
The Penguin who was Blown Away

The Penguin who was Blown Away
Carnival of the Animals is a set of orchestral character pieces, each of which is meant to describe a particular animal, usually by mimicking the sounds it makes or characterizing the way it moves or carries itself. The piece is scored for two solo pianos and a small orchestra of flute, piccolo, clarinet, xylophone, glass harmonica (usually replaced these days by celesta or glockenspiel in performance), and strings. This Carnival is a humorous, often parodistic work. Saint-Saëns only allowed the piece to be performed twice during his lifetime (once publicly by the Societe de la Trompette and once in a private performance requested by Franz Liszt, the famous piano virtuoso and composer who was a close friend of Saint-Saëns), likely because he feared the work would hurt his reputation as a serious composer. Only the movement ‘The Swan’ was published before the composer’s death.
The tenth movement, Volière (‘Aviary’) depicts the fluttering calls of birds through a rapid flute solo that spans much of the range of the instrument. The similarity in sound to a flock of mixed birds is very noticeable. The movement ends very quietly after a long ascending flute scale.
© Flute Tunes
Inspired by a poem written by Lemn Sissay (taken from his children’s book The Emperor’s Watchmaker), And Everything Is Still… was commissioned by the Royal Northern College of Music & was premiered by Carla Sousa (flute) & Lucy Colquhoun (piano) on 22nd June 2008 in a concert that marked the retirement of the College Principal Edward Gregson. A simple melody unravels alongside delicate harmonic statements, creating a calm and gentle atmosphere. Dedicated to Paul Edmund-Davies.
© Andy Scott
Penguin Blue and his friends are in for a surprise! It all starts with a windy day and a brand-new kite… Come fly away with Penguin Blue as he gets caught in a gust of wind and the adventure begins.
This musical story for children aged 3+ includes music by composer Paul Rissmann (known for his enchanting Stan and Mabel soundtrack), vibrant projected illustrations from the Blown Away book and engaging narration and song-teaching by Polly Ives. There will be plenty of action for your little ones to join in with!
© Concerteenies
Polly Ives narrator/facilitator
Ileana Ruhemann flute
Douglas Tang piano
ACTING CHIEF EXECUTIVE (Projects Director)
Sophie Haynes
CONCERTS
Orchestra Manager & Fixer Jason Weir
Artistic Projects Coordinator Alex Mackinder
DEVELOPMENT
Development Director Tristen Hennigs
Fundraising & Operations Peter Wright
Fundraising Consultant Paul Hudson
Outreach & Evaluation Consultant Bec Britain
Honorary Chair – Friends of LMP Christine Robson
MARKETING
Senior Marketing & PR Manager Anna Bennett
Marketing and Development Coordinator Bethany Penny
Digital Marketing Manager Charles Lewis
EVENTS
Royal Event Manager Rachel Rae
Freelance Events Producer Sophie Branscombe
FINANCE
Bookkeeper Debbie Charles
Leader Debbie Beckerman & Keith Jones
Leader Sophie and Jeffrey Prett
Co-Leader Michael Southwell
Violin 1.3 Liz and Alistair Milliken
Violin 1.4 Gill Cox
Violin 1.5 Christine Robson
Violin 1.6 Della Brotherston
Violin 1.7 currently not sponsored
Violin 1.8 currently not sponsored
Violin 1.9 currently not sponsored
Associate First Violin currently not sponsored
Principal Second Violin Barbara Maw
Violin 2.2 The Angel Family
Violin 2.3 Mia and Keith Ball
Violin 2.4 Alastair Fraser
Violin 2.5 currently not sponsored
Violin 2.6 Catherine Shaw – Allbone and Trimit
Associate Second Violin currently not sponsored
Principal Viola Mark and Vanessa Petterson
Co-Principal Viola Stanley Slaughter & Linda Davidson
Viola 3 currently not sponsored
Viola 4 currently not sponsored
Associate Viola currently not sponsored
Principal Cello Anonymous
Sub-Principal Cello Leslie Aarons
Cello 3 Gillian Noble
Cello 4 currently not sponsored
Associate Cello Colin and Helen Snart
Associate Cello
Principal Double Bass John Clarke
Co-Principal Double Bass The Bristow Family
Principal Flute currently not sponsored
Sub-Principal Flute Raymond Calcraft
Principal Oboe currently not sponsored
Co-Principal Oboe currently not sponsored
Sub-Principal Oboe currently not sponsored
Principal Clarinet Deirdre Lea
Sub-Principal Clarinet Graham Harman
Principal Bassoon currently not sponsored
Sub Principal-Bassoon Barbara Tower
Principal Horn currently not sponsored
Sub-Principal Horn currently not sponsored
Principal Trumpet Ishani Bhoola
Sub-Principal Trumpet Cynthia Harrod-Eagles
Principal Trombone currently not sponsored
Sub-Principal Trombone currently not sponsored
Principal Bass Trombone currently not sponsored
Principal Timpani Cynthia Harrod-Eagles
Principal Percussion currently not sponsored
The Duck with no Luck
Saturday 22 March 2026
St. John’s, Upper Norwood
Introduce your children to the magic of music with this interactive, animal-themed family concert.
Polly Ives
narrator/facilitator

