On the final leg of my summer school/teaching junket, it’s yet another acronym but one that many are familiar with – the National Youth Guitar Ensemble, which I have been conducting since 2005 when arranger and 19thC guitar supremo Chris Susans stepped down in order to be administrator.

Chris has been threatening to leave for a couple of years now, but in a bid to delay him, I have asked him for just one more time to to conduct his fine arrangement of Britten’s Simple Symphony at the Menuhin School in Cobham, Surrey on Saturday 17th August (1.30pm) and at West Dean Open Day on Sunday 18th August (1.45pm).
See Diary for more details.

When Chris stopped being administrator, he was promoted to Head of Pastoral Care and his place was taken by the dynamic Liz Larner, who has brought NYGE in line with UK educational practice in the 21st century.

At the concerts we will be joined by fabulous soprano Belinda Evans and as well as the Britten (it’s the 100th anniversary of his birth – but you knew that already).the programme will be :

Handel – Eternal Source of Light Divine (re-arranged by G Garcia for guitar orchestra and soprano)
Handel – Concerto Grosso Op.6 No.1 (arranged by Stephen Gordon)
Villa Lobos – a Lenda do Caboclo (arr.Garcia)
Villa Lobos – Bachianas Brasileiras No.5 – movements 1 and 2 (arr.Susans)
Hebridean Songs for soprano and guitar orchestra – G.Garcia

See you there! At the Menuhin school it’s free for under 18s accompanied by an adult.