The Alauna Ensemble
with Sally Johnson (soprano)
Glenalla Hall, Llanelli, Tuesday June 18th
7.30 pm.
George Hall, Swansea, Wednesday June 19th
7.30 pm.
Mozart Flute Quartet K. 285 in D major
Roussel Deux Poèmes de Ronsard
for soprano and flute
Ravel Introduction et Allegro
for harp, flute, clarinet, string quartet
Glazunov Rêverie Orientale
for clarinet and string quartet
Weeks Morgensternlieder
for soprano and chamber ensemble
 

 

The Alauna Ensemble

 

Sally Cathrine Johnson

Sally Cathrine Johnson (Soprano)

Sally Johnson was born in 1977 and brought up in Cumbria’s Lake District. Early ambition to be a violinist was overtaken by her love of singing and she entered the RNCM in 1996 to study with Caroline Crawshaw.

As an undergraduate she was awarded the James Onken Song Prize, sang in the chorus of La Bohème, understudied in James Macmillian’s Busqueda and Janacek’s  Jenufa and performed the role of first Bridesmaid in Le Nozze di Figaro. Involvement with the Yorke Trust productions in Norfolk led to oratorio opportunities and the role of Iris (Semele) and Minerva (The Return of Ulysees).

In 2000, her final undergraduate year, she sang the role of Tatyana (Eugene Onegin) for Wilmslow Opera, a role she was to repeat in Autumn 2001 for Lakeland Opera.

Since graduating in 2000, Sally’s experience has broadened to include regular recital and oratorio engagements and opera galas. Recent performances have included Haydn’s Nelson Mass and The Creation, Bach’s St Matthew Passion and St. John Passion, Carl Orff’s Carmina Burana and Verdi’s Requiem. Masterclasses with Ryland Davies and Jane Eaglen have also been invaluable. In 2002 she was a finalist in the Frederic Cox Competition at the RNCM, and in March sang the role of Liza in the College production of Tchaikovsky’s The Queen of Spades.

Sally’s keen interest in contemporary music has led to opportunities to premiere new chamber works including a recent premier of the contemporary song cycle Broken Heart of Autumn by Christopher Beardsley with the Opera North Orchestra at the Spring Festival of New Music in York. She will be performing Weeks’ Morgensternlieder with the Alauna Ensemble at this year’s Lower Machen Festival on 29th June.

Sally is a major scholar of the Peter Moores Foundation. Last year she was awarded a scholarship by the RNCM and awards from the Musicians’ Benevolent Fund and the Eva Turner Award to support her continuing studies, for all of which she is most grateful.

 

The  Alauna Ensemble was originally formed to give a performance in Chichester Cathedral of a piano quintet by the late Robert Stewart, composer, pianist,
repetiteur and organ scholar.
The ensemble was reformed six years ago and has performed concerts
in England and Wales,
including concerts in Oxford and London.

Graham Mayger (flute) won a Foundation Scholarship to the Royal College of Music, then a French Government Scholarship to study in Paris with Jean Pierre Rampal. Returning to London, he then played with most of the major London orchestras, and for 27 years enjoyed a special relationship with the Northern Sinfonia. He now holds principal flute positions with many freelance orchestras and is a member of the London Harpsichord Ensemble.
He has broadcast as a soloist in many recitals and concertos, including a concerto performance at the Promenade concerts. His recordings for Unicorn of Vivaldi chamber concertos, including the ‘Goldfinch’ have been very highly praised.
He was appointed to the staff of the Royal College of Music at the age of 24; becoming the youngest professor ever to be appointed. Several of his past students now hold important orchestral positions in this country and abroad. He is also professor of the flute at the Royal Military School of Music, Kneller Hall.

Verity Fielding (clarinet) is a busy freelance clarinettist playing with many orchestras and ensembles, including Welsh National Opera. She is a member of the contemporary music group PM Music Ensemble with whom she has toured extensively, often in a solo clarinet programme.

Peter Morgan (bassoon) studied with Roger Birnstingl and Martin Gatt at the Guildhall School of Music and with Mordechai Rechtmann in Tel Aviv. Peter has worked with many of the country's leading orchestras and ensembles and for twelve years, until 1996, was principal bassoon with the Orchestra of English National Ballet.

Julia Webb (harp) was born in London and started to study the harp at the age of eight with Marie Goosens. She went on to study with Sioned Williams and then at the Royal Academy of Music with Dr Osian Ellis. Whilst there she won the Bennett of Lincoln Scholarship, the Julia Leney Prize and the Williams Lea Chamber Music Prize for a performance of Ravel’s Introduction and Allegro and the British premiere of Hans Werner Henze’s concerto for flute and harp I Sentimenti.

Julia was principal harp with London City Ballet for eight years and now pursues a busy freelance career with many of the country’s orchestras including the Orchestra of the Royal Opera House and the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra.

Gabrielle Painter (violin) has performed throughout Europe, Canada and the United States as soloist, recitalist and chamber musician. Her concerto engagements have included performances of Szymanowski’s First Violin Concerto at the Staller Center, New York, performances of Lou Harrison’s Violin Concerto and a performance of the Triple Concerto by Beethoven in Germany, recorded for German National Radio. Gabrielle has also been a guest artist at venues including the Banff Centre for the Arts, the Cathedral of Saint John the Divine Chamber Music Series (NY), the Miller Theatre (NY), the London Festival of Chamber Music (UK), and with the Mark Morris Dance Group. Dedicated to the performance of music of our time, she is a founding member of the New York based furious band who can be heard on CRI and New World Records.
Gabrielle holds a Bachelor of Music degree from the Royal Academy of Music in London, where she studied with Diana Cummings and a Master of Music Degree from the State University of New York at Stony Brook where she will also receive her Doctorate of Musical Arts. She was a scholarship student of and Teaching Assistant to Mitchell Stern, who sadly died last year. Gabrielle is currently teaching at the junior department of the Guildhall School of Music and Drama. Winner of the Montgomery Violin Competition 2001(US), Gabrielle has also won awards from the Harold Hyam Wingate Foundation, the Ackerman Awards and the Thomas Jefferson Scholarship Awards.
Jonathan Burnett (violin) was born in Thirsk. He studied at the Welsh College of Music and Drama with Dona Lee-Croft. He has toured the Far East with his string quartet and worked with various orchestras including the BBC National Orchestra of Wales.
Annette Morgan (viola) comes from Cambridgeshire and studied at the Royal College of Music with Roger Best and Frederick Riddle. She pursues a busy career teaching and works with many orchestras and ensembles in London and elsewhere. 
Martin Thomas (‘cello) studied at the Royal Academy in London where he became a founder member of the Coull Quartet. After eleven years playing with the quartet he left to pursue a freelance career playing with orchestras in London.
Martin now enjoys a busy life playing in orchestras, teaching and performing chamber music. He is currently a member of the Archaus Quartet.

 

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