Royal Forest of Dean Orchestra

Jemma Sharp

Jemma is an avid events performer with a passion for providing everyone she can with unforgettable musical experiences. From countless performances in care homes and schools with her percussion quartet and orchestral experiences in prestigious venues such as the Royal Albert Hall, to solo recitals and concerto performances in the Slovak Radio Concert Hall, Bratislava and beyond, Jemma is well experienced and equipped to take on any performance.

Whilst studying at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama, Jemma reached the final of the college’s Concerto Competition in her first term, going on to win the first Ev-entz Solo Percussion Prize the year after. She is also a Live Music Now artist and works in conjunction with young and upcoming composers to create new and exciting repertoire for percussion.

Jemma has played for many weddings, personal events and corporate events and also works as a composer and arranger, with previous clients including O Duo and the Royal Scottish National Orchestra. She is a passionate teacher and tutors pupils as young as four years of age and is always working on new music and workshops for young performers.

Jemma Sharp

Emily, who has been a commended finalist in the Gloucestershire Young Musician of the Year contest, has been studying in Lübeck as part of her course at the Royal Academy of Music.

The former Pate’s Grammar School pupil has played in the National Children’s and Youth Orchestras and was a member of the Junior Academy. Now living in London, she regularly plays with the Academy Symphony Orchestra with Oliver Knussen, Symphonic Wind Ensemble, as well as freelancing in and around London.

Christopher Gibbons

After completing his BMus at Cardiff University, Christopher Gibbons went on to gain an MMus in solo performance at the Royal Northern College of Music (RNCM), graduating in 2016 with a distinction.

Since then, 26-year-old Christopher, who lives in Yorkley Wood, has built an increasingly busy schedule as a teacher and freelance musician.

As a clarinettist, Christopher has performed with the BBC National Orchestra of Wales, Chipping Campden Festival Orchestra and Mahler Chamber Orchestra. He has played concerts in Germany, Italy and Croatia and regularly works around the UK with pianist Sandie Middleton.

As a conductor, Christopher leads Redland Wind Band in Bristol and directs the Pillowell Singers. He created Duality Winds in affiliation with Gloucestershire Music, and took this group of advanced young wind players to success at the national Music For Youth festival in Birmingham.

Christopher was a finalist in the RNCM concerto competition and also enjoys mixed medium performances. He took part in The Wave, a semi improvised performance in collaboration with Jonathan Dove and sculptor Tania Kovats at Manchester’s Museum of Science and Industry, and has also worked with current Master of the Queen’s Music Judith Weir.

He will be playing at the Royal Forest Of Dean’s Spring Concert on the 30th March 2019 at Newnham Church. We look forward to hearing him as soloist in Mozart’s iconic Clarinet Concert in A

Adam Heron (Pianist)

Born in Hong Kong in 1999, Adam Heron has established himself as one of today’s leading young pianists. He performed at the Keyboard Category Final of BBC Young Musician 2018, which was broadcast on BBC Four Television, and in 2017 he was unanimously made the recipient of the Irish Heritage Music Award following a lauded performance at London’s Wigmore Hall.

At the age of seven he joined Gloucester Cathedral Choir , under the directorship of Adrian Partington. Following this he won a scholarship, courtesy of the UK Government’s Music and Dance Scheme, to study at Wells Cathedral School with Hilary Coates. Whilst a student at Wells he achieved notable success, including winning first prize at the Beethoven Piano Society of Europe’s prestigious Junior Intercollegiate Beethoven Competition. In addition to this, he holds the titles of both Gloucestershire Young Musician 2016 and Taunton Young Musician 2016, and is a laureate of the Young Pianist of the North International Piano Competition in Newcastle.

Adam frequently performs in recital, both in the UK and abroad. Recent overseas engagements include a concert at the residence of the British Ambassador in Kiev, Ukraine, and also a tour of his native Hong Kong with the acclaimed British cellist Jamie Walton. Closer to home, Adam has performed at venues including the Royal Albert Hall, Wigmore Hall, and the Bath Pump Rooms. He often appears at the Cheltenham Music Festival, and in 2017 he was invited to return there to perform Mozart’s Piano Concerto K. 271 with the Chineke! Orchestra, directed by the American conductor Jonathon Heyward. Adam is active as a composer too, and has heard his work played in public on numerous occasions.

He has received masterclasses from several eminent figures, including Stephen Hough, John Lill, and Imogen Cooper, and he was recently offered a recording contract with the Spanish record label, KNS Classical . Currently, he studies with Professor Christopher Elton at the Royal Academy in London, where he holds a full-fees scholarship. Adam is very grateful to be supported generously by the Hattori Foundation.

Follow Adam Heron on social media:
On Facebook @adamheronpiano
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