Highlighted as London’s Borough of Culture for 2023-24, we’re celebrating all things Croydon with two flagship performances of the Oratorio of Hope, a brand-new commission which puts the Croydon community at the heart of the music.
Like this? How about…
Pipe Dreams
22 April 2023
Fairfield Halls
The organ as you’ve never seen it before as Anna Lapwood takes her camera down the pipes
London Mozart Players (LMP)
Orchestra
Don’t let our name mislead you – we don’t just play in London, and we certainly don’t just play Mozart! As well as our residencies at Fairfield Halls in Croydon, St John the Evangelist in Upper Norwood, and Opus Theatre in Hastings, we’re well known internationally for working with many of the world’s greatest conductors and soloists. We’re proud to have developed a reputation for making and playing adventurous, ambitious and accessible music, and for being at the forefront of embedding arts and culture into the life of local communities across the UK and beyond.
In 2021, violin virtuoso Leia Zhu was appointed as our Young Artist–in–Residence: this is a nurturing and collaborative relationship to encourage her young talent. After celebrating our 70th birthday in 2019, we soon found ourselves navigating orchestra life during the pandemic. During that time, we created an award–winning digital concert series which reached millions of people.
Jonathan Bloxham
Conductor
Jonathan Bloxham was recently appointed Resident Conductor and Artistic Advisor of the London Mozart Players, effective from October 2022.
British conductor Jonathan Bloxham has swiftly made his mark as a conductor of “accomplished technique, innate musicianship, with a natural rapport with orchestras and a deep knowledge and understanding of the symphonic repertoire” (- Paavo Järvi).
Jonathan has a natural affinity with opera and made his Glyndebourne Festival debut in 2021, conducting 4 sold-out performances of Luisa Miller with the London Philharmonic. In Autumn 2021 he conducted Glyndebourne Touring Opera’s production of Don Pasquale, receiving 5 star reviews, having conducted two performances of Rigoletto for GTO in 2019. In September 2022, he joined the Luzern Symphony to conduct a production of Bartok’s Bluebeard’s Castle at the Luzerner Theater in association with the Luzerne Festival.
Last season saw a string of debuts for Jonathan, including London Philharmonic, Swedish Chamber Orchestra, Belgian National Orchestra, Bonn Beethoven Orchester, Munich Symphony, Luzern Symphony and Aalborg Symphony. Along the way he established new relationships with leading soloists such as Steven Isserlis, Frank Peter Zimmermann, Daniel Mueller-Schott and Abel Selaocoe. He joined the Britten Sinfonia for the Barbican’s 40th birthday festivities, conducted the Salzburg Mozarteumorchester in Austria and on tour in Italy, and returned to the Hallé Orchestra.
Highlights of 22/23 include include his debuts with the Tokyo Symphony and Royal Liverpool Philharmonic, invitations back to Salzburg, Munich, Residentie Orkest, and the start of his tenure with the London Mozart Players, including concerts at Fairfield Halls, Croydon (London).
He has recorded CDs with the London Symphony Orchestra (2022) and Nordwestdeutsche Philharmonie (2021, Strauss and Cesar Franck): “irresistible” – Musicweb International. For the past 14 years Jonathan has been Artistic Director of the Northern Chords Festival based in Newcastle-upon-Tyne. Passionate about unearthing little-known composers and championing new work, Jonathan has commissioned several premieres by young composers such as Vlad Maistorovici, Jack Sheen and Freya Waley Cohen.
Jonathan’s conducting career was launched when he took up the Assistant Conductor position at the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra from 2016-2018 under Mirga Grazynte-Tyla. He was then invited by Paavo Järvi to conduct the Deutsche Kammerphilharmonie, since when he has become a regular guest, going on to conduct across Europe with orchestras such as the Orchestre Philharmonique du Luxembourg, Lausanne Chamber Orchestra, Tapiola Sinfonietta and Basque National. Nearer to home he has returned to the CBSO, conducted the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra, BBC National Orchestra of Wales and National Symphony RTE.
