Eleanor Turner (Harp) and  Lisa Nelsen (Flute)

Lisa Nelsen (flute)
Described by The Times – London as “…a flautist and a half…”, Lisa Nelsen is internationally recognised for her versatility on the flute as a soloist, chamber and orchestra member, as well as an educator, mentor and leader in galvanising groups of musicians to work together. Lisa performed in  monthly online concerts to raise awareness for charities, including The Benslow Music Trust and Artists and Residents concerts for care homes, with her chamber ensembles Aquilae Duo (with Eleanor Turner harp) and  Enigma14 (with Julian Metzger cello and Paul Turner piano); she has given lectures and webinars on performance and motivational practice methods for both the British Flute Society and Yamaha Classical Division; From her London debut at the Purcell Room to playing premieres for BBC Radio 3, coaching the National Youth Orchestra of Scotland, the National Youth Concert Band and the National Children’s Orchestra and teaching at Wells Cathedral School and Junior Guildhall School of Music, Lisa has had and continues to have a varied life as a musician.  Lisa is an Artist for Yamaha Classical Division International and plays on a 14karat 900-series flute. She has performed several times at Launde and always gives us a brilliant concert.

Eleanor Turner – Harp
We are very fortunate to have Eleanor Turner to play at our last concert of 2022.  She is  as many of you know  an outstanding harpist, and a joy to hear.

Eleanor has had a busy career performing and recording internationally, including concerto performances in America and Australia, recording in London and Germany and touring with her folk band Ranagrí and tabla and harp duo Tala Tarang.  She also teaches at the Birmingham Conservatoire.

Don’t miss what will be a very special concert! You are advised to book early. 

Launde Classical Concerts offer the chance to hear an hour-long live concert in the company of some of the country’s leading performers, followed by a gorgeous Launde cream tea.

A Launde Abbey Fundraising Event.

Tickets £21 (or £16 for concert only). Call 01572 717254 or email [email protected].

Christopher Ouvry-Johns, Director of Music at Leicester Cathedral

Christopher writes:
“During the Covid-19 pandemic, Leicester Cathedral bid successfully for funding from the Arts Council Cultural Recovery fund to sustain its musical life. During the first lockdown the choir gathered regularly online, but we quickly discovered that trying to sing with our microphones switched on was impossible because of the time delay (latency). Singing along to backing track pre-recorded by the staff musicians with participants’ microphones switched off was unrewarding: rather than building community as choral singing does so well, the experience was isolating and served only to heighten our sense of loss.

“In the second lockdown, we adopted a different approach and, for the first time, every Senior Girl Chorister and Young Songman was offered a free weekly online singing lesson. Since the easing of restrictions, we have been successful in securing grants from a range of trusts and foundations, including the Williams Trust and the Cathedral Music Trust to enable this work to continue, and, in 2021, were the second ever recipients of the Edington Festival Award.

“This afternoon’s concert showcases the work of a number of our singers, the youngest in their mid teens, the oldest in their early twenties. They will sing a variety of pieces, including art songs, folk music and familiar numbers from the world of musical theatre, accompanied by members of the Cathedral Music Department.”

Launde Classical Concerts offer the chance to hear an hour-long live concert in the company of some of the country’s leading performers, followed by a gorgeous Launde cream tea.

A Launde Abbey Fundraising Event.

Tickets £21 (or £16 for concert only). Call 01572 717254 or email [email protected].

Trio – violin, flute and cello

Tamaki Higashi – violin, Lisa Nelsen – flute, Julian Metzger – cello.   This is the first time the TRIO have played at Launde (though Lisa Nelson has played for us several times) – it promises to be a very special concert.

Tamaki Higashi (violin)
Japanese violinist Tamaki Higashi is a passionate chamber musician and the founding member of the Villiers Quartet, string quartet in residence at St Hilda’s College Oxford. The Villiers Quartet performs regularly in the UK, Europe and USA, has released a numbers of discs, and has broadcast widely on BBC Radio 3, BBC One and Netherland’s Classical Music Station. Tamaki’s chamber music career started with the Degas Quartet in the USA which toured the country, appearing at major concert halls and music festivals including Carnegie Hall, Library of Congress and Aspen Music Festival. Tamaki studied string quartet playing with members of the Juilliard, Cleveland, Takacs and Fine Arts quartets.

