Thursday 12 March 2020

7pm Fidelio Orchestra Cafe

Freya Hicks & Friends

featuring The De Kooning Ensemble
Jessica Meakin violin
Freya Hicks viola
Evie Coplan cello
Lewis Bell piano
WOLFGANG AMADEUS MOZART (1756-1791) Piano Quartet No. 2 in E-Flat Major, K. 493
1. Allegro
2. Larghetto
3. Allegretto

ROBERT FUCHS (1847-1927) A Selection from Twelve Duets for Violin &
Viola, Op. 60
4. Leicht bewegt
7. Bewegt, trotzig
12. Walzer

FRANK BRIDGE (1879-1941) Phantasy for Piano Quartet in F-Sharp Minor,

H. 94
Do you need to say officially??
Mozart officially completed his Piano Quartet No. 2 in E-Flat Major on 3rd June 1786. It is the
second of only two piano quartets written by the composer - he had been commissioned to write three
by Franz Anton Hoffmeister, who soon communicated to Mozart the lack of interest in this genre so
the last commission was never written. It is interesting to note that there were no models by previous
composers that Mozart could refer to for guidance as the piano quartet was a new genre in the
eighteenth century. The work is in three movements beginning with a sonata-form Allegro, followed
by a Larghetto and finishing with a rondo-form Allegretto.

Fuchs published Twelve Duos for Violin and Viola around 1898. No. 4 is in triple time and follows
the violin in a haunting, lilting melody, no. 7 is more forthright in character with a lot of movement
provided by the viola, and no. 12, a waltz, is cheeky and unassuming in nature. A composer who was
particularly fond of Fuchs’ compositions was Brahms, who wrote that ‘Fuchs is a splendid musician,
everything is so fine and so skillful, so charmingly invented, that one is always pleased.’

Bridge completed his Phantasy for Piano Quartet in F-Sharp Minor in June 1910 for the Cobbett
Competition. It shows off the more Romantic style he was famous for. Benjamin Britten wrote of
Bridge’s work in the 1948 Aldeburgh Festival programme book: ‘Sonorous yet lucid, with clear, clean
lines, grateful to listen to and to play. It is the music of a practical musician, brought up in German
orthodoxy, but who loved French romanticism and conception of sound—Brahms happily tempered
with Fauré.’ The work is in one movement which fluctuates through different tempi and melodies
opening with a boisterous statement followed by a reflective atmosphere set up by the piano and cello,
moving on to a march-like section in the main Allegro Moderato.
Doesn’t make sense with the Faure Brahms comment. Just finish at “conception of sound.”
Founded in September 2019, The De Kooning Ensemble is made up of violinist Jessica Meakin,
violist Freya Hicks, cellist Evie Coplan and pianist Lewis Bell, who are all currently studying at the
Guildhall School of Music & Drama. The ensemble have received coaching from Sarah-Jane Bradley,
Carole Presland, Andrew Watkinson, Evan Rothstein and Caroline Palmer, and enjoy playing a mix of
repertoire from violin sonatas to string trios and piano quartets. Tonight’s performance is their debut
concert together. We have also had David Waterman coaching?
 being pedantic but you can maybe get rid of “travelling there every month for lessons.”

Jessica Meakin is an up and coming violinist currently studying at the Guildhall School of Music &
Drama with Bartosz Woroch. Prior to starting her Bachelor’s degree, Jessica spent two years studying
privately with renowned pedagogue Sergey Fatkulin in Madrid, travelling there every month for
lessons. She was also regularly invited to perform in the Llanes Music Festival in North-West Spain.
Devoted to ensemble playing, Jessica has regularly played with the Guildhall Symphony Orchestra
and String Ensemble under world-renowned conductors, as well as participating in masterclasses with
her Piano Quartet. During her studies she has also maintained a commitment to music education
through tutoring primary school children in string playing. Jessica is generously loaned a Bernadel
violin dated 1844 by Stephen Thomas. get rid of extra space between “studies” and “she”

Freya Hicks is currently in her final year completing a Bachelor of Music at the Guildhall School of
Music & Drama with Rachel Roberts, and is generously supported by a Guildhall School scholarship.
She was a finalist in the 2018 Max and Peggy Viola Competition, and has taken part in masterclasses
with Hariolf Schlichtig, Jonathan Barritt and Simon Rowland-Jones, as well as chamber coaching with
the Endellion and Chilingirian string quartets. Freya performs regularly with the 12 Ensemble, Arch
Sinfonia, Orion Orchestra, Young Musicians Symphony Orchestra and Capital Orchestra. She has
performed in Barbican Hall, Kings Place, Royal Albert Hall, Royal Festival Hall, Cadogan Hall and
Snape Maltings. Freya also enjoys collaborating with singer-songwriters; she features on Blossom
Calderone’s track ‘Perfect Too’ and will feature on Ben Cipolla’s upcoming album ‘Sicilia’. Freya is
generously loaned a Christopher Hoing viola dated 1961 by Clive and Judy Cresswell.
whilst at school, Evie… (add comma)
Evie Coplan is a passionate cellist from Dorset currently studying with Tim Lowe at the Guildhall
School of Music & Drama. Whilst at school Evie was awarded music scholarships to Clayesmore and
Bryanston. Significant performance venues include St John’s Smith Square and LSO St Lukes, as well
as performing the Saint-Saëns’ Cello Concerto No. 1 and JC Bach Concerto with orchestra. Evie has
participated in masterclasses with Natalie Clein and Guy Johnson, as well as with Louise Hopkins,
Pierre Doumenge and Adrian Brendel at the International Cello Gathering. Evie has performed with
artists such as Roberto González-Monjas, VOCES8, Liane Carroll, Vassily Sinaisky, Maxime
Tortellier and Sir Mark Elder. Evie is a keen chamber musician; she got to the final of the Pro Corda
chamber music competition aged nine with her piano trio. Evie has recorded film music at Abbey
Road Studios, recorded solo repertoire for contemporary dance shows at Sadler’s Wells and chamber
music at The National Theatre.

Currently in his third year at the Guildhall School of Music & Drama, Lewis Bell is studying classical
piano with Caroline Palmer. Prior to joining Guildhall, Lewis studied as a music scholar at Stowe
School. At the age of seventeen he was accepted into the Junior Department at the Royal Academy of
Music where he studied with Eleanor Hodgkinson, where he was awarded the DipABRSM in Piano
Performance. Lewis has performed in venues such as St John's Smith Square and Steinway Hall as
well as received masterclasses from Joanna MacGregor, Murray McLachlan, Phillip Fowke, Ingrid
Jacoby and Yulia Chaplina. Performances include Shostakovich's Piano Concerto No. 2 with the
Russian National Orchestra, Finzi's Eclogue and Gershwin's 'I Got Rhythm' Variations. In addition to a
diverse traditional solo repertoire, Lewis has a wide knowledge of musical theatre, jazz standards and
popular songs.

I would like to thank, in no particular order, Raffaello Morales and the Fidelio Orchestra Cafe for
letting us put on this concert and play in this very special venue, The De Kooning Ensemble for
offering their time and sheer musicianship free of charge in order to make tonight’s concert happen,
and to friends and family for helping out on the night.

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