Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra Welcomes New Players

IN 2022 the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra appointed 2 new musicians to principal positions.  Drake Gritton has been appointed as:- Principal Cor Anglais, a position he'll take up in full from Autumn 2023. A recent graduate of the Royal Academy of Music, Drake Gritton is currently on the Intensive Master's programme at the Academy. Drake has performed with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, guest principal oboe with the Royal Opera House Orchestra and Cor Anglais with the Philharmonia. In addition to the oboe, Drake is an accomplished pianist and singer. Away from music, he enjoys bouldering and exploring the outdoors via running and cycling. Cooking is also a great love of his, as well as throwing balls and frisbees around in the park!

Nicholas Bootiman has joined the Orchestra as:- Section Leader Viola, a position he shares with Catherine Marwood. Nicholas studied at the Royal College of Music in London and prior to joining the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, he held a principal position with the Philharmonia Orchestra for over a decade. He is the co-founder and Artistic Director of Echor Music, a chamber orchestra and arts charity based in the Chiltern Hills.

As members of the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, they are part of an ensemble of professional musicians that performs in a programme of more than sixty concerts in the Grade II*-listed Liverpool Philharmonic Hall and on tour in the UK and internationally.

The award winning Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra is the UK's oldest continuing professional symphony orchestra. The origins of the Orchestra's concert series date back to the formation of the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic concert society by a group of Liverpool music lovers n 1840. Domingo Hindoyan became Chief Conductor of the Orchestra in 2021, joining a distinguished line of musicians who have led the Orchestra during its illustrious history. The Orchestra performs over 70 concerts each year in Liverpool and has long been a unique ambassador for the City through an extensive touring schedule throughout the UK and internationally, and through broadcasts and recordings.

Michael Eakin, Chief Executive of Liverpool Philharmonic, said:- "We are delighted to welcome these fine musicians to the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra and to Liverpool. To attract players of such quality is testament to the global acclaim for their music making that our Orchestra has achieved, and to the pool of music and wider creative industries talent and excellence, on and off stage, that we are continuing to bring to our City."
 

Letter to the Editor:- "Dogs, Dealers and Organised Crime"

"DEAR readers, following the BBC1 Panorama programme:- 'Dogs, Dealers and Organised Crime,' which aired on:- Monday, 23 January 2023, pet charity Blue Cross is appalled that puppies are being deliberately bred with life affecting deformities and that the painful practice of ear cropping continues, despite being against the law. We are calling on the Government to improve legislation around dog breeding and demand enforcement to prosecute breeders and others who practice horrific ear cropping. We urge anyone considering getting a puppy from a breeder to ensure they are being bred with their health and welfare at heart and not just for profit. It is only by not buying from these unscrupulous breeders that deformities and exaggerated features in puppies will ever be stamped out." Tracy Genever, Blue Cross Head of Welfare Standards and Education.
 

THE Banff Mountain Film Festival World Tour is bringing the latest action and adventure films to big screens around the UK and Ireland in 2023. With wild journeys, adrenaline-packed challenges and incredible cinematography, the tour features 2 new collections of inspirational films from remote areas of the planet.

"Buckle up for a night of nail biting adventure , from the comfort of a cinema seat! These epic short films feature:- gripping climbing, skiing, biking, paddling and more, and they're made by the world's top adventure filmmakers. Plus, we guarantee you'll leave inspired to have an adventure of your own too!" says tour director Nell Teasdale.

As well as thrilling films, each event features a free prize draw for outdoorsy goodies from the tour's partners. Banff tour films are chosen from hundreds of entries into the Banff Mountain Film and Book Festival, which is held every November in the Canadian Rocky Mountains. The UK and Ireland tour will visit over 50 locations in spring and autumn 2023.

Dates and venues are:-

►  22 February 2023 - Harrogate, Royal Hall.

►  10 March 2023 - Stockport, Plaza.

►  15 March 2023 - Hebden Bridge, Picture House.

►  16 March 2023 - Liverpool, Plaza Cinema.

►  21 April 2023 - York, Barbican.