Friday 4th May Alexander Ardakov - Piano Papillons Op.2 - Schumann Symphonic Etudes Op.13 - Schumann A graduate of the Moscow Conservatoire and a prizewinner at the Viotti International competition in Italy, Alexander Ardakov has been living in since 1991 where in addition to his performing career throughout the world he is a Professor of Piano at Trinity College of Music in London. He has performed for BBC Radio 3 and Classic FM and has made several CD recordings, including Rachmaninov’s Second Piano Concerto with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Sir Alexander Gibson. Among his recent engagements are recitals at the Bosendorfer Hall in Vienna, at St. John’s Smith Square in London, at the Carnegie Hall in New York, in the Casteig Music Centre in Munich, in the Sheldonian Theatre in Oxford and a much acclaimed sold-out recital in the Wigmore Hall in January 2007. In May 2004 he performed in one evening the three piano concertos (Schumann, Rachmaninov-2 and Tchaikovsky-1 with the ‘Orquestra do Norte’ in the Coluseo Hall in Oporto, Portugal. In May 2007 he performed Rachmaninov’s Concerto No.2 in the famous Benaroya Hall in Seattle with the Cascade Symphony Orchestra, receiving a standing ovation from the 2000 audience. This will be Alexander’s second visit to the ARC and he returns with part of a programme he will be performing later in the month at St. John’s Smith Square, London.

Friday 11th May Ian McDonough - Violin David Boarder - Piano Violin Sonata Op.82 - Elgar Rumanian Folk Dances - Bartok Ian McDonough was born in Melbourne Australia, and studied at the Melbourne University Conservatorium of Music where he won the coveted “Wright Prize” for the most outstanding instrumentalist. He continued his studies in Vienna before moving to London to play with the London Symphony Orchestra, and later, the Philharmonia. In 1979 Ian was appointed Associate Concertmaster of the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra, but returned to London in 1982 as a sub-principal violinist with the LSO until his retirement seven years ago. in 1977 David Boarder moved to the South East to work with Hertfordshire Music Service where he was Area Manager for East Herts for 25 years. He now works on the ‘back-benches’ of the Music Service teaching at The Broxbourne School, playing in concerts and conducting Choir18, 414 Choir, A10 Orchestra, Royston Choral Society, Bishops Stortford Choral Society, and East Herts Youth Orchestra.

Friday 18th May Jacqueline Phillips- Cello Christopher Benham- Piano Cello Sonata in F major - Beethoven Serenade for Solo Cello - G. Jacob Music by Bach We welcome back Jacqueline who performed for us last year. A brilliant ‘cellist at an early age, Jacqueline studied with a series of legendary teachers including William Pleeth, Amaryllis Fleming, Aldo Perisot and Joan Dickson and has emerged as an extraordinarily versatile and well-rounded musician, undoubtedly one of the finest British ‘cellists of her generation with a recital career that has taken her round the world. Besides performances throughout London (with concerto appearances at the South Bank Centre) she has toured Russia, America, Canada, the Far East, Italy, France, Spain and Norway as a solo cellist including a trip to Italy to win the Rovera D’ore International competition in Genoa. Back in England, she is much demand as a free-lance chamber and orchestral musician, guest leading the Irish Chamber Orchestra, guest sub-principle of BBC Philharmonic and recently as a guest sub- principle and co-leader of BBC NOW and has toured America with them as sub-principle. The combination of a fearsome, phenomenally honed technique and an enquiring open-minded musical sensibility means she is happy performing showy tunes as she is playing a Shostakovich Sonata.

Friday 25th May Darkwood Clarinet Quartet The Darkwood Clarinet has played at a various venues during the last couple of years including a number of performances at the Cramphorn Theatre in and at the Chelmsford Cathedral lunchtime concert series, Music Festival and at Hylands House in Chelmsford.

Friday 1st June Claire Overbury - Flute Simon Davies - Guitar Friday 8th June No Recital