On a chilly December evening Future Talent welcomed guests to a special Christmas Concert which featured Future Talent musicians performing alongside world leading chorus the Bach Choir at St George’s Church Hanover Square.

Guests were greeted with warm glass of homemade mulled wine before sitting down to enjoy this Christmas Celebration, which was a special ‘Thank You’ to all Future Talent’s 200 Club members.

One of Future Talent’s prodigies, Adam O’Shea introduced the evening and The Bach Choir Voices who started the concert beautifully with J. S Bach’s Christmas Oratorio and Joy to the World by G. F Handel.

Future Talent stars Edward Tomanek-Volynets, Joe Sharples, Romana Hallstead and Helen Clark all continued to impress the audience with their individual performances.

Guest David Batterbee said after the concert:

“The St. George’s concert was pure joy.   The exceptional young talent on show took the breathe away for the beauty of their sound and the calming confidence of their stagecraft.  The Bach Choir was as ever a delight and their rendition of ‘In the Bleak Mid Winter’ will last all the way to next year.

We can think of no better organisation to support than Future Talent when the worth of its purpose is so magnificently self-evident.”

David Batterbee, 200 Club GOLD member

Future Talent would like to thank all who attended this special celebration and the 200 Club members whose support  forms the backbone of Future Talent. With special thanks also to our Future Talent Stars, St George’s Church Hanover Square and all who made the evening such a success.

All photographs kindly taken by Rob Kennard.

To learn how you can support us, or to learn more about the 200 club, please click here.

Prolific stage and screen Actress, Dame Judi and Internationally renowned Opera Star, Danielle de Niese have announced today their patronage of Future Talent.

Future Talent finds, funds and mentors exceptionally talented musical children who may not have the financial means to pursue their talent.

Dame Judi, who has been a supporter of the charity since its inception, said today:

Future Talent is very close to my heart.   I have long been a supporter of new talent in the UK and am delighted to help Future Talent in any way I can.   The level of musicianship that these children have is truly outstanding.

Danielle de Niese, speaking from her Glyndebourne home, said today:

I am thrilled to lend my help and support to Future Talent.  Supporting young talent in the UK is essential.  Future Talent believes that no child’s talent should go to waste and I wish to work with them to achieve that.

Danielle de Niese sang Monteverdi’s haunting duet “Pur ti Miro” alongside one of Future Talent’s prodigies, Adam O’Shea, last May.

Speaking of the experience Adam said:

If someone had said to me when I first started training classically, in a few years you’ll have the opportunity to sing with the renowned soprano Danielle de Niese, I would have laughed. But when Future Talent tells you, “you will have the opportunity to sing with Danielle de Niese,” you know it’s real.

Extreme excitement, complete awe, and a slight trepidation were the most obvious feelings that come to mind when I think back on my trip to Glyndebourne to have an intimate rehearsal with Danielle. The house was absolutely beautiful and it really was such an honour to be rehearsing in such a historical setting.

When Danielle came into the room, I was half way through an aria and I think a small part of me wanted to run and hide, but the rest of me felt an immense sense of pride; spending endless hours in practice rooms really does seem worth it when you’re singing in front of an amazing singer.

When we rehearsed our duet, she truly worked with me, shaping the line and direction of the phrasing within the piece, and I felt as though I was getting a free masterclass. It only made me more excited for the concert.

I shall always remember this fantastic experience, not just the sensational event where we performed together, not just the chance to work closely and professionally on a piece of music we both love, but the wonderful opportunity of meeting an expressive and wonderful person, who is passionate about music.

Notes for Editors

Future Talent is a very special charity that gives financial support and guidance to young musicians aged between 5 and 18, who are clearly demonstrating outstanding musical ability or potential but for whatever reason do not have the financial means to reach their goal.

We support musicians from all musical genres and awards are given for a variety of purposes including the purchase of instruments, music lessons, fees for specialist training courses and membership of national training ensembles such as the National Youth Orchestra and National Youth Choir.

We also offer advice and guidance to each musician and their families so as to ensure that everyone we help feels fully supported throughout their time with us. In this way, we are enabling our Future Talent Stars to aim high and make their musical dreams a reality. Thanks to this underlying philosophy, we have attracted the support of some of the UK’s most eminent musicians and educators.

