A postgraduate composition student has celebrated 15 years of the music charity he formed, with an anniversary concert featuring a host of RWCMD musicians.
Father Paul Bigmore is a priest and composer studying for his PgDip in composition. He founded the charity Music in the Community in 1998, organising choirs and recitals and bringing international artists to the South Wales Valleys. 15 years on and the charity has reached over 35,000 people of all ages all across the UK.
The concert featured hymns and anthems that Father Paul has written during his postgraduate studies, including a première of his setting of words by Welsh poet, Grahame Davies (pictured above with Father Paul), as well as his tribute to the Aberfan disaster of 1966, in a setting of In Expectation with words by the poet Christine James.
Lots of RWCMD students featured in the concert – including the wind quintet New British Winds and a brass quintet.
Father Paul said: “Being a student at RWCMD is fulfilling a lifelong ambition, and giving me the opportunity to develop as a composer and hymn writer. Through my links with the College, I can now give young musicians the opportunity to perform and develop too.”
Some of the proceeds from the concert will go to the Father Paul Bigmore Music in the Community Award, which is awarded to a RWCMD student for excellence in community outreach work.
Share on Twitter
Share on Facebook