One of England’s most colourful and charismatic composers – Sir Malcolm Arnold (1921-2006) - is annually celebrated at the International Malcolm Arnold Festival; a programme of events centred around the multi faceted composer and his music. This year returning to the composer’s birthplace, the city of Northampton, there will be live orchestral concerts, showcases for wind and brass and talks, in addition to this masterclass when one of the world’s most esteemed exponents, Emma Johnson, takes three talented young performers through some of Malcolm Arnold’s most famous works for clarinet.
Sunday’s all day event at Northampton School for Boys includes performances by the Nick Budd Brass Quintet and Northamptonshire County Youth Concert Band. BBC Radio Northampton broadcaster and Malcolm Arnold devotee, John Griff, gives an insight into the composer’s famous film music. For the Festival’s Grand Finale, Hilary Davan Wetton conducts the LGT String Orchestra – an award winning string ensemble featuring highly talented young soloists between the ages of 13 and 23 from over 20 nations.
Internationally acclaimed solo clarinettist, recording artist, composer and lecturer, Emma Johnson, is one of the few clarinettists to have established a career as a solo performer.
Emma grew up in London and her career was launched when at the age of 17 she won BBC Young Musician of the Year. She studied Music and English at Pembroke College, Cambridge, becoming the first woman to be made an Honorary Fellow, before embarking on music full time and since then has performed all over the world and recorded 30 albums to date.
Emma loves to collaborate with other musicians and also directs her own ensemble. As a soloist, she has appeared with many of the world’s leading orchestras in repertoire which includes all the major works for clarinet as well as in premieres and works dedicated to her. Amongst her own compositions are a clarinet concerto, Tree of Life, and a series of solo clarinet pieces published by Queen's Temple Publishing.
Previously a professor at the Royal College of Music, London, Emma has given masterclasses throughout the world. Videos of her performances and masterclasses can be seen on her YouTube channel and she regularly broadcasts on the radio.
Emma enjoys running and has run half marathons to raise funds for Unicef. She is a patron of ClicSargent, and Ronald McDonald House Charities, and was honoured by Queen Elizabeth II with an MBE. in 1996.
Refer to the website for full details of the programme and ticket sales.