Programme

Handel – Arrival of the Queen of Sheba
Handel – Air from the Water Music
Torelli – Concerto for Trumpet
Marcello – Oboe Concerto
Vivaldi –Flute Concerto La Notte
Purcell- –Cold Song from King Arthur
Pachelbel – Canon in D

Torelli – Christmas Concerto
Bach – Brandenburg Concerto No 2
Mozart – Eine kleine Nachtmusik

London Gala Orchestra
Trumpet- Paul Bosworth
Baritone- Lukasz Biela

London Gala Orchestra
Stephen Ellery Conductor

Performers

Stephen Ellery originally studied as a composer and conductor in Krakow, Poland and then specialised in conducting in St Petersburg, Russia, under Maestro Ilia Musin from 1991-95.  Stephen is an experienced orchestral conductor who has recently conducted the London Symphony Orchestra (LSO) in London, the Krakow Filharmonia in Poland and Osaka Philharmonic in Japan among others.

He has also recently been appointed Associate Conductor of the English Concert Orchestra and English Studio Opera. From 2005 he has been a regular guest conductor of the Locrian Ensemble of London with whom he has performed a wide spectrum of works by composers from Bach, Mozart and Tchaikovsky to Bartók, Barber, Britten and Polish composer Marek Stachowski.

In Poland he has conducted music by Philip Glass and Aarvo Part with the Filharmonia Krakowska. With the Bialystok Filharmonia Podlaska alongside Chopin Prizewinner Kevin Kenner, he performed Chopin’s First Piano Concerto and was re-engaged to close their season with a special performance of La Bohème.

The London Gala Orchestra was originally formed to accompany ballet companies visiting London such as the Bolshoi, Australian, Canadian, Stuttgart, Moscow, Berlin and the Japanese Takarazuka Dance Theatre. It played with them at London’s Coliseum and Sadler’s Wells as well as on their tours of Britain.

The orchestra has since become heavily involved in popular concerts which appeal to a wide cross-section of the public. In this context it has worked with performers such as the musical comedian Rainer Hersch, the broadcaster Trevor MacDonald, the Drambuie Pipe Band, the folk group Szaparo and the Munich based Music Productions Germany. Every year it performs at the Johann Strauss Society of Great Britain’s annual dinner. It has also provided music for the BAFTA nominated short film Red Peppers.

The L.G.O. soon became recognised on London’s musical scene and was invited by major choral societies (Royal Choral, London Welsh and the Malcolm Sargent) to accompany them at London’s Royal Albert and Royal Festival Halls. It was also a regular guest at the E.R.M.A. childrens’ concerts on the South Bank and the Arthur Davison family concerts at the Fairfield Halls Croydon – an association which still continues today. More recently it has been engaged to perform gala concerts at London’s Queen Elizabeth Hall and Birmingham’s Symphony Hall and has performed in the presence of her Majesty the Queen and Prince Edward.

For many years the L.G.O. has presented its own series of New Year concerts across the country as well as candle-lit concerts in period buildings. Recently the orchestra has been increasingly busy with open air concerts in the grounds of some of the England’s great houses. During the 2008 summer season Steve Bell conducted the orchestra for nineteen concerts in stately homes and cathedral across the country which included performances with Paul Potts, Hayley Westenra,  All Angels, Teatro and Alfie Boe.