Classical music stars come to Gloucestershire (From Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard)

Classical music stars come to Gloucestershire

CLASSIC fM is recommending an exclusive opportunity to experience Sir James Galway, Jeanne Galway and the London Mozart Players performing live at the Gloucester Leisure Centre on Saturday, August 9.

This comes at a time when a survey conducted by the radio station found that 65percent of 6-14 years olds could not name a single classical composer.

Sir James and his wife Jeanne, an eminent flute player in her own right, will both be playing with and conducting the London Mozart Players, one of Europe's finest chamber orchestras, in preparation for their debut at the Salzburg Festival this summer.

He conducts two all-time favourite symphonies, Haydn's lively Philosopher Symphony No.22 and Mozart's well-known Jupiter and will play flute concertos by Mozart's contemporaries, Cimarosa and Devienne.

Along with Evelyn Glennie, Julian Lloyd Webber and Michael Kamen, Sir James has been supporting a high profile campaign to improve music education in primary and secondary schools.

They each attribute their highly successful careers and international reputations to their early introduction to music at school.

"Not only can it be highly enjoyable to children, but music education also engenders the kind of creativity, thinking and listening skills that make them valuable employees when they leave school," he says.

Sir James began playing the penny whistle as a small child before switching to the flute.

Tireless in his efforts to promote the art of flute playing, he is president of the music-based initiative Flutewise which will be running a workshop prior to this special one-off performance.

The music and workshop are suitable for players Grade 1 to 8 and they will play while Sir James signs autographs after the event.

Tickets and information (including the workshop) are available from the Box Office on 01594 544446 or for tickets only 0871 220 0260 (24hr).