I met baritone and conductor Marcus Farnsworth in the registration queue at The University of Manchester in 2002 and we have been friends ever since. In August 2014 Marcus started Southwell Music Festival in his Nottinghamshire hometown, together with violinist Jamie Campbell. I have been a member of the festival sinfonia at every festival as well as making chamber music contributions and premiering my quartet with the material for By & By.
It is hard to put into words the importance that Southwell holds for performers and audience members alike. The first festival opened with a solo trombone piece by Elliot Carter (performed by Royal Philharmonic trombonist Matthew Gee) and has since delighted and challenged everyone in attendance, giving new life to great choral works and committing deeply to chamber music spanning the last 500 years. Festival musicians are hosted by residents of the town and most of the concerts are held in the beautiful Southwell Minster.