Kelso Music Society presents Beth Taylor
The Kelso Music Society Programme for 2025-2026 is introduced by its President, James Young
Once more our new season is a mix of well- established artists and younger professionals. We have four concerts where Scottish or Scotland- based performers are featured (Concerts 1, 2, 4 and 7) starting with the wonderful mezzo-soprano Beth Taylor who came to particular note at the 2023 Cardiff Singer of the World Competition. She will be performing this delightfully varied programme with her regular partner, Maria Hadjimarkos.
Haydn 3 Songs from Hob.XXVI
Schubert Meeres Still D 216;
Gruppe aus dem Tartarus D 583;
Abendstern D 806
Hahn Néère
L’heure exquise Quand je fus pris au pavillon
Beethoven Sechs lieder von Geller op 48
Beth and Maria play on Friday October 3rd at 7.30 pm in Kelso Parish Church.
Next, courtesy of the Tunnell Trust we have Trio Archai, whose cellist is based in Scotland. Their programme will include 2 main repertoire piano trios and a new work by the Scottish composer Helen Grime. Their concert is on Friday 31st October at 7.30.
Our third concert sees the return of Dominic Degavino with the young Welsh violinist Thomas Mathias who has recently been studying in the US. Thomas is an Associate Artist of YCAT and the Countess of Munster Trust. They will play a programme of well- known mainstream works, a major American sonata and some lighter pieces. They play on Friday 14h November at 7.30.
The excellent Maxwell Quartet return to present Scottish traditional music arranged by themselves (a cause that they have promoted in concert and on disc) bookended by Haydn and Brahms. They can be heard on Sunday 30th November at 7.30.
A programme with a Scottish slant is then given by the Gould Piano Trio and Robert Plane, regular KMS artists. They will also be performing a new work by Piers Hellawell. Their concert is on Sunday 25h January at 3pm.
Our penultimate concert sees Beth Stone, the wonderful flautist from last season’s Lumas Winds, return with her regular duo partner Daniel Murphy. Their concert will certainly be different from our others in that they will showcase centuries of music performed on a variety of historically appropriate instruments, both fluted and fretted! They play on Sunday 8h February at 3pm
Our season ends with a pianist to whom we have cause to be extremely grateful. Nikita Lukinov, recent graduate and now teacher at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland managed to arrange the wonderful substitute pianist (Ethan Loch) at short notice at the start of last season. Nikita will be performing an exciting programme of Scriabin, Liszt, Hahn and Ravel. He is playing on Sunday 15h March at 7.30
Familiar faces and music, new faces and music, but all delivered with commitment and huge talent. I look forward to seeing you at the concerts.
All concerts take place in Kelso Parish Church and cost £16. A season ticket is available for £80.