Rye Arts Festival Laura Snowden

Hailed “a string sensation” by BBC Music Magazine, British-French guitarist and composer Laura Snowden is acclaimed for her “poise and intensity” The Guardian and playing “of extraordinary depth” Strings, Classical Music Magazine. The first guitarist to graduate from the Yehudi Menuhin School, made possible by The Rolling Stones, she was invited by guitarist Julian Bream to premiere his latest commissions at Wigmore Hall in 2015 and 2017. Laura’s international appearances have since built rapidly, with festival debuts across Europe as well as concerto debuts with Norrköping Symphony Orchestra and Münchener Kammerorchester, and a recording of Lisa Streich’s guitar concerto Augenlider with the Deutsches Symphonie Orchester.

Described by Classical Guitar Magazine as “linking guitar’s past, present and future”, Laura’s eclectic musical output has ranged from producing arrangements for Noah and the Whale frontman Charlie Fink to giving dozens of world premieres by composers including Julian Anderson, Errollyn Wallen and Olli Mustonen. She has also collaborated closely with her folk band Tir Eolas, appearing with them at Shakespeare’s Globe at the invitation of guitarist John Williams. As a composer, Laura’s music has been performed at Royal Albert Hall, Wigmore Hall and Sadlers Wells, commissioned by the Park Lane Group, Birmingham Symphony Hall and International Guitar Foundation, and broadcast on BBC Radio 3, BBC Radio Scotland and Hong Kong Radio 4.

Laura is currently assistant guitar teacher at the Yehudi Menuhin School and has given classes alongside performances at venues including the Royal College of Music, the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama, Birmingham Conservatoire, Uppsala International Guitar Festival, Altamira Hong Kong International Guitar Symposium, the Volterra Project in Italy and the Guitar and Lute Festival in Sweden. Laura’s principal teachers have been Richard Wright (Menuhin School and Royal College of Music), Gary Ryan (RCM), Carlos Bonell (RCM) and Julian Bream.

PROGRAMME

Introduction and Variations on a theme by Mozart Op. No.9
Fernando Sor (1778-1839)

Five Preludes
Heitor Villa Lobos (1887 -1959)

Anpao
Laura Snowden (b. 1989)

INTERVAL

Vals Op.8 No.4
Agustín Barrios (1885-1944)

L’étoile et la Rose
Laura Snowden (b.1989)          

Sonatina Op.52, No.1
I   Allegro, II  Lento, III  Rondo : Allegro ma non troppo
Lennox Berkeley (1903 – 1989)

Introduction et Caprice Op.23
Giulio Regondi (1822-1872)