The 2021/22 season continues this weekend. No tickets are required – just come on the day.
Athenean Ensemble
Conductor Nicholas Simpson
Xander Croft violin
| Johannes Brahms: | TSerenade No.1 |
| Max Bruch: | Concerto for Violin and Orchestra in G minor |
The Athenean Ensemble
A group of experienced amateur players who formed in November 2010 and comes together twice a year to take part in the Didsbury Coffee Concerts.
Nicholas Simpson
Born in Manchester, Nicholas read law at Nottingham University, and for 10 years played in rock bands before studying composition and conducting at Trinity College of Music in London. For four years he was a pupil of John Tavener, winning the Chappell Prize and the Ricordi Prize for conducting (twice). Whilst still a student his first string quartet was given by the Roth Quartet at the Purcell Room.
In the 1990s Simpson earned a living as a criminal lawyer, composing in his spare time, but quit to concentrate on music on moving back to Manchester in 1998. Forthcoming concerts include the first U.S. outing for his Clarinet Quartet Mardale Changes, another performance of Ilkley Moor Sans Chapeau, his 2014 Huddersfield Phil commission to mark the coming of the Tour de France to Yorkshire, and the premiere by the Amaretti Chamber Orchestra of Bachianas Mancuniensis, a homage to Bach.
In addition to working with the Athenean Ensemble, Nick Simpson is Music Director of the Halifax Symphony Orchestra in West Yorks and Associate Conductor of the Huddersfield Phil. He has also been invited to guest conduct many other orchestras, including most recently the Wrexham S.O.
Xander Croft
