based here.

They include acclaimed local pianist Sarah G Robinson, violist Lydia Abell and violinists Dawn Allen and John Garner.

For the concert, John Garner has been directing members of the ‘The Young Musicians Programme’ at Sage Gateshead which nurtures local talent, from the age of four to 19.

Amelia Lewis , a year nine student at the Royal Grammar School, will be singing solo. In 2016, she was in the final of the BBC Chorister of the Year.

There will also be performances by members of the North East’s flourishing Cobweb Orchestra, a multi-award winning open-access orchestra based in the North.

Tonight’s event starts at 7.30. Tickets cost £8/£6 at the door or phone 0191 232 0192.