Double Bill - Soraya Verjee and No More Girl Friday

Part 1: Soraya Verjee

Championing undiscovered classical composers of our past, classical pianist Soraya Verjee opens the evening with a spotlight on female and underrepresented musical figures once forgotten.

Doreen Carwithen (1922-2003) - Four Preludes, No.2: Molto adagio (5 mins) 

Alice Mary Smith (1839-1884) - 6 Short Pieces for Piano, No.5 (4.5 mins) 

Rebecca Clarke (1886-1979) - Cortège (4 mins)

Samuel Coleridge-Taylor (1874-1912) - Deep River (7 mins) 

Ethel Smyth (1858-1944) - Variations on an Original theme in D-flat major (of Exceedingly Dismal Nature) (18-22 mins) 

Part 2: No More Girl Friday: EMPOWER: Women Changing Music

Chamber music exploring light, space and transformation, showcasing undervalued music and world premieres by Francesca Le Lohé and Emily Pedersen, supported by the Marchus Trust and the Guildhall School of Music and Drama “Making It” Fund.

Airs from Another Planet (1986)

Judith Weir (b. 1954)

For wind quintet and piano

Embers (2019)

Pernille Faye

Solo cor anglais

Coastlines (world premiere)

Emily Pedersen

Flute, cor anglais & piano

No More Girl Friday (world premiere)

Francesca Le Lohé - composer and creative director

Sherie Sitauze - video editor

Flute, oboe, piano & video

Kinesphere (2014)

Samantha Fernando (b. 1984)

Solo flute

Sextet in C minor, Op. 40 (1852)

Louise Farrenc (1804-1875)

Piano and wind quintet

The programme features works by composers Louise Farrenc, Judith Weir, Sam Fernando, and Pernille Faye. Spanning contemporary solo works, miniatures, and interdisciplinary collaboration with film, the concert showcases the breadth, creativity, and innovation of women’s music.

Performed by a mixed ensemble of leading emerging musicians, the evening culminates in a complete performance of Louise Farrenc’s celebrated Sextet for Piano and Winds, a landmark chamber work by one of the nineteenth century's most significant composers. 

Founded to champion gender equity within classical and contemporary music, EMPOWER creates opportunities for women composers and performers while engaging audiences with diverse and underrepresented repertoire. Through ambitious programming, commissioning, and advocacy work, the organisation is committed to creating a future where there is no boundary in who is seen, heard or celebrated within classical music.

For any more information see our socials:

team@empowerwcm.com

empowerwomenchangingmusic.com