News | Summer 2026 ...
Following the successful premier of his orchestral work Noting the Landscape in June 2024, Stephen embarked on a rescoring and reworking of extracts from Lully’s operas Le Bourgois Gentilhomme and Armide which were performed as Little Suite by Hope Metropolitan Orchestra in February 2026.
During the 26-26 season he conducted orchestra in an all-Beethoven concert on 15th November, (which included the ‘Emperor’ Concerto (soloist: Lauryna Sableviciute) and the Seventh Symphony, and in March a concert with works by Wagner, Mahler and Schumann with soprano Daniella Sicari. In May, his former pupil Mark Simpson performed his clarinet and piano work Short Score (with the pianist Ian Buckle) at the Music Room in the Philharmonic Hall in Liverpool.
Through the summer of 2026 he will be working on a series of short piano pieces and continuing work on some songs for voice and orchestra. Having enjoyed the pleasures of the new Hill Dickinson stadium he has painted the view from his seat (see below) and (of course) renewed his Everton season ticket for another year!
Stephen will return to work with Hope Metropolitan Orchestra for the 26-27 season, which marks the 200th anniversary of Beethoven’s death with a series of special concerts mixing familiar works with the less familiar. Details can be found on the website hmconcerts.uk.
Stephen continues his work with Early Music as Education, having been delighted to be asked to join the charity in October 2024 as advisor for curriculum and development. He has been involved with music education throughout his professional life, and has worked in all three sectors (primary, secondary and tertiary). He is deeply concerned about the current state of music education in the UK, which has seen a drop of nearly 45% in number of pupils taking A level music since 2012, a direct consequence of policies adopted by the Conservative government. The effect of this on the higher education sector has been catastrophic, with many university and college music departments having to close or drastically reduce in size. A knock-on effect is that far fewer music specialists are coming into primary and secondary schools. Working mostly with pupils in underprivileged areas, EMAE offers opportunities to have curriculum lessons given by music specialists and the opportunity to learn violin, viola or cello. In the relatively short time he has been associated with the charity, Stephen has been amazed by the quality of the work being produced.
May 2026: Short Score, performed by Mark Simpson (clarinet) and Ian Buckle (piano) performed at the Music Room, Philharmonic Hall, Liverpool on 11th May.
February 2026: Little Suite (after Lully) premiered by Hope Metropolitan Orchestra, conducted by Stephen. However, the highlight of this concert was a performance of Robin Hartwell’s Over, which was given in the presence of the composer. A close friend of Stephen’s since student days, Robin sadly died on 14th May. You can find out more about Robin’s life and work at his website robinhartwell.uk
June 2024: Stephen's latest work, Noting the Landscape, received its première at the Tung Auditorium in Liverpool on Wednesday 19th June. A 75th birthday commission for Ensemble 10:10 from the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic, the 25 minute piece was conducted by Jack Sheen and received an enthusiastic response from the near-capacity audience.
May 2024: Stephen's piece for two pianos, Moving On, has just had three performances at a festival of music for two pianos in Lithuania. It was performed by the duo Re:Sono, Lauryna Sableviciute and Nicholas Ashton.
Here is the Link to the Festival Website, but it is all in Lithuanian!! . . .
October 2023: the Hope Metropolitan Orchestra, with Leo Byrne as the soloist, performed Stephen's recent composition More Imaginary Folksongs; (violin & orchestra). Select audio track below ...
February 2023: brought a revival of Stephen’s 2023 work Lovebytes, sung by Daniella Sicari, with Ensemble 10/10 conducted by Clark Rundell. The event, at the Tung Auditorium in Liverpool, was to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Ensemble. The works heard at the concert will be broadcast on The New Music Show on BBC Radio 3 in the future.
