Horsham Music Circle

83rd Season 2024/2025

The Music Circle’s 82nd Season was certainly a busy one and it was hugely encouraging to see so many through the doors. The performances by Sheku Kanneh-Mason & Plinio Fernandes and The King’s Singers drew capacity audiences with Harry the Piano also attracting a large crowd. Attendances for our other wonderfully talented musicians, Musique de Chambre with Luca Imperiale, Frederico Paixão & Mark Rogers and Warren Mailley-Smith saw a promising increase in attendees. They all brought us music making of the highest quality to last long in our memories.

We now move on to the 83rd Season, again the concerts will be presented as an Autumn and a Spring series. The three Autumn concerts start with a dazzling global music programme, introduce a brilliant young bassoonist to show off the instrument’s solo potential, and welcome back a British pianist praised for his unfailingly communicative playing. We hope to see you there!

We open the series in SEPTEMBER with the fabulous Kosmos Ensemble. Kosmos is re-defining the relationship between classical and world music. Gypsy, Scottish, Jewish and Greek music glide into hot-blooded tango and Asian melodies, referencing classical composers including Corelli, Piazzolla and Sarasate, performed with “telepathic rapport, dazzling virtuosity, serious scholarship, intellectual curiosity and impeccable musicianship”. Richard Morrison, chief music critic, The Times. Harriet MacKenzie - violin, Meg Hamilton - viola, and Milos Milivojevic - accordion, are international soloists in their own right. Prepare to be mesmerised! In OCTOBER we present the highly talented bassoonist Siping Guo from China, who gained full scholarships for his Bachelor's and Master's studies at the Royal College of Music. He as excelled academically and as a performer, winning prestigious awards. His artistry has been recognised in solo and ensemble performances in major venues including being guest principal with the Singapore Symphony Orchestra to which he has just been appointed principal bassoon. Joined by pianist Apolline Khou, the programme includes works by Bach, Bozza, Saint-Saëns and Weber. The concert is supported by the Countess of Munster Musical Trust. To complete the autumn series NOVEMBER sees a return visit of the distinguished British pianist Leon McCawley who has been delighting audiences worldwide since winning, in 1993, First Prize in the International Beethoven Piano Competition in Vienna and Second Prize at the Leeds International Piano Competition. His many concert performances and extensive discography have established him as a pianist of great integrity and variety. Acclaimed performances at major venues in the UK and abroad and many accolades for his wide-ranging discography makes him ‘One of today’s most impeccably musical pianists.’ International Piano. His programme includes works by Beethoven, Rachmaninov, Mendelssohn and Schumann.

Cash payments (bring coins!) will be accepted at the concerts for Interval refreshments Wine/Juice £4/£1 and programmes £1.

PARKING at our main venues, St Mary's Church and Causeway Barn RH12 1HE  - The nearest parking is behind the Barn via the slip road half way down the Causeway on the right hand side - this is open from 5pm. Otherwise Denne Road Car Park, Talbot Lane RH12 1JH or Forum Blackhorse Way RH12 1NU (closes at 10pm).

The concerts are open to all. Individual tickets available but do consider taking advantage of the special deal for the three Music Circle Autumn concerts. We look forward to seeing our regular supporters return and hope others discovering us for the first time will be inspired to join them. If you are new to live music performances, you will hear a great variety of pieces over a couple of hours with a short interval when you can meet with fellow music lovers over a glass of wine or soft drink - do come along and give it a try!

A Ticket Application form, with discount rate for those attending all three concerts, is available from Horsham Music Circle. You can book by phone 01403 252602 (answer machine), email horshammusiccircle@gmail.com, or download the Ticket Application Form from the website. Online bookings from 7th August at wegottickets.com/HorshamMusicCircle. Tickets also on the door.

The Horsham Music Circle can be contacted on 01403 252602 or by email horshammusiccircle@gmail.com and for more details see our website at horsham-music-circle.org.uk and Facebook page.