The last event in our calendar this year features Clive and Claire Hayward

and David Bearman in an enchanting evening with a much loved Christmas

tale as relevant today as ever! Charles Dickens wonderfully evocative

‘Christmas Carol’ is a story we can all relate to - with incidental music,

candles, mulled wine and mince pies to make the perfect Christmas treat.

A candle-lit reading of Charles Dickens’

A CHRISTMAS CAROL

This Christmas time, come and be enchanted by a much-loved, atmospheric

tale of greed and ghosts, ruin and redemption, heartlessness and hope.

Ebenezer Scrooge, a money lender and financier in the heart of Victorian

London, has lived most of his life getting richer at the expense of those less

fortunate than himself. His soul is in a critical state. Over the course of one

night he is visited by three ghosts and given a once-only opportunity to mend

his ways or be doomed for eternity.

An enduring favourite, this evergreen story remains one of Dickens’ most

popular stories. To sit quietly and be read to is one of life’s great pleasures.

Warm yourself with mulled wine at the bar, enjoy a mince pie or three, bring

your cushion and settle down for a festive treat.

Read by Clive Hayward, with incidental music from David Beaman and Claire

Hayward, there is no better way to rediscover the spirit of Christmas. 

Trio Bohémo

This dynamic Piano Trio have become recognised as a new force in chamber music worldwide. They have won several competitions and are wowing audiences throughout Europe and further afield with their brilliant performances.

“They are the music that this world needs.” Wigmore Hall Debut

“Precision, dedication and a spark of magic” From the critic in Göttingen for the Czech Trio Bohémo.

1st prize at the “International Filippo Nicosia Award” - Italy  2021

“Johannes Brahms Competition” - Austria 1st Prize and audience prize 2021

International Parkhouse Award” in London.

1st prize and prize for the best interpretation of the composition by S. Vainiunas at the “Stasys Vainiunas InternationalChamber Music Competition” in Vilnius, Lithuania. Few days later they were awarded the top prize at the

“International Joseph Joachim Competition” Weimar highest placing 

In 2023 in addition to 1st prize, prize for the best interpretation of Joseph Haydn, they were awarded the audience prize at the “International Joseph Haydn Chamber Music Competition” in Vienna. 

2023 Trio Bohémo received the prestigious prize of the “Czech Chamber Music Society”

Debut concerts include the Vienna Musikverein, Wigmore Hall in London and Stoller Hall in Manchester,

 Thanks to the generous support of Dr. Jan Telenský, Matouš plays on a unique violin by Matteo Goffriller.

Kristina plays a beautiful cello by Fausto Maria Bertucci.

And Jan Vojtek will of course play our beautiful Steinway!

You won't want to miss this wonderful concert. Two local performers in an evening of song....

Jacqueline is a gifted singer and teacher with a deep knowledge and love of the stories behind the music she sings. She and Claire Hayward, our own highly sensitive Flamstead pianist, have spent weeks crafting this evening concert for us.

Jacqueline doesn’t just sing with grace and sensitivity, she brings the song’s own history alive. No music is written in a vacuum: it grows out of the loves, experiences and real life of its composer. 

This evening tells the stories in song of the great love of Clara and Robert Schumann, of the music Rachmaninov wrote as a wedding gift, of Poulenc ‘coming out’, and Lisa Lehmann of Pinner - who wrote ‘There are fairies at the bottom of our garden’. 

If you know nothing about music, this is a gloriously accessible way in; and if you are already very well informed, this will deepen your experience. It is music enjoyed through the lives who lived it as they created it. 

From Mozart’s ‘Voi che sapete’,  through Debussy’s Clair de Lune, to Foster’s Beautiful Dreamer, with Brahms, Gluck, Dvorak and Strauss and more, let Claire and Jacqueline carry you away on dreams, love, stories and music.

Tim Jason & Jason Rebello

We are really privileged to welcome two of the UK's most impressive, renowned jazz musicians, saxophonist Tim Garland and pianist Jason Rebello, perform music from their new duo album 'Life to Life' (Whirlwind Recordings). 

As a member of the iconic US pianist Chick Corea's band for more than two decades, Grammy Award-winning saxophonist Tim Garland has, over the last 25 years, garnered a formidable international reputation as a jazz improviser of fluency, power and grace.

Similarly, pianist Jason Rebello has been at the forefront of the international music scene for more than 25 years. By 24 he had three highly successful albums under his belt and work with the likes of Wayne Shorter and Branford Marsalis. In 1998 he joined Sting’s band before moving to the band of guitar legend Jeff Beck. Individually they

are outstanding, together they are remarkable.

Phil Hopkins - Andy Massey

An Evening with Orestis Magou

Dear concert supporters and music lovers. 

We wanted to let you know that a fabulous concert will happen this Saturday evening at St Leonards. The young Cypriot pianist Orestis Magou will perform an exciting programme including master works by Brahms and Ravel. 

It’s a rare chance to hear this young player outside of Budapest where he currently studies at the Franz Liszt Conservatoire. The programme is extremely taxing for any pianist - let alone one so young. 

Please do come and support him and the concert series if you can. 

We aim throughout the year to put on a varied programme of classical/jazz and other musical events and hope you’ll come and enjoy this Saturdays concert. 

Some good tickets left - and, as always, an EXCELLENT glass of wine will be available in the interval! 

All profits made go to the church to help St Leonards carry on its essential mission. 

Do come and join us! We look forward to many fabulous musical evenings ahead and value your support hugely.