Lunchtime Concert: Trinity Laban Chamber Musicians

THU 16 JUN 13.05

A shared chamber performance with Samuel Cutajar, violin & Kolja Gibbs, guitar and Beyond the Bell Brass Quartet.

SAMUEL CUTAJAR & KOLJA GIBBS, VIOLIN & GUITAR DUO
Mauro Giuliani
Gran Duetto Concertante Op.85
I. Allegro Maestoso
II. Andante Molto Sostenuto
III. Scherzo Vivace - Trio
IV. Allegretto Espresivo

Pablo de Sarasate
Zapateado Op.23 No.2

BEYOND THE BELL, BRASS QUARTET
Henry VIII Suite Arr. Beyond the Bell

Eric Ewazen
Myths and Legends
I. Allegro Ritmico
II. Adagio
III Allegro Giocoso
IV. Allegro Vivace

Samuel Cutajar started the violin at the age of 6 under the tutelage of Antoine Frendo, with whom he obtained his Licentiate of Trinity College London. Samuel is currently studying with Profs. Clare Thompson at Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance. He was awarded an internship with the Malta Philharmonic Orchestra in 2017 and has been a member of the Malta Youth Orchestra for the past 10 years, appointed concertmaster for this coming season. He has been selected as member of the EUYO in 2020 and has enjoyed touring in renowned concert-halls and music hubs with this orchestra he calls family. He was also a member of the Mediterranean Youth Orchestra, European Campus Music Orchestra, and had the privilege to perform side by side with the Royal Concertgebouw. Samuel has given various solo and chamber recitals in Malta and the UK, particularly with his clarinetist brother Michael Cutajar. He also participated in various masterclasses with renowned musicians including Tasmin Little, Werner Hink, Nicolas Dautricourt, Carmine Lauri, Yuri Zhislin, Mauro Tortorelli, and Kati Sebestyén. He recently won the Vera Kantrovich Bach Competition.

Kolja Joseph Gibbs, born 1999, started playing the guitar at age 7 in Germany before moving to London. He continued his studies here, taking part in evening classes with Carlos Bonell, Joao Louiero and Forbes Henderson at UCL and joining the National Youth Guitar Ensemble. He also enrolled at the Junior Department of Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance under the tutelage of Martin Fogel. In 2018, Kolja began a Bachelor of Music Performance with Professor Graham Devine at Trinity Laban Conservatoire. Kolja has since performed at venues such as Händel House, King’s Place, Blackheath Halls, Southwark Cathedral, The Polish Hearth Club and the ORNC Chapel. He performs frequently with the Meridian Guitar Quartet, which reached the final round of the Carne Trust Chamber Competition 2020 and which was awarded the John Thompson String Ensemble Prize 2019/20. He has also been a recipient of the Vivian Joseph Prize for Strings (Junior Trinity) and has won first prize at the Historically Informed Performance Competition in 2019. Kolja has performed in masterclasses given by guitarists such as Paul Galbraith, Xuefei Yang, Matthew McAllister, Allan Neave, Alvarro Pierri and Augustin Wiedemann.

Beyond The Bell are a new and vibrant brass quartet. The group enjoy a myriad of musical styles and are constantly exploring new genres; from renaissance to jazz and pop. This ensemble takes advantage of its members multi-faceted instrumental skills alongside collaborations with musicians. They recently won the Trinity Laban Historically Informed Performer Competition playing on medieval trombones and singing! If you want to want to hear more you can find them on Instagram, Facebook, TikTok and YouTube @beyond.thebell

St Alfege Church
Admission free, no ticket required