Concert Artistes Association

Sunday, October 16th 2022

The AESS occasional series of music days ‘Unsung Heroes’ was inaugurated about 15 years ago when a member suggested that Armstrong Gibbs was an underrated and neglected composer of English song, and that the association should present a day of his music, exploring his oeuvre and putting his works into context. This year, the chosen Unsung Heroes were Rebecca Clarke, Christopher Le Flemming and Peter Warlock.

On Sunday October 16th the AESS had another in the occasional series of Unsung Heroes Days.

The venue was the Concert Artistes Association in Bedford  Street London WC2.

The singers were Sophie Clarke, ( who won our 2022 Patricia Routledge International Singing Competition) Sarah Leonard ( Chairman), James Hay, Richard Decker, Nicola Harrison, Shaun Holley,  Patricia Williams, Veronika Rettich and Mahtab Ghamsari.

The accompanists were Diana Bickley, Nigel Foster, Stephen Gutman and Patricia Williams.

The day was compered by Stephen Miles.

Our heartfelt thanks go to Patricia Williams for organising and co-ordinating the day.

We would also like to thank the CAA for allowing us to use their intimate concert hall which was so perfect for this event.

A new feature on this occasion was the opportunity for members to choose their own Unsung Hero, and we heard a great range of songs in English in part one  – by Armstrong Gibbs, Poston, Clay , Munroe, Ireland, O’Brien, Quilter and Capel, and readings about music by Barnfield, Chidi, Walter de la Mare, Moore, Harrison and French.

In part two, after a reading of The Choirmaster’s Burial by Thomas Hardy, we focused on songs by Rebecca Clarke, Christopher le Fleming and Peter Warlock.

My thanks to all the performers for a wonderful day of music making which the audience thoroughly enjoyed. We all heard gems that were new to us and many people said they would perform and pass on the songs heard today.

The full programme and further pictures below.

Sarah Leonard – Chairman

Stephen Miles

Unsung Heroes

Performers:  Sophie Clarke, Richard Decker, Mahtab Ghamsari, Nicola Harrison, James Hay, Shaun Holley, Sarah Leonard, Stephen Miles, Veronika Rettich,

Accompanists: Diana Bickley, Nigel Foster, Stephen Gutman, Patricia Williams