Trumpeter Simon Cheney’s new CD recording featuring Nigel’s solo trumpet work `Premonitions’ is now on general release. The CD on the Audio Concept label is entitled `An English Trumpeter’ and features William Lloyd Webber: Suite in F, Gordon Carr: An Excursion, Geoffrey Grey: Partita, Gordon Carr: Fanfare and Sorrows, Nigel Clarke: Premonitions, Eric Ball: The Challenge. For more details go to Simon Cheney’s website: http://www.theaudioconcept.com/SimonCheney.html `An English Trumpeter’ is also available as an audio download on iTunes.

Nigel on `Premonitions’ and Simon’s recording

“I have always found writing for unaccompanied instruments a unique challenge, as you cannot hide behind fancy orchestrations and fistfuls of piano chords and flourishes. It has to be ‘pure’ music. Commissioned originally by the Leggett Awards for young brass players, ‘Premonitions’ was included as a set piece in their 1990 audition programme. It is thrilling that Simon Cheney’s recording marks the 20th anniversary of this work! `Premonitions’ is written as three short prophetic fanfares with the trumpet taking on a proclamatory role similar to that found in Charles Ives’ `Unanswered Question’. In my view Simon’s CD `An English Trumpeter’ is trumpet playing at its very, very best!”

About Simon Cheney

Simon Cheney studied with International soloist James Watson and William Houghton at The Royal Academy of Music. Simon has taken part in many recitals and broadcasts notably those sponsored by Musical Opinion, performing in the UK and throughout Europe.  In Malmo, Sweden, he gave a  performance that was broadcast of ‘A Piece for Miles’ for solo trumpet by Simon Bainbridge at the invitation of the composer. In 1993 Simon was invited to play as soloist, performing John Stanley’s Trumpet Tune in D, at Viscount Linley’s and the Hon. Serena Stanthorp’s Royal Wedding at St Margaret’s Church Westminster in the presence of Her Majesty The Queen.

Simon has held principal trumpet positions with the Porto Sinfonia, Koenig Ensemble for whom he performed as a soloist throughout the UK and Europe. For the past ten years he has been principal trumpet in the Phantom of the Opera Orchestra which has allows him the time to work with London’s major orchestra’s, opera houses and ensembles . Famous Maestros with whom he has played include Carlos Klieber, Sir Georg Solti, Sir Colin Davis, Lorin Maazel,Thomas Ades, Sir Charles Mackerras, Bernard Haitink, John Barry, Antonio Pappano and Sir Simon Rattle. As a guest with Desford Colliery Band and world famous Black Dyke Band he played in winning performances at the Masters Open Championships and the National Brass Band Championships of Great Britain at the Royal Albert Hall.