Brilliant International Musicians: Judith Choi Castro and Jean-Paul Ekins

This concert forms part of our Brilliant International Musicians Series, now in its 15th season. Program: • Manuel de Falla Suite Populaire Espagnole • Atilio Auza Bolivian dances • Smetana Aus der Heimat • Interval • Turina Sonata Española • Kreisler-Dvorak Slavonic dances on themes of Dvorak • Gershwin-Frolov Porgy and Bess Fantasy Good to know Venue St Peter’s Marlborough, High Street, Marlborough, Wiltshire, SN8 1HQ Duration Approx. 120 minutes , 30 minute interval Access Level access throughout. Seated, no standing. Contact [email protected] for access requirements. Ages All Ages Refreshments Bar open for alcohol and soft drinks during interval Violinist Judith Choi-Castro enjoys a versatile career performing internationally as a soloist, chamber musician and orchestra player. She also collaborates in making recordings, and is the artistic director of the Festival y Academia de Música Internacional in Tenerife. Judith was born in the Canary Islands, Spain and moved to London where she graduated with a BMus (Hons) degree and a Masters degree from the Royal College of Music and the Royal Academy of Music. She also studied in Manhattan School of Music in New York. During her studies she won Hatfield Music Festival 1st prize, J.E Motimer award from Martin Musical Scholarship Foundation, scholarship from Rondo Music society in New York, a violin by Lavazza c.1740 was kindly on loan by the Harrison Frank Foundation. Venues where she performed as a chamber musician include: Lincoln Center, New York, St. Martin in the Fields, Fairfield Halls, Fitz William Museum in Cambridge, The National Gallery as part of the Belle Shenkman Music Program, Royal Opera House in Covent Garden. As a soloist she has appeared with Southbank Sinfonia in Italy and Magec Camerata in Spain. Judith has a great interest in Contemporary music and collaborates often with modern composers. She is the violinist of the Albany piano trio, which is focused on commissioning new works of women’s composers. John Paul Ekins is a concert pianist who has performed across Europe and beyond in some of the world’s most famous concert halls, also featuring on the BBC. He studied in London at the Royal College of Music with John Barstow and as a scholar at the Guildhall School of Music & Drama with Charles Owen. International Competitions have yielded him as many as nineteen prizes and scholarships, and career highlights have included performing Rhapsody in Blue and the Warsaw Concerto at The Royal Albert Hall. John Paul was also honoured to be presented to Her late Majesty Queen Elizabeth at Buckingham Palace. As a performer, John Paul is passionate about bringing music to life and communicating the human stories that lie behind the notes, greatly enhanced by his recent training in the field of psychotherapy. In concert, he offers musical insight and inspiration by way of spoken introductions, allowing audiences a more personal and deeper connection to the awesome power of music. His charismatic style was a much-loved feature of Cats, Chats & 88 Keys, an online concert series that he founded during the Covid pandemic, and through which he raised £5,000 for the NHS. More recently, his unique combination of pianistic and presentational flair has resulted in him being engaged as Star Headliner by Royal Caribbean Cruise Line. As a piano teacher and chamber musician, John Paul works privately and at the Royal College of Music, the Royal Academy of Music, and the Guildhall School of Music & Drama. This allows him to pass on his infectious love of music to the next generation, something he finds particularly enriching and inspiring. After the concert, John Paul will be signing his LIVE IN CONCERT solo DVDs