Luthier Exhibition Programme
Sunday 19 January 2025
Time: 16.30
Where: Barbour Room East
Ticket: Free
This includes a performance of J.S Bach Adagio and Fuga in C Major (arr. Ireland) for four violas
Emma Farnsworth, Celeste Meisel, Estelle Gonzalez and Emily O’Dell violas
Come to the Barbour Room East at 4:30pm to hear viola students from the Royal Northern College of Music perform on fine instruments and bows made by makers exhibiting during the week, with a focus on the student luthiers at the exhibition. The session will begin with a performance of the Adagio followed by each student playing the same passage individually on each instrument with some discussion hosted by Mark Jennings. The session will end with a performance of the Fuga.
Monday 20 January
Time: 13.00
Where: Barbour Room East
Ticket: Free
Timothy Ridout performs on instruments and bows from the exhibition
Come to the Barbour Room East at 1pm to hear renowned British violist Timothy Ridout play on fine instruments and bows made by makers from the exhibition hosted by Alan Beavitt.
Tuesday 21 January
Tuesday 21 January 2025
Time: 12.00
Ticket: Free
Where: Barbour Room East
Come to the Barbour Room East at 12.00pm to hear Hélène Clément play on fine instruments and bows made by makers in the exhibition. This will be a blind tasting where audience members will be invited to make notes and encouraged to share thoughts afterwards and will be hosted by Antoine Gourdon. Many thanks to Hélène Clément who is stepping in last minute.
Wednesday 22 January
Wednesday 22 January
Time: 13:15
Where: Concourse
Ticket: Free
Klengel Hymnus for 12 violas (arr. Vidulich)
Bizet L’Arlesienne Suite (arr. Dennison)
Time: 16.00
Where: Barbour Room East
Ticket: Free
J.S. Bach Sonata no.2 in A minor BWV 1003 (arr. Ireland) for four violas Andante, Allegro
Rhiannon Collins, Sijia Zhou, Matthew Hayes, Lily Machin-Bradbury, Yujie Zhang, Lingyun Zhou, Hannah Killick, Hannah Borlase violas
Come to the Barbour Room East at 4pm to hear viola students from the Royal Northern College of Music perform on fine instruments and bows, specifically copies of famous instruments made by makers exhibiting during the week hosted by Chris Halstead. The session will begin with a performance of the Andante, individual passages on each viola and then a performance of the Allegro.
Thursday 23 January
Time: 13:15
Where: Barbour Room West
Michael Jon Smith “Bitter-Suite”
Abi Hammet, Paula Bowes, Kirin Howat violas
Noah Max Lemonade in the Armenian Quarter (world premiere)
Yujie Zhang Viola Jessica Conway Mezzo Soprano
Come to Barbour Room West at 13:15 to explore lesser known and new pieces written for viola. In this session we will be focussing on work of Antoine, Carlos and John at “The Workshop” in Newark and will be hosted by Ludivine Brouillet. This programme includes a world premiere by Noah Max and a work by local composer Michael Jon Smith.
Time: 14.00
Where: Barbour Room West
Ticket: Free
Stop by the Barbour Room West at 2pm to hear competitors play highlights from the first two rounds of Tertis and Aronowitz International Viola Competitions hosted by William John. In this session each competitor will perform individually followed by an open discussion about the instruments.
Friday 24 January
Time: 10.00
Where: Barbour Room East
Ticket: Free
J.S. Bach Partita no. 2 in D minor (arr. Ireland) Chaconne
Paula Bowes, Abi Hammet, Emily O’Dell, Yujie Zhang violas
Come to the Barbour Room East at 10am to hear viola students from the RNCM play on fine instruments and bows made by the luthiers in the exhibition hosted by William Castle.
Time: 15:15
Where: Barbour Room East
Ticket: Free
J.S. Bach Sonata no.2 in A minor BWV 1003 (arr. Ireland) for four viola Fuga
Lingyun Zhou, Daria Kurtii, Utor Wong, Rory Africa violas
Come to the Barbour Room East at 3:15pm to hear viola students from the Royal Northern College of Music perform on fine instruments and bows from our modern collection at the Luthier Exhibition hosted by Kai-Thomas Roth. The session will begin with comments from makers and a performance of the Fuga from the A minor sonata.
Time: 18.00
Where: Barbour Room East
Ticket: Free
Instrument and Bow Tasting performance featuring RNCM viola students: Modern Violas
J.S Bach Partita no.3 in E major BWV 1006 (arr. Ireland) Prelude
Estelle Gonzalez, Matthew Hayes, Eadaoin Drumgoole, Steph Roberts violas
J.S Bach Sonata no.1in G minor BWV 1001(arr. Ireland) Fuga
Rhiannon Collins, Matthew Hayes, Sophie Combes, Kirin Howat violas
Come to the Barbour Room East at 6pm to hear viola students from the RNCM play on fine instruments and bows made by the luthiers in the exhibition hosted by William John.


















