May Peace Prevail On Earth
EVENTS
At Allanton, we organise and run various events throughout the year.
FORTHCOMING EVENTS
GLOBAL PEACE CONCERT | 18.09.09 | 19:00 | Prices below
A Gala of world class musicians from Japan & Scotland, celebrating U.N. International Day of Peace.
ARTIST PROFILES
Masayuki Kino is currently the ‘Solo Violin Virtuoso Concert Master’ of the Japan Philharmonic Orchestra. He also performs around the world as Guest Violin Soloist with renowned orchestras including the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. Mr Kino lectures all over the world and has recorded numerous CD’s. For his performances, he uses the 1776 Lorenzo Storioni violin that was given to him by his teacher Ricci.
Hikaru Yoshiyama is a Master Concert Pianist. His Duo CD with Masayuki Kino was awarded the prestigious Japanese ‘Ministry of Culture Prize of Recommendation’. He has played with many orchestras including the Japan Philharmonic Orchestra and works as a lecturer for Souai University and Mukogawa Women’s University. Mr Yoshiyama is a specialist in researching the works of Chopin and Lizt.
Joji Hirota is a Master Taiko Drummer, composer, multi-percussionist, Shakuhachi player and singer.
Joji introduced Taiko Drumming to Europe over 30 years ago and has performed at many festivals and events worldwide. He played a solo performance at the Hanover, Germany EXPO 2000 and Joji and the Taiko Drummers were the opening act for the LIVE EARTH concert at Wembley Stadium in 2007. He was chosen as one of the 100 most Respected Japanese in the World in a poll vote in Newsweek 2007.
His compositions include orchestral pieces for theatre and television, piano pieces, flute and string ensemble music, as well as Taiko. Projects include the Royal Shakespeare Company, the Wildlife and Survival documentary TV series – a collaborative project with composer Anthony Phillip, BBC Drama and other commercial works reaching a worldwide audience.
Nicky Spence is Dumfries’s own Scottish Tenor Star.
Nicky has won accolades such as the Kathleen Ferrier Young Singer’s Prize aged just 18years old. He recorded his debut album ‘My First Love with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra which earned him a nomination for the Classical Brit Awards as ‘Young Classical Performer of the Year.’ He has had a piece specially written for him by John Rutter and performed alongside artists such as: Placido Domingo, Dame Kiri te Kanawa, Bryn Terfel, Katherine Jenkins, Hayley Westerna, Lesley Garrett and even joined Shirley Bassey on her recent UK arena tour.
Wendy Stewart and Gary West
Wendy Stewart:
Wendy plays Traditional Harp and performs, teaches, writes and arranges harp music from the traditions of Scotland, for today. In 1990 Wendy moved to Edinburgh and became a member of the well-established band, ‘Ceolbeg’ a blend of modern (drum kit and keyboards) and traditional (pipes, harp, flute and whistles). Major tours, TV and radio and 4 Ceolbeg CD’s followed.
Whilst in Edinburgh, Wendy also released 2 solo albulms -‘About Time;’ and ‘About Time 2.’ She is now continuing her solo work and tutors on the BA degree course in Scottish Music at the RSAMD. Her harp courses are in demand in Germany, France, Spain, Italy, Switzerland and North America not to mention all around Scotland!
Her new album with Gary West, ‘Hinterlands,’ is available now.
Gary West
Gary plays and composes for the Highland Pipes and the Scottish Smallpipes. He played with the Vale of Atholl Pipe band for 18 years and joined ‘Ceolbeg’ in 1988, playing alongside Wendy Stewart.. He was the founder member of the Scottish supergroup ‘Clan Alba’ and has played in major festivals throughout Europe and North America, including: Celtic Connections (Scotland) Lorient (France) and Tonder (Denmark). His performances have been heard in some of the finest venues in Europe such as the Old Opera House in Frankfurt and the Albert Hall in London.
His latest album ‘Hinterlands,’ is with Wendy Stewart and is now available.
Alison Burns is a songwriter, music facilitator, educator and community choir director. She writes songs for community and folk choirs as well as for schools. Her music has been heard throughout the UK in theatre and in public art installations, and in the repertoire of many community choirs. Alison is a well-respected community musician with an outstanding record of workshop tutoring. She has worked with choirs and singing groups worldwide, and has her own choir, the Feral Choir, based in the Castle Douglas.
The Feral Choir actively encourages membership from a broad community, using teaching methods that make music accessible to anyone, regardless of musical background. Entrance to the choir is without audition. Induction weeks are held twice per year and are intended to emphasize voice work and choir skills rather than learning new repertiores for performance. Ali hopes that this method will benefit exisitng members and will also provide a less intimidating start for any newcomers.
Clara Belle (aka Clare Uchima: a former Wallace Hall Academy student), is a Scottish/Japanese singer-songwriter, who accompanies herself on her ukulele and piano. Clara has gained a massive following on YouTube after posting her 1st homemade music video back in May 2008. She has been gigging regularly around London with her band, who she met at university whilst studying jazz, and has created her own unique style, developed from blending her understanding of her cultural strands. Her album 'Oh Well' is available for download at iTunes or at all other major music download sites.
Julian Pombo is 14 years old and has been studying the flute for three years at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama where he also studies piano and composition. Julian played at the First Global Peace Concert last year and he has also played with the Scottish National Children’s Orchestra this year. Julian is also a member of the Dumfries Youth Jazz Group.
Anna Hashimoto. At the age of 15 Anna made her Barbican concerto debut with the English Chamber Orchestra, with whom she appears regularly as a soloist, most recently under the baton of Ashkenazy. She has since performed many concertos with orchestras such as the Japan Chamber and Japan Philharmonic Orchestras and appeared in major venues in the UK and Japan, most recently giving sold-out recitals at the Bunka Kaikan and Kioi Hall in Tokyo. She gave the Japan Premier of Michael Daugherty’s concerto ‘Brooklyn Bridge’ and its live broadcast on FM Tokyo at the International ClarinetFest in Tokyo 2005, during which she also performed the Tartini/Jacob Concertino with the British Clarinet Ensemble, with whom she has recorded a CD of the work. Currently studying with Michael Collins, Anna studies at The Royal Academy of Music under an ABRSM full scholarship. She plays on Peter Eaton ‘International’ clarinets. For more information please visit www.annahashimoto.com
RECENT PAST EVENTS
ALLANTON WILDLIFE FESTIVAL | 22.08.09 | 11:00 - 15:00 | FREE entry
A family fun day of wildllife activities in the natural environment
11th INTERNATIONAL WORLD PEACE FESTIVAL | 27.06.09 | 14:00 - 18:00 | FREE entry
This annual June event will include the following: Live Music,
Japanese Cultural Area,
Aikido demo and workshop
Circus skills,
Storytelling,
Activities and exhibitions for all the family
To celebrate our 10th anniversary in June 2008, we held a garden party with live music. The flags of the world were presented alongside music from around the world and messages of peace and good will sent to all corners of the globe.
