News

Students from LGS Perform Alongside The Bardi

by

12th November 2024

An impressive array of talent was on show on Sunday in the annual Bardi/Leicester Grammar School concert.

A whirlwind tour through music history from the Baroque to John Williams saw the Orchestra accompany gifted young LGS players in concerto movements, whilst others sat alongside Bardi players in the Orchestra. 

The concerto players chose movements from composers ranging from Vivaldi, through Mozart, to 20th century French composer Paul Maurice played on instruments including cellos, trumpets, bassoon and saxophone. The orchestra was showcased in the overture from Beauty and the Beast by Alan Menken, a movement from Brahms mighty Symphony No. 4 and the concert culminated in a John Williams Tribute selection of music from the composers best known film scores. Each concert item was greeted with loud applause and was pronounced ‘the best yet’ by audience and players alike.

Visual Portfolio, Posts & Image Gallery for WordPress
Visual Portfolio, Posts & Image Gallery for WordPress

Prakash Easwar is our Bardi Young Musician 2025 Winner!

by

8th November 2024

Bardi Young Musician 2025 is saxophonist Prakash Easwar, a 15-year-old academic and music scholar at Leicester Grammar School.

Prakash beat stiff competition in what the audition panel said was probably the highest standard field of candidates since the competition began in 2012. 

Prakash plays the Violin, Saxophone, and Piano. Supported by the school’s music department and inspired by his saxophone teacher, John Barker, Prakash also holds Grade 8 qualifications in both Piano and Violin and is soon completing his ARSM diploma on Saxophone. He is an active member of the school’s Big Band and First Orchestra, and also enjoys performing Bollywood, folk and jazz music. Away from school he has played violin with the Market Harborough Choral Society, has won several piano competitions at Leicester MusicFest and regularly performs in cultural celebrations. He plans to pursue music further and finds inspiration in his violinist brother, balancing his musical interests with cricket and tennis!

You can book tickets to see Prakash’s performance with the Bardi Symphony Orchestra on Saturday 25th January here.

Visual Portfolio, Posts & Image Gallery for WordPress

The Bardi’s New Horizons season off to a flying start at De Montfort Hall

by

7th October 2024

There was a distinct air of anticipation building in the foyer of De Montfort Hall on Sunday afternoon in advance of the Orchestra’s first concert of the New Horizons season under conductor Natalia Luis-Bassa.

Orchestra Manager Robert Calow had to step in at the last minute to do the pre-concert talk as listed host John Florance was laid low with covid. Robert did a sterling job and said afterwards it was easy as Natalia and soloist Lydia Shelley were a real pleasure to talk to!  

The concert opener Kauyumari by Gabriela Ortiz brought smiles to the faces of audience and orchestra alike, with a very large orchestra and an amazing battery of percussion instruments. The main theme of the piece emerged and with repetition became a pleasing earworm remaining long in the memory.  

This was followed by a popular return by soloist Lydia Shelley who performed Dvorak’s Cello concerto and provided clear evidence of the rapport between conductor and soloist as they gave a powerful and memorable performance of the work which was clearly appreciated by the audience. 

New merchandise proved a talking point in the interval with the ‘Bardi bears’ making a welcome return to the Friends desk, lots of them went off to new homes after the concert.  

The second half consisted of a single work, Brahms Symphony No. 2 which was, under the dynamic direction of Luis-Bassa, clearly enjoyed by players and audience alike with enthusiastic applause at the end.

The new season is off to a flying start! See you all at the next one on Sunday 1st December for Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue and more.

Visual Portfolio, Posts & Image Gallery for WordPress

Photography by Chris Roe

Visual Portfolio, Posts & Image Gallery for WordPress

The Bardi Welcome Natalia Luis-Bassa and a burst of Mexican sunshine to De Montfort Hall

by

30th September 2025

Mexican Sunshine fills the air!

10 o’clock on a rather grey autumn morning in a distinctly chilly rehearsal venue was not a particularly auspicious start to an all-day Sunday rehearsal for the Bardi players. Things changed rapidly when conductor Natalia Luis-Bassa lifted her baton and the very large Bardi Orchestra came to life in Kauyumari, a short work written by Gabriela Ortiz, which was commissioned by the Los Angeles Philharmonic and  premiered in 2021 to welcome their audiences back after the Covid-19 pandemic. Orchestra Manager Robert Calow called it ‘a sort of Mexican Bolero with a slow introduction’. He said ‘the little Mexican earworm of a tune starts on the piccolo and goes all round the orchestra’ rising to a very loud, exciting ending. The hall was flooded with Mexican sunshine and players faces began tentatively to smile as the compelling eleven-minute piece began to unfold under Natalia’s energetic direction. The percussion section in an orchestra are often referred to as ‘the kitchen’ and the Bardi percussionists are kept fully occupied throughout with no less than 16 instruments to play including exotic sounding things such as bongos, claves, a jawbone and a seedpod rattle (as well as, reassuringly, timpani and a bass drum). 