Tamaki genuinely enjoys all aspects and genres of musical collaboration. She has worked with such distinguished musicians as Jazz bassist Christian McBride, Indian Tabla specialist Kuljit Bhamra and many of the finest musicians in chamber music. 

Tamaki studied violin with Lewis Kaplan and Muneko Otani, and viola with Jerry Horner, graduating from Mannes College of Music, New York.

Julian Metzger (cello)
Julian Metzger has an exciting multifaceted career as a chamber musician, orchestral player, soloist and teacher. Apart from regular appearances in the United Kingdom, concerts have taken him throughout Europe and the Far East. Julian has become a sought-after chamber musician collaborating with eminent performers such as oboist Christopher Redgate, flautist Lisa Nelsen, violist Robert Secret, violinists Charles Sewart and Giovanni Guzzo and pianists Marco Fatichenti and Paul Turner to name but a few. These collaborations have taken place on concert platforms worldwide and at festivals such as the Buckingham Summer Festival, Beaminster Festival, Malcolm Arnold Festival, Musicfest Aberystwyth and the International Casals Festival in El Vendrell.

Concerto performances have included virtually the entire standard concerto repertoire in addition to lesser known works by Tartini, Monn, Bridge, Kabalevsky, Miaskovsky and Shostakovich. He now also teaches cello and coaches chamber music at the Purcell School, Kimbolton School, Warwick University and Bedford Girls’ School, in addition to teaching a small number of private students.

Lisa Nelsen (flute)
Described by The Times – London as “…a flautist and a half…”, Lisa Nelsen is internationally recognised for her versatility on the flute as a soloist, chamber and orchestra member, as well as an educator, mentor and leader in galvanising groups of musicians to work together. Lisa performed in  monthly online concerts to raise awareness for charities, including The Benslow Music Trust and Artists and Residents concerts for care homes, with her chamber ensembles Aquilae Duo (with Eleanor Turner harp) and  Enigma14 (with Julian Metzger cello and Paul Turner piano); she has given lectures and webinars on performance and motivational practice methods for both the British Flute Society and Yamaha Classical Division; From her London debut at the Purcell Room to playing premieres for BBC Radio 3, coaching the National Youth Orchestra of Scotland, the National Youth Concert Band and the National Children’s Orchestra and teaching at Wells Cathedral School and Junior Guildhall School of Music, Lisa has had and continues to have a varied life as a musician.

Lisa is an Artist for Yamaha Classical Division International and plays on a 14karat 900-series flute. She has performed several times at Launde and always gives us a brilliant concert.

Classical Concerts offer the chance to hear an hour-long live concert in the company of some of the country’s leading performers, followed by a gorgeous Launde cream tea.

A Launde Abbey Fundraising Event.

Tickets £21 (or £16 for concert only). Call 01572 717254 or email [email protected].

Duo Dunamis – Violin & Piano

Duo Dunamis is Steve Robbings (piano) and Christine Townsend (violin).

Christine Townsend studied violin at the Royal Academy of Music and went on to pursue a career as a chamber musician and principal orchestral player with the London Philharmonic & City of Birmingham Orchestras.

Stephen Robbings also studied piano at the Royal Academy of Music and won the Academy’s highest award for pianists. He has performed at major venues in the UK, also travelling to Europe, The Far East and the USA & played on BBC Radio & TV. Their CD features music by Elgar, Prokofiev & Debussy.  They have played at the Launde Abbey Classical Concerts several times, and  their wide choice of music makes it a popular afternoon!

Don’t miss what will be a very special concert!  You are advised to book early.

Launde Classical Concerts offer the chance to hear an hour-long live concert in the company of some of the country’s leading performers, followed by a gorgeous Launde cream tea.

A Launde Abbey Fundraising Event.

Tickets £21 (or £16 for concert only). Call 01572 717254 or email [email protected].