St James is delighted to welcome back the Guernsey Sinfonia conducted by Mervyn Grand with this concert in aid of Guernsey Mind

The programme will be:

J.S. Bach Orchestral Suite in C major

Edward Elgar Serenade for Strings

Beethoven Symphony No. 1 in C major

Well known local soprano, Debbie Bideau, will be performing a selection of famous lieder with her accompanist, retired Head of Guernsey Music Service, Mervyn Grand.

A graduate of the University of York, Debbie studied voice under Yvonne Seymour, Coral Gould (Birmingham) and John Hancorn (Glyndebourne) as well as attending masterclasses with Emma Kirkby and Lynne Dawson. Now Faculty Head of Performing Arts at Guernsey Grammar School and Sixth Form Centre, Debbie has performed with a wide range of groups during her career including the National Youth Choir of Great Britain and local Guernsey Chamber Choir. She has also undertaken a varied range of principal roles in both the UK and Guernsey, most recently performing Elgar’s Sea Pictures with Rutland Sinfonia.

A graduate of London University, Mervyn studied piano with George Kinnear and violin with Frederick Grinke. As a pianist he has performed concertos at St Martin’s in the Fields, London and Guildford Cathedral. He enjoys working with Guernsey musicians, having conducted the Guernsey Symphony Orchestra at a range of venues across the world. In retirement he enjoys playing violin and piano in chamber music as well as accompanying soloists. In 2010 he was privileged to work with soprano Natalya Romaniw in a recital at St James.

Their programme will include a range of lieder by Mozart, Beethoven, Schubert and Strauss as well as the well-known Schumann song cycle Frauenliebe und leben, describing the course of a woman’s love for her man, from her point of view, from first meeting through marriage to his death and after.

We are excited to announce that the Guernsey Gigs Unplugged Club is moving to the Café at St James.
The acoustic nights happen on the first Wednesday of every month and are free for anyone to join in and play, or just come along, chill out and enjoy the music. The Cafe will be serving food from their new menu, too.

Entry Free | Doors open for Food & Drink at 6pm | Music from 7pm