Future Talent was formed as a result of one person’s experience of the limited opportunities for the development of musical talent in the more deprived areas of the UK. After teaching music in a primary school in Hull for a number of years, Katharine Kent became aware that there were young people of considerable talent who were not being recognised or acknowledged. Consequently, Future Talent was founded at the end of 2004 and has grown steadily to establish itself as a nationally recognised charity.

Alex Wilson, 15, and Romana Hallstead,14 (pictured below), have become the recipients of the Liz and Terry Bramall Future Talent Scholarship.  Arts Philanthropists, Liz and Terry Bramall, are working with Future Talent over the next three years to help talented musicians in the North of England.    Alex and Romana were chosen for the award by a panel of judges in March 2013.    Each will receive a bursary along with mentoring and help from Future Talent.

Jessica Brennan, Future Talent Grants Committee member said:

We have had our eye on Alex and Romana for a while now.  Both are incredible musicians and show enormous promise.   Alex impressed members of the Hallé Orchestra on our judging panel at his audition.   He practices the piano for hours every day and shows the passion and commitment necessary to be an outstanding musician.   We invited Romana to play at our Christmas concert last year and she delighted the audience with her beautifully mellow tone on the flugelhorn.  We are delighted that two outstanding musicians have been recognised with this very special award.

For Further information about the Liz and Terry Bramall Future Talent Scholarship please contact Nicolette Shaw Nicolette@futuretalent.org.

Upcoming Concerts by the National Children’s Orchestra

Under 13 Orchestra:   Sunday 7 April at The Anvil,  Basingstoke.
Programme: Saint-Saens and Jenkins
Tickets available from the Box Office on 01256 844 244.

Main Orchestra: Saturday 6 April at De Montford Hall, Leicester.
Programme: Stravinsky and Strauss
Tickets available from the Box Office 0116 233 3111.

As a break in our long tradition of galas Future Talent tried something a little different this year. We hired a top city venue and targeted the event at prominent city businesses, their guests and clients.  Simon Parker Bowles’ Green’s Oyster Bar was the chosen spot where 250 bankers and lawyers were wined and dined. The event was hosted by Two and a Half Men star Sophie Winkleman and actor Matt Downton.  They were joined by special guest Dame Judi Dench. Opera star Danielle de Niese provided unforgettable entertainment alongside Future Talent stars Edward Tomanek-Volynets and Adam O’Shea.

City banker Myles Pink who was a guest at the gala:

Congratulations on a huge success last night!  I hope you were happy with the way everything went (and with the total raised).  You had clearly gone to an enormous effort to make the evening so enjoyable for us all.  Our table had a blast – it’s remarkable how consistently people just “get” what FT is about when they see it unfold in the way you present it.  As usual, my only disappointments this morning are a) it was all over too quickly and b) it’ll be too long until the next one!

The highlight of this unforgettable evening has to be a performance given by Danielle and Adam of Monteverdi’s duet Pur ti Miro. Our city gala auction raised over £75,000 for our Future Talent Stars.  Thank you all!

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Adam shares his thoughts about being give the opportunity to perform alongside Danielle de Niese:

If someone had said to me when I first started training classically, in a few years you’ll have the opportunity to sing with the renowned soprano Danielle de Niese, I would have laughed. But when Future Talent tells you, “you will have the opportunity to sing with Danielle de Niese,” you know it’s real.

Extreme excitement, complete awe, and a slight trepidation were the most obvious feelings that come to mind when I think back on my trip to Glyndebourne to have an intimate rehearsal with Danielle. The house was absolutely beautiful and it really was such an honour to be rehearsing in such a historical setting.

When Danielle came into the room, I was half way through an aria and I think a small part of me wanted to run and hide, but the rest of me felt an immense sense of pride, spending endless hours in practice rooms really does seem worth it  when you’re singing in front of an amazing singer.

When we rehearsed our duet, she truly worked with me, shaping the line and direction of the phrasing within the piece, and I felt as though I was getting a free masterclass. It only made me more excited for the concert.

I shall always remember this fantastic experience, not just the sensational event where we performed together, not just the chance to work closely and professionally on a piece of music we both love, but the wonderful opportunity of meeting an expressive and wonderful person, who is passionate about music.