King Edward Musical Society (KEMS)

KEMS

KEMS Orchestra

Originally set up to accompany the KEMS Choir, a role that is still central to its activities, the Orchestra has progressively established itself as a performing orchestra in its own right. It has atttracted eminent conductors over the years; in recent years they have included such figures as composer Colin Touchin (former head of composition at Chetham’s School of Music and Director of Music at Warwick University); Martin Milner (former leader of the Hallé Orchestra); and Stephen Threlfall (former BBC Philharmonic cellist, now Director of Music at Chetham ’s). Since the 2001-2 season, the Orchestra has been conducted by Anthony Houghton, who for many years was Principal Clarinet of the Northern Ballet Theatre and Manchester Camerata Orchestras and who was a regular player with the Hall é Orchestra and BBC Philharmonic.

Anthony has played a major role in expanding the Orchestra’s repertoire in recent years. A few examples will demonstrate the range and styles of music played during the past few years:

l COPLAND Rodeo

l GERSHWIN Rhapsody in Blue

l BRAHMS Symphony No 2

l MILHAUD Suite Provencale

l DELIUS Brigg Fair

l DVORAK Symphony No 8

l TCHAIKOVSKY Violin Concerto

l RIMSKY-KORSAKOV Scheherezade

The Orchestra always welcomes enquiries from prospective players; in the first instance, please e-mail us brief details of your playing experience and we will let you know if any vacancies exist at the present time.


		ALFRED BARKER (leader)

	ALFRED BARKER was born in Johannesburg and spent most of his childhood in Namibia. He had his first piano lesson at the age of 6 from his father and began studying the violin at the Windhoek Conservatoire when he was 8. During this time he won the prestigious Conservatoire Prize two years running, which enabled him to attend the South African Youth Orchestra Course. He was selected to perform a number of concertos with the conservatoire orchestra and with the Namibian National Symphony Orchestra. In 1993, he travelled to London to study at the Purcell School, on a scholarship, with Carol Slater. Whilst at the Purcell School he gave a recital in Wormwood Scrubs Prison and played both as a soloist and with his quartet on a school exchange in Dresden. He was a member of the City of Sheffield Youth Orchestra from 1996, which toured regularly throughout Europe, and he became the leader of the orchestra in 1997 during which year the orchestra gave a live performance on Classic FM. In 1996 he continued his studies with Yossi Zivoni at the Royal Northern College of Music, where he met his future wife, pianist Teleri-Si ân. After leaving college he successfully completed a Masters Degree at the University of Manchester, studying the music of Olivier Messiaen. Alfred has performed with various string quartets and ensembles and is involved in various educational projects, including string quartet demonstrations in schools, teaching in Manchester and for Salford Performing Arts Service. Alfred lives in Glossop, Derbyshire, with his wife and their cat, Hector. In his spare time he enjoys hill walking, and is a volunteer Ranger for the Peak District National Park.