Before taking up conducting he was a founder member and the cellist of the Busch Trio, performing regularly at the Wigmore Hall, across Europe and on BBC Radio 3, and still plays chamber music on occasion. Whilst studying at the Royal College of Music he won several prestigious awards including the Suggia Gift and the RCM Cello Prize; he made his concerto debut at the Berlin Philharmonie in 2012. He began his musical training at the age of 8 with a local cello teacher from the Gateshead Schools Music Service. He then studied at the Yehudi Menuhin School & Royal College of Music with Thomas Carroll before completing a Master’s degree at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama with Louise Hopkins, taking further conducting studies with Sian Edwards, Michael Seal, Nicolas Pasquet and Paavo Järvi.
Thomas Guthrie
Creative Director
Thomas Guthrie is an innovative and award-winning British director and musician working in theatre and music to tell stories in vivid, new and direct ways.
A former Jette Parker Young Artist Stage Director at the Royal Opera House in London, his revival of David McVicar’s Die Zauberflöte there won What’s On Stage Best Revival 2018. His own critically acclaimed productions of Le Nozze di Figaro and Die Zauberflöte at Longborough Festival Opera led to an invitation to direct Wagner’s Der Fliegende Holländer there in 2018 (subsequently called ‘one of the best productions at this venue I have seen’, Rupert Christiansen, Telegraph). He directed Aida at the Liceu in 2020, Semele in Paris, Rome, London and Barcelona in 2019 and his 2020 production of Gagliano’s rare 1608 opera La Dafne – created in a week with young singers at the Brighton Early Music Festival – was nominated for a 2020 RPS Award.
With a reputation for stylish, unfussy, energetic, physical, and theatrical work, the clarity of the storytelling, the commitment of the performers and a pre-eminence of musical values are at the heart of his productions.
Tom also works with non-professionals of all ages and backgrounds. Some of his most thrilling projects have been in this field, including work with Streetwise Opera, the Prison Choir Project, the National Youth Choir of Great Britain, and the Royal Opera House, through whom he has inspired hundreds to connect with their inner Caruso and raise the roof. His production of Ludd and Isis, a new opera commissioned to launch the ROH’s new Production Park in Thurrock, involving a cast of hundreds, including professionals and amateurs of all ages, was acclaimed as ‘one of the Royal Opera House’s grandest achievements’ (Opera).
Thomas is the founder and artistic director of the charity Music and Theatre for All, former Guest Artistic Advisor to the York Early Music Festival, was Belknap Fellow at Princeton University, New Jersey in 2017, and is proud to sing and play with Bjarte Eike’s Alehouse Boys.
Shaniqua Benjamin
Poet Laureate of Croydon
Shaniqua is a poet, writer, creative workshop facilitator, and Croydon’s first Poet Laureate. She wrote the lyrics for the London Mozart Players’ Anthem for Peace, a specially commissioned poem for the reopening of South London’s biggest arts centre, Fairfield Halls, and poems for both of Croydon’s bids for London Borough of Culture. She also wrote a poem for The Black Fund and One Young World that was shared at the 2022 One Young World Summit, read by Leigh-Anne Pinnock, Ebinehita Iyere and Shaniqua. She has been published by Ink, Sweat & Tears.
She has performed at a number of events, including the Thornton Heath Lights Festival, Field Day Festival, Trinity College Cambridge Black History Month Formal Dinner, and as part of Apples & Snakes’ immersive spoken word show, Rallying Cry. She has facilitated workshops for Spread The Word, Central St Martins, Writerz & Scribez, and Stanley Arts. Shaniqua was part of the organising team behind the Living in Poetry Festival in 2018 and 2019.
Tarik O’Regan
Composer of main theme & whole of movement 1
Tarik Hamilton O’Regan is a London–born composer based in San Francisco. In recent years much of his work has investigated and been influenced by his dual Arab and Irish heritages.
Tarik is Composer–in–Residence with Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra (PBO), where he is also overseeing an ambitious new commissioning initiative. The 2022/23 season sees performances by the Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra, Netherlands Radio Choir, the Carducci Quartet, Santa Fe Desert Chorale, Alexander String Quartet, PBO, and the televised world premiere of a commission from His Majesty King Charles III for The Coronation Service at Westminster Abbey.
