FREEDOM 200 CHAMBER ORCHESTRA
The Freedom 200 Chamber Orchestra has been formed to perform Classical Music of prominent Composers of African descent. The theme composers are: Le Chevalier de Saint George and Samuel Coleridge-Taylor.
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Saint-George, born as a slave in Guadeloupe (1745) died as a free and famous man in Paris (1799). His mother was of African descent; his father a planter and a former musketeer. When he was seven, Saint-George went to France with his parents and was educated as a young aristocrat. Very quickly, his various talents - especially in fencing and playing the violin - made him an adulated star. He became a brilliant composer and left many violin concertos and exceptional quartets. Victim of racism in France, he had many journeys in England (1787-1790) accompanying his protector, the duke of Orleans. Close friend to the Prince of Wales (George IV), familiar to the fashionable society of Westminster and Richmond, living in Grenier’s hotel, Jermyn street, Saint-George loved so much England that, at a moment, he even wished to establish himself in London. But he finally went back to serve his country during the Revolution, and organised a black Legion of cavalry as a Colonel. Important as a composer, Saint-George is also a strong symbol of anti-slavery.
Claude Ribbe, writer and biographer of Saint-George |
The Chamber Orchestra has a core of musicians of African descent and is led by acclaimed Double Bass player - Ms Chi-Chi Nwanoku MBE. It is worthy of mention that this talented unit has non-Black musicians; a core reflection of our theme that the bicentennial anniversary involves both the white and black community in the UK.
A list of the musicans and biographies will follow shortly. There are a minimum of 20 musicians in the ensemble. See PDF for more details on the Orchestra and its members.
| Chi-Chi Nwanokwu, MBE |
Bassist/Music Director |
| Jenny Adejayan |
Cellist |
| Clare Deniz |
Cellist |
| Kwesi Edman |
Cellist |
| Martin Lawrence |
Horn |
| Stephen Stirling |
Horn |
| Althea Ifeka |
Oboist |
| Uchenna Ngwe |
Oboist |
| Sally Jackson |
Bassoon |
| Catherine Musker |
Violist |
| Susie Meszaros |
Violist |
| Catherine Bradshaw |
Violist |
| Rowland Sutherland |
Flute |
| Everton Nelson |
1st Violin (Principal) |
| Ralph de Souza |
1st Violin |
| Samson Diamond |
1st Violin |
| Jackie Shave |
1st Violin |
| Sophie Barber |
1st Violin |
| Daniel Bhattacharya |
2nd Violin (Lead) |
| Daniel Meyer |
2nd Violin |
| Patrick Kiernan |
2nd Violin |
| Rick Koster |
2nd Violin |
ENGAGEMENTS
The Freedom 200 Chamber Orchestra will perform their first engagement at the National Commemoration service on 27 March 2007. The service will take place at Westeminster Abbey at 12 noon and will be broadcast LIVE on BBC 1 from 11:30a.m. The Chamber Orchestra will be playing LIVE at 11:30a.m.
The next engagement - Please watch this space for more information.
Please contact us if you are interested in having the Orchestra play at your event during the Bicentennial Anniversary.
