26 October: James Halsey- solo cellist

James Halsey studied cello at the Royal College of Music with Eileen Croxford, and whilst still a senior student in the early 1980s, joined the Auriol String Quartet and was straightaway involved in more than 40 recitals each season.

This love of chamber music stayed and developed throughout his career. James was cellist of the Dartington Piano Trio and he is now cellist of the highly acclaimed Bingham String Quartet and the Tagore String Trio. With these ensembles he has played all over the world, broadcast frequently, and made numerous recordings.

As a solo cellist, James has performed widely in the British Isles, and has played Beethoven Sonatas and unaccompanied Bach in Japan and Australia as well as the UK.

At present, James coaches on seven annual chamber courses and is much in demand as a teacher. Several of his former pupils are cellists in professional string quartets. He is Professor of Cello at the North-East Scotland Music School and the Royal College of Music Junior Department, as well as being the Director of the Aboyne Cello Festival.

The programme for the evening can be found below

Serenade for solo cello                                                     Henze (1926-2012)

Adagio rubato, Poco Allegretto, Pastorale, Andante con moto rubato, Vivace, Tango, Allegro marciale, Allegretto, Menuett

Suite no.5 in C minor for cello                                        Bach (1685-1750)

Prelude Allemande Courante Sarabande Gavottes Gigue

INTERVAL

Elegie for Sebastian Knight                                              Sallinen (1935 -)

Suite no.3 in C major                                                        Bach

Listen to James with the Bingham String Quartet here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vyKoKIOxs8Y