Tarik’s output, recognized with two GRAMMY® nominations and two Ivors®, has been recorded on over 40 albums, and is published exclusively by Novello. He maintains a longstanding commitment to education and service to the arts in general. Most recently, this has been recognized by his election to an Honorary Fellowship of Pembroke College, Oxford, and to the board of Yaddo, one of the oldest artists’ communities in the USA. Tarik was also included in the Washington Post’s annual list of creative artists “changing the classical landscape” for 2022.
Fiona Brice
composer, movements 2 and 6
Fiona Brice is a British solo artist, classically trained composer/arranger and multi-instrumentalist (violin, viola, piano, voice). She is signed to Bella Union, also releases music on Bigo & Twigetti Records, and writes for film & TV.
Alongside her solo career she collaborates with other artists writing orchestrations for studio albums, live concerts and TV and radio performances. Her work has been commissioned by the BBC Philharmonic, BBC Concert Orchestra, Royal Northern Sinfonia, Metropole Orchestra, Heritage Orchestra (BBC Proms), Iceland Symphony Orchestra, Zurich Chamber Orchestra and London Mozart Players (where she is Collaborative Composer in Association), with several ‘live in concert’ album releases eg. John Grant and the BBC Philharmonic (Bella Union), Lanterns on the Lake & Royal Northern Sinfonia (Bella Union), Placebo MTV Unplugged (Virgin EMI).
Solo releases include Piano Preludes (2022 Bigo & Twigetti), Scissors Paper Stone (Thesis Drive 2019, String Quartet No.1 (2018 Bigo & Twigetti) and Postcards From (Bella Union 2016). Her latest album And You Know I Care will be released on Bella Union in October 2022.
As a session violinist she has performed and recorded with an eclectic list of artists including Anna Calvi, Ariana Grande, Elbow, Kanye West, John Grant, Kelly Jones, Jay-Z and Beyonce, Liam Gallagher, Passenger, Phoebe Bridgers, Placebo, Roy Harper, Sophie Ellis-Bextor, Stereophonics, Vashti Bunyan.
Sarah Freestone
composer, movements 3, 4 and 5
Sarah is a member of the BBC Concert Orchestra. She began her musical career aged 7 playing and singing in folk clubs and by the age of 11 she was gigging regularly on guitar with her junior school jazz combo “The Average Height Band”… She went on to study guitar and violin as joint principal studies at the Royal Academy of Music, winning several prizes and awards on the way including the Julian Bream Prize, Queensland Conservatorium of Music Guitar Prize and semi-finalist in the Tarrega International Guitar Competition. She also studied bass guitar with the late great Jeff Cline, playing with the Royal Academy of Music Big Band. Sarah was the leader of the Lullingstone Quartet, Aditi Ensemble, Marcel Sinfonia and Future Music Records Orchestra and has been in demand as a multi-instrumentalist – guitars, electric violin, percussion and backing vocals – performing worldwide with artists including Alison Moyet and the legendary Lee Hazlewood. Sarah made her professional acting debut in the UK premiere of “Playing For Time”, Arthur Miller’s play about the women’s orchestra in Auschwitz, at Salisbury Playhouse in 2005.
Sarah has worked in a wide variety of musical genres, as both writer and performer, from classical music to jazz, rock and pop. For the past eighteen years she has been the director of the Lullingstone String Quartet and has also written and performed string parts for T.V., pop & rock studio recordings and live performances. Her guitar and mandolin work has taken her to all kinds of venues playing all kinds of styles, from folk clubs and rock venues throughout Europe and the U.S. to the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, Britten Sinfonia, Royal Opera House Orchestra, Opera North, English National Ballet, classical recitals and the West End. Recent shows on electric guitar include the UK tours of Jesus Christ Superstar and Blood Brothers as well as broadcasts for Radio 2 and Radio 3.
