09/04/2025
The Middlewich and District Concerts Society has become accustomed to excellent performances by students from the Junior Royal Northern College of Music and this concert was one of the best. The Head of the JRNCM, Aled Tudor, introduced the students and gave an insight into the work of the college and the commitment of the parents. Pete Durrant provided the piano accompaniment where appropriate.
Millie Huang (13) opened the concert with Introduction, Cadenza and Rondo by Elias Parish Alvars. She has already won many competitions playing the harp and it was instantly clear why. What a talent! Later she played the Allegro from John Parry's first sonata and Sun Dance from the Santa Fe Suite by William Mathias.
We have never seen as many mutes as employed to great effect by Elia Karim (trumpet) in the second movement of Kent Kennan's sonata. He also gave rousing performances of Rondo for Lifey by Bernstein and the Vivace movement from Neruda's Trumpet Concerto.
The singer this year was Madeleine North, with a wide range of pieces by Mendelssohn, Handel, Eric Thiman, Schubert and Reginald Morgan, which held the audience spellbound throughout. She had excellent diction, a lovely tone and great control.
James Uttley (16) also grabbed the attention of the audience with commanding performances of movements from Beethoven's sonata for violin and piano, Opus 30/3 and the sonata for violin BWV1005 by JS Bach. His delivery of Kreisler's Praeludium and Allegro in the style of Pugnani was extraordinary.
There is clearly a pool of extraordinary talent out there. We have to ensure that opportunities exist for them to demonstrate what they can do and for audiences to experience it.
