MrQ

Concert

Quite a few concerts in the diary already! April Royal Orchestral Society Saturday 5th April 2025, 7.00pmDuke’s Hall, Royal Academy of MusicConducted by Rebecca Miller Elgar – In the South (Alassio)Machonchy – Bassoon Concertino (Amy Harman)Holst – The Planets Probably only involved in the Holst, but couldn’t resist the call to play this work again after so many years, in the RAM too. Regent Brass – 40th Anniversary Celebration Regent Brass are celebrating their 40th Anniversary on Saturday April 26th. I was a…

Blood Cancer UK 2025 Fundraiser

March 17, 2025

Today I had my 6 month consultation with my haematologist – almost 2 years after I finished treatment for my Hairy Cell Leukaemia relapse. The news is all good, as normal as can be – next check-up in 6 months. So, in addition to a consultation in September, I will be running The Big Half in London, raising funds for Blood Cancer UK. This is my second time doing this particular half-marathon, having previously completed it in (checking Strava…) in…

Winter, Spring 2025 Concerts

January 19, 2025

Blog, Music

A busy start to the year, several concerts already in the calendar, playing with new groups and some interesting and nostalgic repertoire! A few challenges also! BBC Ariel Orchestra February 2, 2pm, BBC Maida Vale Studios, Delaware Road, London Conductor: Mark Eager My first concert with BBC Ariel Orchestra, playing repertoire that I’ve not played since my Junior National Youth Orchestra of Ireland days! I last played Bolero in the final concert of our tour in Cyprus in Summer of…

Upcoming Concerts

October 20, 2024

Concert

I’ve been pretty poor this year at website updates! Getting into the busy season, have a few concerts with some interesting repertoire that I’m very much looking forward to. November Sunday 3rd – Weekend Opera Workshops – Bruckner Symphony No. 5 This is a repertoire day with WOW. I’ve not played a Bruckner symphony yet, so looking forward to this. There is a concert listed here on my blog from 2017 showing Bruckner No. 4 – but that is one…

Hairy Cell Leukaemia Relapse – 2 Year Update

August 26, 2024

It’s been 2 years now since finding out my Hairy Cell Leukaemia had relapsed. I’ve blogged about this previously in more detail, basically, not the news we wanted at the time. Looking back the treatment and recovery journey was very different to the first episode. Long story short, my recent haematology results (last week) came out all pretty much in normal expected ranges, nothing that the consultant is worried or concerned about – next check up in 6 months. I’ve…

A Time to Say at the Bigg Theatre

August 10, 2024

Blog, Concert, Music

We are delighted to share that “A time to say Bocelli and Brightman” will be coming to the fabulous Bigg Theatre in Biggleswade on Saturday 17th August at 8pm. A musical tribute to classical singers Andrea Bocelli and Sarah Brightman, performed by Howard Ellis and Helen Power. Enjoy beautiful music from Italian opera, film, and theatre to classical chart hits. In Time To Say Bocelli & Brightman, Howard and Helen explore the stars’ solo careers and their famous duets. Click…

HCL Relapse 12 Months On

December 1, 2023

This day last year I started chemotherapy for my relapse of Hairy Cell Leukaemia. It’s hard to believe it’s been 12 months but thankfully, here we are! At the time, my calendar was filled with chemotherapy appointments and blood tests, every two weeks running until end of May, but in our minds, we were taking it one day at a time. Looking forward at the time, all we had to go on was what happened during my initial treatment, neutropenia,…

Upcoming Concerts

November 19, 2023

Blog

Long overdue a post on my blog – will start with some upcoming concerts! It does appear to be a mini-tour of “St James’s” Churches… 🙂 London International Orchestra St James’s Church, Piccadilly Thursday 23rd November – 7:30pm Conductor: Alexander Walker Tickets from Eventbrite London Euphonia Orchestra St James’s Church, Sussex Gardens Saturday 25th November – 7:30pm Conductor: Dario Peluso Tickets on Eventbrite Hitchin Band – The Snowman Saturday 2nd December Performances at St Mary’s Church, Hitchin at the following…

Ride London 2023 Done

June 13, 2023

It’s been a couple of weeks since the ride so about time for me to do a write up! In summary, this year it was a very smooth ride, in that I wasn’t held up by any incidents, there were no warnings of thumb tacks on the road, the weather was just right, wasn’t too windy, wasn’t too warm.. just right. I set off from the house shortly after 5am on the morning of the ride. In previous rides, I…

6 Month Update

May 26, 2023