After 10 years as a lecturer in Popular Music and Performing Arts she combined her education work with performing, writing and conducting – Sarah has been Musical Director for over 40 productions, most recently the ballet “Winter Dreams” for the Royal Opera House and has conducted the Guildford Philharmonic, Dartford Symphony Orchestra, the Orchestra of the Thames Gateway and the Kingston University Chorus and Chamber Choir. Recent learning work includes devising and leading projects for the BBC Proms, Radio 3, BBC Concert Orchestra, Trinity Laban and the London Philharmonic Orchestra. As well as her conducting and presenting work she is spending an increasing amount of time writing and arranging – in 2010 Sarah had three compositions commissioned by the BBC and her recent arranging clients include the Royal Opera House, BBC and the current West End hit show “Thriller”. She is the author of 5 guitar teaching books and wrote the score for BAFTA-winning scriptwriter Roy App’s film, “Common Ground”. Sarah is one half of the Ancora flute and guitar duo whose debut CD “Entrada” was released last year.
She is a violinist with the BBC Concert Orchestra and can often be heard on “Friday Night Is Music Night”, the world’s longest-running live music programme on radio. Her work with the orchestra has included recent performances with Kylie Minogue, Kiki Dee, Westlife, Madeleine Bell, Petula Clark, Alfie Boe, Nigel Kennedy, Shirley Bassey, Lulu, Chaka Khan, Smokey Robinson, The Feeling, Barry Manilow, Will Gregory (Goldfrapp), Robbie Williams, Tom Jones, Jessie J, Annie Lennox, Randy Newman, Gary Barlow and Johnny Greenwood (Radiohead).
Silvastone
Composer, movement 6
SILVASTONE is one of the UKs leading Afrobeats artist/producer/songwriter. Born in London to parents from Ghana and Sierra Leone he describes his music as, “a creative hybrid of African Beats and UK Street Sounds marinated in Global Melodies“. The multi-talented SILVASTONE has been making noise on the scene since 2015 when he first broke through after earning his stripes in previous years as a producer and songwriter for some of Africa’s and UK’s biggest talents and hit records.
The hardworking creative has spent much of the last 12 months promoting his third independently released EP, “Affirmation“, which has been very well received worldwide. It’s the follow-up to his critically acclaimed 2014 debut “Transitions” and his outstanding 2017 sophomore, “Levels“, EPs. His music is heavily championed and often playlisted by DJs at BBC Radio 1, 1Xtra, CapitalXtra, Kiss100FM, etc and on other radio networks worldwide. He is also regularly featured on editorial playlists by Spotify, AppleMusic, Tidal, Deezer, etc. SILVASTONE has also had music synced on various TV shows worldwide. He produced the lead theme music for US No1 Box Office movie – Tyler Perry’s “Boo 2 – A Madea Halloween“, and the Netflix Original series, “The Chilling Adventures Of SABRINA” plus “Blood & Water“.
The former MOBO Awards “Best African Act” nominee and “BBC Radio 1Xtra Hot For 2015” alumni has also officially produced/collaborated with the likes of Sarkodie, Yemi Alade, Fuse ODG, Mr Vegas, Popcaan, Davido, Sneakbo, Bugzy Malone, Damian Marley, Moelogo, Rita Ora, French Montana, Lady Leshurr, Dan Croll, Mark Morrisson, Ace Hood, Chaka Demus & Pliers, Kwesi Arthur, Bisa Kdei, and many others.
He is internationally renowned for his charismatic and energetic stage presence and has performed repeatedly all over the world including numerous consecutive showcases at SXSW Music Festival in Austin, Texas, Glastonbury Festival, Liverpool International Music Festival, A3C Festival (Atlanta, USA), Ghana Party In The Park, Shoko Festival (Zimbabwe), Dance Afrique 2015 and 2016 at London’s Wembley Arena, Liverpool International Music Festival, Boomtown Fair Festival 2019, TINA Festival 2020 (Accra, Ghana), Crystal Palace Festival 2020, Croydon Pride 2020, etc.
