Wrexham Symphony Orchestra’s Annual Presidents Concert hailed as one of its greatest nights in music

The Wrexham Symphony Orchestra’s ‘Annual Presidents Concert’ has been hailed as one of its greatest nights of music.

The event, which was held on Saturday 29th February, saw crowds brave the wet and windy weather to watch local musician Luke Jones perform Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No. 3.

24-year-old Luke, who has been described as one of Wrexham’s most exciting young musical talents, saw his performance on the night receiving a standing ovation and three encores of music by Rachmaninov and Scarlatti.

Commenting on Luke’s performance, conductor Mark Lansom said: “It was very special to work alongside Luke
for this concert.

“Rarely have I heard playing of such clarity and the orchestra responded to his sound splendidly.

“The whole performance was justly rewarded with one of the most spectacular ovations we have ever witnessed,
and we look forward to working with Luke again in the very near future.”

Professor Maria Hinfelaar, Vice-Chancellor of Wrexham Glyndŵr University and honorary President of Wrexham Symphony Orchestra said: ‘I thoroughly enjoyed the concert, with the spectacular sounds of Berlioz’s Symphonie Fantastique still ringing in my ears the following day.

“We are privileged to have such a talented group of musicians on our doorstep. Luke Jones and the orchestra fully deserved their standing ovation.’

Speaking after his performance, Luke said he was “delighted to be performing with his hometown orchestra.”

“It was a very special evening for me to perform on the stage of the William Aston Hall in the President’s Annual concert of the Wrexham Symphony Orchestra,” said Luke.

“It was particularly pleasing to see a good-sized audience which included members of my immediate family.

“Beethoven was such a wonderfully gifted musician and composer and I always enjoy performing his music.

“Working with Mark Lansom and the members of the Orchestra has been a truly enjoyable experience and I am very much looking forward to performing with them again in the future.

“I was humbled by the standing ovation which encouraged me to give the audience more and perform three additional short pieces.’

Achille Jones, himself an accomplished classical guitarist and music teacher, spoke of his pride watching his son
perform in Wrexham.

He said: “It was a great pleasure to watch and hear Luke with the Wrexham Symphony Orchestra perform Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No. 3.

“It was a highly polished performance, both technically and musically, with a finely tuned dialogue between both soloist and orchestra which was well communicated to the audience, who gave a standing ovation.

“The whole performance filled me with immense pride.”

Future Concerts of the Wrexham Symphony Orchestra

Saturday 23rd May 2020 at 7pm – Picnic Proms in the Park at the British Ironwork Centre near Oswestry concluding with a spectacular Star Wars firework display at 10pm.

The music programme will include works from across the genres and feature popular film and show music together with the traditional flag waving

Proms music and songs. The LucasFilm Costumery Charity will be present and the featured charity at the Proms
is the Robert Jones and Agnes Hunt Veteran’s Orthopaedic Appeal at Gobowen Hospital.

Saturday 20th June 2020 at 7.30pm – The orchestra will conclude its long running Mahler Charitable Concert Series at
the Bridgewater Hall in Manchester performing his majestic choral work – Symphony No. 8 – known affectionately as the ‘Symphony of a Thousand’, when we will be joined by a chorus of several hundred voices

Saturday July 18th 2020 at 7.30pm – A concert full of music for a summer evening featuring music by Dukas, Berlioz, Rimsky Korsakov: Brahms and The Gadfly Suite by Shostakovich. Our soloist for this concert will be Ellena Newton