BIOGRAPHIES
Based in Melbourne, Australia, James Blackford is a Besson Sponsored Artist and one of Australia’s most eminent and versatile euphonium players. He is the solo euphonium player with the Royal Australian Air Force Band, teaches euphonium at the Melbourne Conservatorium of Music, and regularly travels around Australia and the world performing as a soloist.
He holds a Master of Music from the Royal Northern College of Music, in Manchester, where he studied under the guidance of David Thornton and Steven Mead. Whilst at the RNCM, James won the college’s concerto competition and received the highly commended award at their prestigious Gold Medal final. James’ studies were proudly supported by the Australian Music Foundation, through the AMF Overseas Study Award, and the Tait Memorial Trust, through the Tait White Loewenthal Award. He is the first euphonium player ever to receive an award from either foundation.
Whilst in the U.K., James won the Philip Jones Brass Prize at the Royal Over-Seas League’s Annual Music Competition. He was later invited to compete in the competitions ‘Overseas Final’, where he was awarded the ROSL trophy for the most Outstanding Musician from Overseas. In the same year, following a performance of the Martin Ellerby Euphonium Concerto at the prestigious RNCM Festival of Brass, James was invited to join The Cory Band to perform and compete with them at the 2023 European Championships, in Malmo, Sweden. James is a strong advocate for the virtuosic capabilities of the euphonium, and he looks forward to continuing to push the boundaries of euphonium performance in the years to come.
Ruth Hollick BMus(Hons) PGdip PPRNCM
Ruth studied Piano at the Royal Northern College of Music for six years, graduating in 2005 with postgraduate qualifications in Solo Performance , Piano Accompaniment and Chamber Music, in addition to her undergraduate degree. She was offered a job at the RNCM as a Staff Pianist soon after graduating and still works there, alongside a similar role at the University of Salford.
As part of her performing and teaching career, Ruth enjoys working with choirs; she is currently Principal Accompanist of Haydock Male Voice Choir and Bolton Choral Union.
In addition to the piano, Ruth has played various Brass instruments since a very young age and now enjoys it as a hobby, playing in a Championship section Brass Band. Ruth considers herself fortunate to be able to combine her career as an Accompanist with her passion for Brass Bands; she regularly performs with Brass soloists in recitals, for recordings and competitions.
PROGRAMME
Charles Villiers-Stanford
Caoine (arrangement of 2nd movement)
Johann Nepomuk Hummel
Fantasy
Ernest Bloch
Prayer (the first of 3 movements from “a Jewish Life”
P Tchaikovsky
Variations on a Rococo Theme
INTERVAL
Anthony Brahe
Tour de Force (an Australian work written for James)
Astor Piazzola
Cafe 1930
Martin Ellerby
Euphonium Concerto movements 3 & 4
Philip Sparke
Harlequin