In addition, SILVASTONE has also been national tour support for acts like Wyclef, Davido, Fuse ODG, Charlie Sloth, P-Square and Akon. He has independently presented 3 successful London headline shows including packing-out the main room of London’s O2 Islington and The Camden Assembly. He has twice headlined the Afrobeats stage at the Butterfly Effect Festival in Croydon alongside acts like Maleek Berry, Alicia Harley, Kwamz & Flava, Sona, Moelogo, etc. SILVASTONE is also co-founder and resident host/DJ of popular bi-monthly event Afrobox at Boxpark Croydon.
The popular Croydon resident is also proudly very active in his local community. As well as running his own professional studios White Hut Studios, he also delivers a music workshop programme in local schools that engages young people in discovering and harnessing their creative talents. In response to this (and his continued successes in the music industry) the London Borough of Croydon officiated him one of their youth ambassadors and engage him in several initiatives and seek his counsel on decisions relating to music and the arts.
Jeff Moore
composer, movements 7&8
Jeff Moore enjoys a varied musical life as a composer and violinist. His music for children and professionals has been played by Sir John Eliot Gardiner, François-Xavier Roth, Kristjan Järvi, Tasmin Little, the London Symphony Orchestra and the London Mozart Players. In 2014, Jeff was invited to conduct his pieces The Gypsy’s Violin and The Sea and the Sky with 200 young musicians in Chile, many of whom subsequently recorded the first CD of his work. More recently, 400 young string players performed Fiddler’s Hill in the Royal Albert Hall. In 2019 the London Mozart Players named him as their Collaborative Composer in Association. Jeff plays regularly with the Philharmonia Orchestra, London Philharmonic Orchestra, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra and the London Mozart Players, and has worked as Music Director with the Royal Shakespeare Company, Birmingham Rep and the National Theatre. He recently moved to Orkney.
Subrang Arts
Movement 2
Producer Lata Desai
Choreographer Harsha Amin
Subrang Arts Dancers
Shyam Patel
Jaimini Amin
Payal Patel
Shreeya Budhbhatti
Tabla Saleel Tambe
Sitar Debipriya Sircar
Bansuri Praveen Prathapan
Subrang Arts is a Registered Charity, a Not for Profit voluntary organisation dedicated to the promotion and development of Asian Art and Culture. ‘Subrang’ means spectrum of colour and it represents the rich cultural heritage of the Indian Sub Continent. One of our objectives is to foster an appreciation and understanding of the rich and diverse heritage that originates from the Sub-Continent, and to help in maintaining its identity in a multicultural society .
We believe that education and entertainment can be combined and to achieve this objective, we organise numerous cultural programmes, exhibitions, heritage projects, music concerts, talks, lectures and demonstrations. We actively engage young people in our activities with a view to develop them holistically. The positive influence on our youth by the virtue of their immersion into our activities has exposed them to people with qualities of selfless voluntary work, exceptional management, organisational and creative skills, Knowledge of our culture & heritage, Time management, Social skills, Mental-physical coordination, Understanding commitment, Confidence in public, Cooperation and team work.
Many of our productions have helped raise funds for various charities like Better Lives Foundation (for Ebola victims of West Africa), Care Education Trust (Education projects in India), Lions International (famine victims of Africa), SEWA International (SEWA projects in England and India).
Riddlesdown Collegiate
Movement 3
Thanks to Theresa Ward, Will Rees and Tracey McKeefry for supporting the workshops that led to the co–creation of Movement 3 with Riddlesdown students, and to all the students whose music and artworks are featured in the performance.
The Creative and Performing Arts College has an excellent reputation for its provision of high quality learning in Sport and The Arts. Students have the opportunity to develop their skills in Art, Dance, Drama, Design Technology, Music, Media Studies, Photography and Physical Education. The CPA College is focused on the personal development of our students through both an engaging and challenging curriculum and an extensive and varied extracurricular programme. Our priority is to give all students the chance to develop as individuals as well as part of a group or team and learn transferable life-long skills that aid their progression and development. Through the delivery of our specialised subjects, students are able to express their creative abilities in a whole variety of ways and are always encouraged to show passion, leadership and resilience in their pursuit of success.
Agudo Dance Company
Movement 4
Artistic Director/Choreographer Jose Agudo
Executive Producer/Rehearsal Director Claire Cunningham
Guest Dancer Kenny Wing Tao Ho
Agudo Dance Company was founded by Artistic Director – Jose Agudo and Creative Producer – Claire Cunningham. With over 40 years combined experience working in the dance sector, the company create ambitious, evocative and thought-provoking dance productions for the international stage. Our vision is to take people on a journey through the senses. We invite spectators and participants alike to be moved in every sense – physical, emotional, and cerebral. In choreography and performance, we connect people to the cathartic experience of dance, where creativity, good health and wellness are the essence of being alive.
The inaugural production ‘Silk Road’ was inspired by the people, dances and rituals along the nomadic silk routes from China to the Iberian Peninsular, and it has toured with live music since 2017 to critical acclaim. In 2019, the company created and performed the opening ceremony for the Davis Cup tennis championships in Madrid, which was televised worldwide.
The company has recently created a stunning new production of Prosper Merimee’s classic novella – Carmen, with an incredible cast of 7 dancers, which will tour from summer 2021.
Crisis Skylight Croydon Singers
Movement 5
Arts for Wellbeing Coordinator Denise Keane
Singing for Wellbeing Tutor Mo Ford
Learning Manager Tarron Pearson
Crisis Skylight Croydon Singers is an amorphous group of members, staff and volunteers from our Skylight, who come together for musical projects like Oratorio of Hope to sing in support of ending homelessness. This is their third public performance with LMP. They have also performed at Southwark Cathedral; live on Channel 4 News, and as guests of Croydon- born singer songwriter Ralph McTell, at the London Palladium.
Croydon Voices Community Choir
Movement 5
Conductor, Croydon Voices Community Choir Adam Saunders Coordinator, Croydon Voices Community Choir Bethany Norman
Croydon Voices is Fairfield Halls resident community choir. Rehearsing every Monday, members of Croydon come together to sing, socialise and learn new songs together. Adam Saunders leads the group every week through vocal warm ups and learning new repertoire. Community Voices sing a variety of styles, mostly contemporary with some added twists of folk, jazz and international numbers too.
The choir formed in Autumn 2022 and is now formed of over 50 members. The group are always looking for new people to join them if you fancy spending your Monday evening making music, socialising and a well earned cuppa!
Croydon Music & Arts (CMA)
Movements 7&8
Thanks to Graeme Smith, Jon Regan, Dee Elliot and all the team at Croydon Music & Arts
Croydon Music and Arts ensembles cater for all abilities, from beginners, to advanced musicians thinking about a career in music. As the lead organisation in Croydon’s Music Education Hub, we receive public funding to amplify the voice of young people through the arts, through projects and regular activity that is accessible to everyone. Older students have the opportunity to take on leadership roles, composing, directing, or playing a concerto with their peers, and some are employed to work with our younger ensembles.
This evening’s ensemble comprises a mixture of young people from our Saturday morning String Orchestra and Concert Band, as well as our Friday evening Concert Orchestra and Youth Orchestra. String players from the Youth Orchestra have recently enjoyed a wonderful opportunity to play side by side in a professional concert with the London Mozart Players. This evening will be the first time that many of these young people will be involved in such a grand event and are very excited to be taking part.
Croydon Music & Arts (CMA)
Movements 7&8
Thanks to Graeme Smith, Jon Regan, Dee Elliot and all the team at Croydon Music & Arts
Croydon Music and Arts ensembles cater for all abilities, from beginners, to advanced musicians thinking about a career in music. As the lead organisation in Croydon’s Music Education Hub, we receive public funding to amplify the voice of young people through the arts, through projects and regular activity that is accessible to everyone. Older students have the opportunity to take on leadership roles, composing, directing, or playing a concerto with their peers, and some are employed to work with our younger ensembles.
This evening’s ensemble comprises a mixture of young people from our Saturday morning String Orchestra and Concert Band, as well as our Friday evening Concert Orchestra and Youth Orchestra. String players from the Youth Orchestra have recently enjoyed a wonderful opportunity to play side by side in a professional concert with the London Mozart Players. This evening will be the first time that many of these young people will be involved in such a grand event and are very excited to be taking part.
