Three Firsts for Autumn Concert

Penzance Orchestral Society’s Autumn Concert will mark a series of exciting firsts for the Society.

Patrick Gale, the Society’s Secretary, says, “We are delighted to welcome Tim Boulton as our new conductor. Since its formation in 1907, the Society has had just five conductors which is quite remarkable. This concert will mark the first concert of the sixth person to fill that position.”
Tim Boulton is no stranger to musicians in West Cornwall where he runs Musicability CIC. He is also the long-standing director of the Cornwall Youth Orchestra and runs Concerts Penzance. Tim is also involved with the International Musicians Seminar at Prussia Cove.
The concert also marks the debut of the Orchestra’s new Leader, Emma Stansfield. Emma studied at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama and at the University of California in Los Angeles (UCLA). She has a wealth of musical experience, including playing with Kanye West and Harry Connick Jr.
Tim said, “This concert is going to be my first with the Society. Each of the five pieces is inspired by different elements: earth, fire, metal, air, and water. The whole programme has great variety and includes two wonderful works for our brilliant soloist Preston Yeo - there is a mood of celebration from beginning to end.”
The concert programme features “METAL” by Graham Fitkin. “We believe this is the first performance of this work in Cornwall.”, said Tim. “Many people think that orchestras only play music written by composers who died in the last century or before. Graham is very much alive and living in Cornwall.” The piece was was composed for the reopening of the Philharmonic Hall in Liverpool in September 1995.
Finally, there will be a world premiere of Earth Signs by Andrew Wilson, written especially for the Penzance Orchestral Society. The piece considers the Zodiac signs Taurus, Virgo and Capricorn and features the welcome return of Preston Yeo on solo violin. Preston is now a violin professor in the Royal Academy of Music Junior Department. He has appeared with the Penzance Orchestral Society twice before, winning many friends and admirers of his musicianship within the orchestra. Preston is also involved with the International Musicians Seminar at Prussia Cove. Preston’s talents will also be displayed in Vaughan Williams’ The Lark Ascending, which consistently features in Classic FM’s Hall of Fame.
The programme also includes Smetana’s Vltava and Handel’s Music for the Royal Fireworks as well as Metal by Graham Fitkin. Tim adds "Born in West Cornwall and still living locally, Graham now one of the UK's most respected composers, with major commissions worldwide. Metal was composed for the reopening of Liverpool's Philharmonic Hall after refurbishment in 1995 and its dockyard sounds are quite at home in Penzance."

Tickets are just £10 for adults, free for accompanied under 21s, and are available to order online from the Minack Theatre: https://www.minack.com/whats-on/penzance-orchestral-society-autumn- 2023-concert or you can buy direct from Morrab Studio in Penzance or on the door.