Eleven Chances to Hear

 My String Quartet no 2 (written for the Leonkoro Quartet in 2023) has been chosen as the test piece for Wigmore Hall's triennial International String Quartet Competition which takes place next week. As a result, you can if you wish hear eleven different performances of this piece, livestreamed from the first round recitals which will be played at the RAM in the daytime between 1-4 April. What's more, these videos will continue to be available for 30 days.

The quartets are based round the world and their internal membership is also astonishingly international; Japanese-Korean-Dutch-Taiwanese; Turkish-Latvian-Spanish-German; and so many others. What a heartwarming contrast to all the political border-shutting and international stone-throwing going on at the moment.

As my own contribution, at the gracious invitation of Wigmore Hall, I'll be giving a short talk (say 40 minutes, with musical extracts) about my Second Quartet. For this, you'll need to go live to Wigmore Hall at 6.15 on Wednesday 2nd April, and will be most welcome; admission is free.

PICTURED: another personal appearance by me, on Crosby Beach near Liverpool, last weekend. Taken together with one of the hundred Antony Gormley figures, part of his incredible Another Place sea and beach installation.