Audience and players are guaranteed an exciting and memorable start to the Orchestra’s ‘New Horizons’ season on Sunday 6th October, with two favourites from the classical repertoire, Dvorak’s much-loved Cello concerto, with returning international cellist Lydia Shelley, and Brahms’ tuneful Symphony No.2 completing the programme.

Visual Portfolio, Posts & Image Gallery for WordPress

Dvorák Cello Concerto
Brahms Symphony No.2

Sunday 6th October at 3pm
De Montfort Hall, Leicester

BOOK TICKETS
MORE INFO
Visual Portfolio, Posts & Image Gallery for WordPress

Bardi Chair Jane Hanson takes on new role as Chair of Welsh Water

by

11th September 2024

We’re thrilled to announce that our very own Jane Hanson CBE, Chair of the Bardi Symphony Orchestra, is taking on yet another impressive challenge. Already very busy with her various non-executive roles at the Civil Aviation Authority, His Majesty’s Treasury and John Lewis plc, and her duties as a JP, Jane has now been appointed as Chair of Welsh Water plc, effective 1 January 2025.

This prestigious role is a testament to Jane’s remarkable leadership and dedication. Clearly, she’s always up for a challenge, and we couldn’t be prouder. 

We extend our heartfelt congratulations to Jane and wish her every success in this important new chapter!

Visual Portfolio, Posts & Image Gallery for WordPress

Bardi Wind and Oadby & Wigston Lions raise over £2,000 for RNLI

by

6th September 2024

Bardi Wind Orchestra Music Director David Calow, Orchestra Manager Robert Calow and members of Oadby & Wigston Lions Club were at De Montfort Hall at the end of August to present a cheque for over £2,000 to Emma Cunnington, Community Manager of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution. The cheque was raised at the annual Bardi Wind Orchestra charity concert held in association with the Lions Club back in June.  

Over the past two years the Bardi Wind Orchestra and Oadby & Wigston Lions have raised almost £4,000 for the RNLI. The success of the concert held in 2023 led to an invitation to do a further concert this year. The 2024 concert was one of several musical and other events held nationally to mark the milestone 200th Anniversary of the RNLI.  Dreadful weather on the day of the presentation led to this rather striking photograph on the stairs of De Montfort Hall.  

Visual Portfolio, Posts & Image Gallery for WordPress

Watch Highlights from the 2023/24 Season

by

7th August 2024

As we prepare for our New Horizons 2024/25 season, we have gathered together a selection of highlights from last season.

Sunday 8th October 2023, De Montfort Hall
A Celebration of John Williams

Imperial March from Star Wars

Flight to Neverland from Hook

Sunday 24th March 2024, De Montfort Hall
Grieg – In the Hall of the Mountain King from Peer Gynt

Sunday 19th May 2024, De Montfort Hall
Mahler – Symphony No.1 in D “Titan”

See our YouTube channel for more videos from the Bardi

Subscribe to the bardi youtube channel here

Bardi Wind celebrate 200 Years of RNLI at De Montfort hall

by

10th June 2024

Thank you to all who joined us for what was a very successful Bardi Wind Orchestra concert on Sunday afternoon celebrating the 200th Anniversary of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution.  

There was a real buzz of anticipation in the De Montfort Hall for an afternoon of ‘Fantasy and Adventure’, with music from Disney, Lord of the Rings and Pirates of the Caribbean featuring prominently, and the feet were soon tapping!

The Wind Orchestra, in association with Oadby and Wigston Lions Club, were under the baton of guest conductor Dan Watson making his debut appearance, together with local favourites David Morris and Jenny Saunders joining them for several vocal items. Presenting the concert in a last-minute change to the programme, the Wind Orchestra were also fortunate to be able to secure the services of well-known local broadcaster Dave Andrews, who was able to talk to representatives of the RNLI about the amazing and invaluable work that they have been doing over the last 200 years.  

Final totals for the charity collections are still being tallied, but those collection buckets were certainly very heavy following another successful summer charity concert.

Visual Portfolio, Posts & Image Gallery for WordPress
Visual Portfolio, Posts & Image Gallery for WordPress