Welcome to GSMF 2006

Thursday 25th March 8.00pm

(Please note start time)

Music for Two Pianos

Simon Phillips and Stephen Ridge

with

Tim Meunier (baritone)

The Festival prides itself on the variety of its programming. Each GSMF includes some of the best local amateur performers as well as the international stars who live in the area. This piano duo, winners on the competition circuit and well known to West Surrey concert-goers, comprises two musicians of professional playing standards who have chosen careers in other fields. They both give regular solo recitals, accompany singers, play chamber music and have provided memorable ‘orchestral’ accompaniments as a piano duo for choral society performances. They appeared in GSMF 2008 in a lunchtime recital on one piano, but this time, in the Electric Theatre, they will play on two grand pianos. They started to play together as students in Cambridge.

Simon Phillips was a music scholar at Winchester, where he studied piano with Robert Bottone, before he went to Queens’ College Cambridge to read modern languages and law. Since then he has appeared frequently as soloist, accompanist and in chamber music, including in the Guildford Schubert Festival, playing the last piano sonata and accompanying two of the song-cycles. Simon also enjoys his singing with the Guildford Chamber Choir which he joined while at the College of Law in Guildford, shortly after the choir was formed.

Stephen Ridge originates from Wigan. After winning two exhibitions from Trinity College of Music in London, Stephen obtained his performer’s diploma in 1977 shortly before going to Cambridge University to read languages. While at university Stephen continued to be involved in pianistic activities, both as soloist and accompanist, in addition to developing his singing and orchestral conducting. After university, Stephen concentrated on singing for a period and spent 10 years in the London Symphony Chorus, but over the past few years he has returned to focus on the keyboard, although still enjoying his singing with a number of local choirs.

Tim Meunier is Headmaster of Colet Court (St Paul’s Preparatory School) in West London. He read Natural Sciences at Trinity College, Cambridge and went on to a career in teaching. He started singing while at school in London and continued at Cambridge, joining Queen’s College Chapel Choir (where he met his wife, as well as Simon and Stephen) and the University Chamber Choir. Since leaving college he has sung with a number of chamber choirs in Bristol, Bath, Oxford and London and given solo performances in lieder, oratorio and musical theatre. He is currently studying with Catrin Johnsson in London.

Their programme is an exciting mix of well-known and unfamiliar pieces and will include pieces by Milhaud: Scaramouche , Joan Trimble: Sonatina and Song Cycle The County Mayo , Debussy: Lindaraja, Brahms: Haydn Variations and more.

Please note the later start time for this concert


			Thursday 25th March 8.00pm (Please note start time) Music for Two Pianos Simon Phillips and Stephen Ridge with Tim Meunier (baritone) The Festival prides itself on the variety of its programming. Each GSMF includes some of the best local amateur performers as well as the international stars who live in the area. This piano duo, winners on the competition circuit and well known to West Surrey concert-goers, comprises two musicians of professional playing standards who have chosen careers in other fields. They both give regular solo recitals, accompany singers, play chamber music and have provided memorable ‘orchestral’ accompaniments as a piano duo for choral society performances. They appeared in GSMF 2008 in a lunchtime recital on one piano, but this time, in the Electric Theatre, they will play on two grand pianos. They started to play together as students in Cambridge. Simon Phillips was a music scholar at Winchester, where he studied piano with Robert Bottone, before he went to Queens’ College Cambridge to read modern languages and law. Since then he has appeared frequently as soloist, accompanist and in chamber music, including in the Guildford Schubert Festival, playing the last piano sonata and accompanying two of the song-cycles. Simon also enjoys his singing with the Guildford Chamber Choir which he joined while at the College of Law in Guildford, shortly after the choir was formed. Stephen Ridge originates from Wigan. After winning two exhibitions from Trinity College of Music in London, Stephen obtained his performer’s diploma in 1977 shortly before going to Cambridge University to read languages. While at university Stephen continued to be involved in pianistic activities, both as soloist and accompanist, in addition to developing his singing and orchestral conducting. After university, Stephen concentrated on singing for a period and spent 10 years in the London Symphony Chorus, but over the past few years he has returned to focus on the keyboard, although still enjoying his singing with a number of local choirs. Tim Meunier is Headmaster of Colet Court (St Paul’s Preparatory School) in West London. He read Natural Sciences at Trinity College, Cambridge and went on to a career in teaching. He started singing while at school in London and continued at Cambridge, joining Queen’s College Chapel Choir (where he met his wife, as well as Simon and Stephen) and the University Chamber Choir. Since leaving college he has sung with a number of chamber choirs in Bristol, Bath, Oxford and London and given solo performances in lieder, oratorio and musical theatre. He is currently studying with Catrin Johnsson in London. Their programme is an exciting mix of well-known and unfamiliar pieces and will include pieces by Milhaud: Scaramouche , Joan Trimble: Sonatina and Song Cycle The County Mayo , Debussy: Lindaraja, Brahms: Haydn Variations and more. Please note the later start time for this concert