Announcing our new series of free online talks - launching with Adam Walker this Sunday

We’re thrilled to announce In Conversation With, a programme of free online talks with inspiring players! A new Sunday morning series hosted by our Chair Lisa Nelsen, each month we’ll invite a special guest for a candid conversation about all things flute - from their careers and projects to technique and advice. Held on Zoom, these events will be interactive, with a chance for audience members to ask questions.

#1 In Conversation With: Adam Walker
Sunday 27th June, 11am, free

We’re delighted to welcome Adam Walker as our first guest. At the forefront of a new generation of wind soloists, Adam was appointed principal flute of the London Symphony Orchestra at the age of just 21.

Born in 1987, Adam Walker studied at Chetham’s School of Music with Gitte Sorensen and at the Royal Academy of Music with Michael Cox graduating with distinction in 2009. He was appointed professor at the Royal College of Music in 2017.

As a soloist he regularly performs with the major UK orchestras including the BBC Philharmonic, BBC Scottish Symphony, London Symphony, Hallé, Ulster, Scottish Chamber and the BBC National Orchestra of Wales, and further afield he has performed with the likes of the Baltimore Symphony, Orquesta Sinfónica Nacional de Mexico, Seoul Philharmonic and Auckland Philharmonia.

Adam’s interests range from the less well-known French Baroque repertoire through to newly commissioned works. A committed chamber musician, in 2018 he launched the wind group the Orsino Ensemble at the Aldeburgh Festival. He appears regularly at the Wigmore Hall, and in 2018 participated in the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center’s prestigious Bowers Program, performing and touring with the ensemble both at Lincoln Center and across the United States for three seasons. 

Adam has just released his first recital disc with Chandos, French Works for Flute, featuring the Franck Sonata alongside works by Saint-Saëns, Duruflé and Widor with pianist James Baillieu and violist Timothy Ridout. The Orsino Ensemble has also released its first CD centred around music of the French Belle Époque (Roussel, Debussy, Chaminade, Caplet, Jean Cras). Earlier recordings include Vocalise (Opus Arte), the Kevin Puts Flute Concerto with Marin Alsop and the Peabody Institute (Naxos) and the Huw Watkins Concerto with the Hallé and Ryan Wigglesworth (NMC).

Upcoming Talks

#2 In Conversation With: Eliza Marshall - Sunday 25th July

in demand for her versatility and ability to play in all styles and genres, Eliza Marshall can be heard on numerous blockbuster film scores and albums, including on Lord Of The Rings, Prometheus, The Great Gatsby; with Paul McCartney, The Who and Stevie Wonder, at Abbey Road and Air Studios; and on 18 flutes for The Lion King in London. She’s also toured across the globe with artists such as Peter Gabriel, and recorded five acclaimed albums with her folk band Ranagri, performing at Cambridge Folk Festival, Birmingham Symphony Hall, The Union Chapel, and The Terry Wogan Show.

Featuring her unique Indian bansuri playing, she appeared for the World Première of Joby Talbot's ballet ‘The Winter's Tale’ as onstage soloist at The Royal Opera House followed by performances with The Queensland Symphony Orchestra in Brisbane. Her latest project ‘Freedom To Roam’ launches at Cecil Sharp House in December 2021.

#3 In Conversation With: Rebecca Farrugia Hall - Sunday 22nd August

2021 marks Rebecca Hall's silver anniversary as Principal Flute of the Malta Philharmonic Orchestra. In that role she has toured four continents, presented masterclasses from Australia to North America and played thousands of concerts. Dr. Hall also lectures in flute, chamber music, baroque studies and women in music for the University of Malta and tutors the Malta Youth Orchestra.

Her interest in voice and song will be the focus of this BFS chat. Tales from the opera orchestra pit, working with singers, vocal production and transcriptions of works from voice to flute will all be on the table - so be prepared to warm up your voices and sing along!

#4 In Conversation With: Stephen Clark - date TBC

Recipient of the 2016 Sir James Galway Rising Star Award and 1st Prize winner of the 2018 IMKA Music Competition and the 2018 Alexander & Buono International Flute Competition, Stephen Clark gives more than 150 performances each year across all seven continents, and made his New York recital debut at Carnegie Hall in 2018. Born in Glasgow, Scotland, he studied at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, Royal Northern College of Music and in Switzerland and America with Sir James Galway.

The events will also be live-streamed via Facebook (though we’ll only be accepting questions from the audience on Zoom) - you’ll be able to watch via our Facebook page here.