World-renowned musicians to provide St Andrews soundtrack

‌‌The UK debut of an award-winning Dutch organist and an appearance by a top trombonist who played on the Braveheart soundtrack are among the musical highlights at the University of St Andrews next week (7 and 10 November).

Adriaan Hoek (pictured left), who has won accolades across Europe, has chosen St Salvator’s Chapel for his first British performance on Monday 7 November at 7.30pm.

Hoek graduated with the highest distinction from the Rotterdam Conservatory and is currently the European Cities of Historic Organs (ECHO) Organist of the Year, having triumphed in four international competitions in the Netherlands and Germany during 2015.

His St Andrews programme includes the third of Bach’s notoriously challenging Trio Sonatas, Mozart’s great Fantasia in F minor and music by two tragic organist-composers associated with the Second World War, Hugo Distler and Jehan Alain.

Later in the week the St Andrews Brass Festival – the only brass festival in Scotland – opens with a performance by trombonist Ian Bousfield (pictured below), who has recorded the soundtracks to many films, including Star Wars: Episode I and Braveheart, on Thursday 10 November at 7.30pm in the Younger Hall.

Bousfield, until recently the Principal Trombonist of the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra, will be joined by pianist Scott Mitchell. Together they will perform pieces by Bach, Glinka, Mahler and Korngold as well as a tribute to the great trombone virtuoso Arthur Pryor (1870-1942).

Now a freelance performer and teacher, Bousfield will discuss his life and career, with Chris Bragg of the University’s Music Centre, in a pre-concert event at 6.45pm. Tickets, priced between £3 and £12, are available from the Byre Theatre box office.

‌Mr Bragg said: “We are hugely excited to welcome both musicians to St Andrews. Adriaan Hoek has proved, at the age of just 26, to be one of Europe’s outstanding organists with a phenomenal record in international competitions. To be able to present his British debut is a significant coup.

“Ian Bousfield is one of his generation’s most renowned brass artists and we look forward to his tales of the Vienna Philharmonic and his spectacular music making.”

Notes to news editors

For background information, visit Ian Bousfield and Adriaan Hoek’s webpages.

Tickets for Ian Bousfield and Scott Mitchell in concert are available at: http://byretheatre.com/events/stacs-ian-bousfield-scott-mitchell/

Tickets for Adriaan Hoek are £10 on the door.

Issued by the University of St Andrews Communications Office, contactable on 01334 467310/2530 or [email protected].