A Whitley Bay church is aiming to bring more culture to town with a concert series of internationally acclaimed artists.
The St Mary’s Concert Series, presented by St Mary the Virgin, Monkseaton and supported by Kings Priory School, features a number of nationally recognised artists and music.
Following three highly successful concerts, the series continues this weekend with one of the North East’s most acclaimed pianists David Murray leading the next generation of players in an evening that aims to celebrate the future of piano in the North East.
David, who has appeared in recitals all over the world with some of the country’s greatest artists, has been lucky enough to have helped many young pianists starting to make their way in the musical world as a highly in-demand piano teacher and in his various roles at our regions universities.
The concert will take place on Saturday 25 February at 7:30pm at St Mary’s Church on a fabulous Model D Steinway provided by Tyneside Piano Company.
Next month sough-after soprano Laurie Ashworth will visit St Mary’s, with an evening of stunning performances of well-known classics and musical theatre.
Laurie is a Song Prize winner, was runner-up on BBC Radio 2’s The Kiri Prize; a nationwide search to find a new operatic star, and has made numerous solo appearances on BBC television and radio, including Songs of Praise. She has also performed at most of the UK’s major venues including the Wigmore Hall and at the Royal Albert Hall for BBC Proms.
She will perform at St Mary’s on Saturday 25 March at 7:30pm, with a repertoire ranging from opera and musicals to wartime songs, and everything in-between.
Rev’d Dr Pat Moran of St Mary’s Church, said “It is wonderful to be able to have such a welcoming and beautiful church that is being used by our local community and beyond.”
“St Mary’s has been delighted to be able to welcome both familiar and new faces and families. We hope that we can welcome many more new faces in the future and that everyone returns at some point in the future whether that be for another concert, an event or a service.”
On 22 April the extremely talented Heath Quartet, winners of the 2016 Gramophone Magazine Chamber Music Recording the Year award, will perform as part of the St Mary’s Concert Series.
The series will wrap up with a return of a magnificent evening from Royal Northern Sinfonia leader and renowned violinist Bradley Creswick on Sunday 7 May 2017. Both events start at 7:30pm.
Individual tickets for each concert are £10 each and are on sale now. You can purchase them at St Mary’s Parish Office, Claremont Gardens, Whitley Bay every weekday between 10am and 12 noon or by calling the office on 0191 251 4216
For more information visit www.stmarysmonkseaton.co.uk.