Ilkley afternoon student concert

Ravi Nathwani guitar

Solasta Saxophone Quartet

Eleanor Williams soprano saxophone Aaron Lo alto saxophone

Conor Parker-Delves tenor saxophone Emily Manson baritone saxophone

Ravi Nathwani is an exciting young British Asian guitarist currently studying for a Master’s degree at the RNCM under guitarist Craig Ogden, supported by a Help Musicians UK Postgraduate Award.

During his time at college he has performed extensively, giving solo and chamber performances at a wide range of venues. In the final year of his undergraduate degree Ravi was invited to perform Rain for soprano, flute, guitar and electronics, by the Icelandic composer, Anna Thorvaldsdottir in a festival dedicated to her music at the RNCM.

Last year Ravi performed here with mezzo-soprano Sophie Clarke in their duo, Cantelina, which has continued to flourish with many more performances in 2024.

The Solasta Saxophone Quartet was formed at the RNCM in September 2022. They are an exciting, emerging ensemble who share a dedication to chamber music and a passion for original repertoire for the saxophone quartet. Since the quartet was formed they have enjoyed a range of performance opportunities benefitting from individual and ensemble tuition from many experienced chamber musicians including Timothy McAllister of the PRISM quartet, and Rob Buckland, Carl Raven and Andy Scott of the Apollo Saxophone Quartet.

Since their first public concert in July 2023 as part of the RNCM’s 50th anniversary celebrations, the Solasta Quartet has gone from strength to strength with success in chamber music competitions at the RNCM winning both the Fewkes Woodwind Chamber Prize in March and the audience vote for their performance in the Christopher Rowland Chamber Ensemble of the Year Award in June.

The members of the quartet believe that their differing life experiences and backgrounds enable them to bring richly varied perspectives to rehearsals, with their hard work and shared dedication to the quartet creating a strong bond of friendship and mutual respect between them.

In July 2024, Solasta premiered two works by RNCM student composers as part of Nature’s Music, the RNCM’s takeover of the Manchester Museum, performing amongst the museum exhibits that inspired the music. Earlier the same month, they performed in a concert for new undergraduate and postgraduate RNCM students and they are looking forward to performing in a Thursday Lunchtime Concert in the RNCM Concert Hall in November 2024.

The students appear by kind permission of the RNCM.

Host or Publisher Ilkley Concert Club