Live performances of classical, jazz, folk, popular and world music by outstanding players will feature on campus each Wednesday, as the University of Liverpool’s free Lunchtime Concerts return.
Organised by the School of Music, the Lunchtime Concerts offer staff, students and members of the public the opportunity to enjoy an hour long live day-time performance from some of the leading lights across a broad range of genres.
The series begins on Wednesday at 1pm as Rob Buckland and Peter Lawson celebrate 25 years performing together as a saxophone and piano duo with a programme of classically rooted but approachable music, with notable jazz and other influences. The concert will feature pieces by Takashi Yoshimatsu, Tim Garland, Barbara Thompson, Rob Buckland, Henry Cowell and Andy Scott, alongside music from the duo’s acclaimed album, Duality.
The Mercury Jazz Quartet step up next, on 14th October. Made up of Tom Thorp (saxophone/bass clarinet), Richard Jones (piano), Gavin Barras (bass) and Johnny Hunter (drums), the Quartet take improvised jazz into the worlds of grunge, dub-step, folk and ambient house.
The Solem Quartet, Winners of the 2014 Royal Overseas League Competition feature a week later, on October 21, before a special concert to mark 50 years of music at the University of Liverpool and featuring players from the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra (RLPO), on Wednesday 4th November.
The rest of November sees Italian piano trio arTre team up with the University’s Head of Performance, Tony Shorrocks on 11th November. Alumnus, David Dear and Natasha Hendrickse-Welsh bring French melodie and Mozart vocal-writing to the series a week later on 18th November.
Following a short break, the concerts return on 2nd December, with Armagh born singer and flautist Rioghnach Connolly stirring Appalachia, blues and jazz into the folk archive cooking pot. This is followed by the RLPO String Quartet putting in a special performance of popular works by Beethoven and Shostakovich, on 9th December.
The series wraps up for the year on 16th December when the Elysnan Trio of violin, horn and piano take to the stage.
All of the performances take place in the Victoria Gallery and Museum’s Leggate Theatre. Those wishing to attend are advised to book tickets www.liv.ac.uk/music/events
