Recent Projects - 2017 [Earlier projects can be found here: 2016 2015 2014 2013 2012 2011 2010 ]
September 2017:
Alun performed with the Aurora Orchestra in Messiaen 's Oiseaux exotiques, perhaps the greatest musical representation of birdsong ever penned incorporating an astounding array of 47 species. Nicholas Collon conducted with Pierre-Laurent Aimard on piano.
Alun performed with Box9 drumline on ITV Channel 4's The Last Leg with Adam Hills, Josh Widdecombe and Alex Brooker.
August 2017:
Alun was selected to attend the London Symphony Orchestra's Timpani & Percussion Academy under Neil Percy, Nigel Thomas, Sam Walton, and Antoine Bedewi.
Alun performed at the final running of the Secret Garden Party festival with Box9 drumline.
July 2017:
Alun was principal percussionist with the RCM Symphony Orchestra conducted by Jac van Steen. The concert, which was significant as it was Alun's last performance as a scholar of the RCM, featured Dvorák's Cello Concerto in B minor op 104, with soloist Jamal Aliyev, Ligeti's Lontano, and Bartók's Concerto for Orchestra Sz 116 BB 123.
Alun performed on the Astrolabe stage, the Sensation Seekers stage and the Greenpeace party at the Glastonbury Festival with Box9 drumline.
June 2017:
Alun chose three diverse pieces for his final recital at Royal College of Music:
# Gyro - a high-octane multi-percussion piece written by Tomer Yariv for the Israeli duo PercaDu in 2005, performed with Stefan Beckett.
# The Dream of The Cherry Blossoms - a composition for solo marimba by Keiko Abe based on an improvisation on the theme of the Japanese folksong "Sakura, sakura..." where the world of fantasy is caught in an expanse of continuously falling cherry blossoms.
# Smooth Criminal by Michael Jackson. This piece was arranged by Beckett, Riby and McNeil-Watson as a drumline item for the occasion. It featured energetic stick work, tricks, and meticulous choreography and was performed with William Riby and Stefan Beckett.
May 2017:
Alun featured in the RCM's Percussion Showcase Concert
+ starting off leading the percussion department in an arrangement of Rossini's William Tell Overture
+ Max Mills arrangement of Pat Methany's The First Circle
+ Symon Clarke's Gamelan piece titled Oracle of the Sunrise
+ Alun's own arrangement of Percosso's Scrambled Eggs - a masterclass in the extended techniques available to the professional egg shaker virtuosi
+ and ending with the RCM's own Drumline Redhocks playing Alun's own work for drum corps and brass involving syncopated grooves and impressive stick tricks. The piece has ben heavily inspired by events that the RCM Percuission Faculty have taken part in over the year including 'Bang the Drum 2016' and an arrangement of Candy by Robbie Williams.
Alun was the timpanist with the RCM Philharmonic Orchestra performing Shostakovich's powerful tenth symphony. From tragedy to triumph, the symphony travels through terrifying march and waltz movements complete with military drums, depicting Stalin's time in power, and concludes with a victorious chord symbolising the end of his rule. Rafael Payare, chief conductor for the Ulster Orchestra, was the conductor.
April 2017:
Alun played the baroque timpanis and percussion in Rameau's Les Fêtes d'Hébé in a unique collaboration with the Académie de l'Opéra de Paris, the Centre de musique baroque de Versailles. and the RCM. This collaboration marks the first time that Rameau's most popular opera, written in 1739, has ever been performed in the UK.
March 2017:
Alun played percussion in Mahler's monumental Sixth Symphony, known as his 'Tragic' Symphony, with the RCM Symphony Orchestra. The conductor was the celebrated young British conductor Nicholas Collon, Principal Conductor and Artistic Director of the Aurora Orchestra.
February 2017:
Alun played the timpani as part of a Royal Gala hosted by HRH The Prince of Wales at Buckingham Palace celebrating the students, alumni and the work of the RCM.
Violinist Maxim Vengerov, Polonsky Visiting Professor of Violin, and alumnus conductor John Wilson joined former student Louise Alder (soprano), current student Emily Sun (violin), the RCM Symphony Orchestra and a selection of vocal students in an evening that showcased music and musicians from the UK's leading conservatoire.
The evening included a performance of Ein Ständchen, a song written by The Prince of Wales's great great great grandfather, Prince Albert. The piece was specially orchestrated by RCM composer Richard Miller and received its premiere at the Gala.
Alun played the timpani as part of the RCM Symphony Orchestra in a Master Class by world renowned violinist Maxim Vengerov, which featured a full performance of Brahm's Violin concerto by star RCM violinists.
January 2017:
Alun played with a percussion quartet in a concert of American composer David Lang's chamber music. Works performed included light moving, sweet air, lend/lease, these broken wings, and the so-called laws of nature.
Alun performed in the RCM Percussion Showcase with the international percussionist and composer Anders Åstrand, playing Bell Power and Kvart I Fyra.
Alun completed his second Pantomime Season in the pit featuring in all 57 performances of Cinderella at Newport's Riverfront Theatre with the Hiss & Boo Company and The Production Exchange.