Classical Sheffield at Sheffield Showcase
A collaborative event between a multitude of arts and culture groups based in the city, the Sheffield Showcase takes place over the first weekend in September.
The event showcases the variety of cultural activity that takes place in the city; featuring film screenings, music performances, art exhibits and family-friendly activities, creating a full weekend programme showcasing the city of Sheffield.
Classical Sheffield at Firth Park Library timings:
2.00pm - 3.00pm - WRE & SCC & Friends performance
3.10pm - 3.45pm - Trio (Henry McNamara, Dakota Laurent & Kirsten Beveridge)
Find out more about our musicians:
West Riding Ensemble and Sheffield Chamber Choir and friends
We are all delighted to take part in this event, bringing classical music, all too often in the centre of Sheffield, out into the community. Recently-formed West Riding Ensemble has as one of its aims to take string-based chamber music of a high standard to many of Sheffield's venues, and today this is represented by Liza Costanzo, one of David Milsom's students, in material on which she has been working, as well as Maria Nikolaeva, with whom David has been involved in a long-running Bach Double Concerto project (including live performances across the region, and two very different recording sessions), which David and Maria will play today, including a very rarely heard cadenza from the nineteenth century. WRE collaborates with Sheffield Chamber Choir on a regular basis, and today the choir will interlace with the instrumentalists: in October and again in December, the two groups will come together in music by Schubert, Vivalidi, Haydn, and Handel: watch out on Classical Sheffield for details!
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Henry McNamara
Henry McNamara is a postgraduate student at the University of Sheffield earning his Master’s degree in Music Performance Studies with Dr. Sarah Watts. A bass clarinet specialist, he seeks to forge new paths and promote new works for the instrument. He previously studied at Arizona State University under Dr. Robert Spring and Dr. Joshua Gardner, graduating magna cum laude with a BMus in Clarinet Performance and a BS in Psychology. When he isn’t working on his reeds he enjoys rock climbing, playing Dungeons and Dragons, and pun-ishing friends and family with bad jokes.
Kirsten Beveridge
Saxophonist Kirsten Beveridge completed her first-class undergraduate degree at the University of Aberdeen, and has studied under Richard Ingham and Sarah Markham. She has won various awards and scholarships, including the Chris Cadwur James Concerto Competition, the Harry Worthington Award, and the Petrie Watson Exhibition. She is due to finish her MA Music Performance Studies course in September 2024, and is looking forward to starting work with the University's Concerts Team and Sheffield Music Hub.
Dakota Laurent
Clarinetist Dakota Laurent earned her bachelor's degree in Music Education with first-class honors from Ottawa University. She has won various scholarships such as the Postgraduate Merit Award, Harry Worthington Award, and Phil Moloso Scholarship while studying under Stefanie Gardner and Sarah Watts. Dakota has also performed at the International Clarinet Association's ClarinetFest, as well as had the pleasure to premier new works on an international stage. She will graduate her studies in MA Music Performance in September 2024, and is exploring her options to work and study a PhD in the UK.
Performers
West Riding Ensemble and Sheffield Chamber Choir and Friends (2pm - 3pm) and Trio - Henry McNamara, Dakota Laurent & Kirsten Beveridge (3.10pm - 3.45pm)
