Tuesday 5 May 2015
7:00pm – 8:00pm

Lisa Ueda: Children’s Day Recital

13/14 Cornwall Terrace, London NW1 4QP

Organised by the Daiwa Anglo-Japanese Foundation

The Daiwa Anglo-Japanese Foundation hosted a solo recital by award-winning violinist Ms Lisa Ueda, in aid of the children of Fukushima, who have still been suffering from the effects of the Tohoku earthquake and tsunami disasters. The 5^th of May is Kodomo no hi (Children’s Day) in Japan, and Lisa also performed at the Foundation on Children’s Day in 2011.

Lisa performed some solo Bach and was then later joined by her distinguished colleagues, Ian Byrne Brito and Nigel Blomiley, for the gloriously bubbly Beethoven Serenade op 8. The three have formed the Anern String Trio, a vibrant ensemble which is the result of Nigel’s desire to share over forty years of music-making experience with younger colleagues who have already commenced promising careers.

Lisa and the Daiwa Foundation appealed to the audience to support Academy Camp, a Japanese charity helping and supporting the children of Fukushima to expand their experience of study by taking them to academic camps. GlobalGiving, a crowdfunding service for non-profits around the world, generously matched 100% all donations to Academy Camp for children in Fukushima and other Tohoku projects.

AcademyCamp on GlobalGiving

About the contributors

Lisa Ueda

Lisa Ueda works regularly in Europe and Asia as a solo violinist and recitalist. Lisa made her début at Wigmore Hall with Daniele Rinaldo as the Ueda/Rinaldo Duo on 12 April 2015, through the prestigious Kirckman Concert Society Award. The Duo have recently embarked on a highly acclaimed Scotland Tour, through winning the Tunnell Trust Award. Her latest performance venues include St John’s Smith Square, St Martin-in-the-Fields, St James’s Piccadilly, St George’s Bristol, Teatro Verde Italy, Symphony Hall Japan, Izumi Hall Japan, and Festival Hall Japan. First prize winner in many competitions, Lisa has received the ABRSM Macklin Bursary Award; