ONE of the great works for cello and orchestra will be played at this year’s Jersey Symphony Orchestra Christmas concert in memory of the orchestra’s former cellist Graham Boxall who died earlier this year.
Kwesi Edman is dedicating his performance of the Dvorak Cello concerto on 15 December at Les Quennevais School to Mr Boxall, a long-standing supporter of the JSO as well as a performer for many years.
The orchestra’s president Nick Cabot, though eagerly looking forward to this year’s concert, described 2024 as a “sad year for the JSO family”.
“We have had an unprecedented loss of three of our regular players. In addition to Graham Boxall’s passing in March, we have recently lost two of our UK visitors, double bass player Mat Heighway and violist Paul Hickman.
“All three will be greatly missed and never forgotten,” Mr Cabot said.
This year’s concert, which also includes Rachmaninov’s First Symphony, serves to highlight the quality of the orchestra because its two visiting guests – Mr Edman and conductor Thomas Payne – both appeared as players with the orchestra in their student days. They were among visiting musicians brought to the Island to supplement the corps of resident performers.
Since then, Thomas Payne has established an international reputation as a conductor.
He was on the staff of both The Royal Opera and The Royal Ballet as Jette Parker Young Artist; and was cover conductor for productions including Otello and The Nutcracker.
He has since gone on to direct orchestras at home and in Europe. Since 2020, he has been musical director of London City Orchestra, while also maintaining a relationship as assistant conductor for Grange Park Opera.
It was while Kwesi Edman was a student at the Royal Academy of Music that he first came to play in the cello ranks of the JSO where he performed with Graham Boxall. He is a classical musician with connections to many of the UK’s orchestras, but he also has an equally impressive reputation in the world of popular music, playing electric cello for artists such as rapper Dave at Reading and Leeds festivals, and on tour with Liam Gallagher. He is currently touring with the eight-piece ensemble performing Mike Oldfield’s iconic album, Tubular Bells.
Both artists enjoy developing the talent of the next generation of musicians, and while in Jersey will be leading a performance platform workshop for any instrumental player of Grade 5 and above as part of the JSO Education Initiative. Tickets for the concert are available via the JSO website jso.org.je, which provides a direct link to TicketSource.
The ticket price includes a glass of wine or soft drink in the interval.
