13 October 2007 at 7.30pm

Jennifer Pike  - Violin

Conductor: Brian Wright

Elgar/Payne – Pomp & Circumstance March No.6

Sibelius – Violin Concerto

Elgar – Symphony No.2

Review from The Downs Mail

A double celebration

Maidstone Symphony Orchestra, Mote Hall

You shouldn't really need an excuse to play Elgar or Sibelius but as we have one in 2007, why not? Maidstone Symphony Orchestra started its 97th season by marking the 150th anniversary of Elgar's birth and 50th of Sibelius' death. The Finnish composer's Violin Concerto is a true test of the soloist  with its shifting tempi and moods and Jennifer Pike, who won the BBC Young Musician of the Year five years ago at the age of 12, enraptured audience and fellow musicians alike with a performance of outstanding virtuosity. Not so much a star of the future - she already is.

The evening started with Anthony Payne's completion of Elgar's notes for a sixth Pomp and Circumstance March. Having already fleshed out sketches for a Third Symphony into something decidedly substantial, this is equally worthwhile with the late echo of the famous No 1 march a fitting finale.

The evening concluded with Elgar's Symphony No 2, often coupled with his Cello Concerto as his greatest work. The playing - as throughout the evening - was of the highest order and conductor Brian Wright's pre-concert enthusiasm at a fine new intake of string players was especially evident in the second movement, the playing strong and confident but souffle-light.

Click here to listen to a clip.

Jennifer has performed in major venues and arts festivals around the UK, Europe, the Middle East and the USA. At the age of fifteen she made her BBC Proms début in the Royal Albert Hall, and since then she has made her evening recital débuts in London’s Wigmore Hall and Purcell Room, all to great critical acclaim. She was the BBC Young Musician of the Year in 2002.