Polly Ives enjoys a varied career as a concert narrator and presenter, workshop leader, trainer, teacher and cellist and is currently Resident Animateur (0-8 years) with Music in the Round. She has led numerous projects with Music in the Round over the last 16 years including Soundplay (a project focussing on speech and language development through music with 3-5 year olds) and Music Box for children and their families, and has presented numerous children’s concerts including The Chimpanzees of Happytown, Sir Scallywag and the Battle of Stinky Bottom and Stan and Mabel. She regularly works with the London Philharmonic Orchestra, Wigmore Hall and runs her own concert series for babies and toddlers in Sheffield called Concerteenies. She has worked with CBeebies, Royal Opera House, Southbank Sinfonia, the European Brandenburg Ensemble and Beatrix Potter Attraction. She has coached children’s and youth orchestras including the National Children’s Orchestra and the City of Sheffield Youth Orchestra, and is Chair of Sheffield Young Singers. She has adjudicated at music festivals, performed live on BBC Radio 3’s In Tune, and plays regularly with Simply Strings Trio and Escafeld String Quartet.
Ileana Ruhemann
flute

Ileana Ruhemann studied at the Purcell school, Cambridge University and the Paris Conservatoire. She has been Principal flute of the BBC Concert Orchestra for over 30 years, a job she loves and appreciates for the variety of the work and versatility of the players. She has enjoyed a solo career alongside and has been committed to several chamber groups including Jeux, Fibonacci and Gemini. She has played as guest Principal flute of most of the orchestras in the UK and has had works written for her by composers ranging from John Tavener to Stanley Black. Teaching young children to play the flute and educational projects in schools and other communities have also played an important role in her musical life.
Douglas Tang
piano

Douglas Tang is a sought-after British conductor and keyboardist. Previously Assistant Director of Music of St Mary’s Cathedral, Sydney and Chapel Organist of the Old Royal Naval College, Greenwich, he has also worked at Hereford Cathedral and Croydon Minster aside from having held the prestigious position of Organ Scholar of King’s College, Cambridge. He currently works as a freelance musician conducting, performing, and accompanying around the UK. Born in Hong Kong, Douglas emigrated to England after having won the highest music scholarship to board at Harrow School. Transferring as a day pupil to Dulwich College on a music and organ scholarship, he originally was to attend conservatoire for the piano and flute – having achieved diplomas in both instruments. Discovering his love for the organ at a late stage, he subsequently read music at King’s College, Cambridge, having spent a gap year at Hereford Cathedral. As a performer, he has toured the world – performing in venues such as the Royal Albert Hall, Birmingham Symphony Hall, and the Sydney Opera House, to name but a few. He has also performed as a keyboardist with many of the world’s finest ensembles including the Philharmonia Orchestra, the Academy of Ancient Music, the Orchestra for the Age of Enlightenment, the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, and the Britten Sinfonia, amongst others. He is also a multiple prizewinner – most notably of the Brian Runnett Prize for Organ Performance and Musica
Britannica’s Sir Anthony Lewis Memorial Prize for Piano Accompaniment. Reviews have praised him on his affinity with Bach and romantic repertoire and he has been described as ‘one of the foremost musicians of his generation’.
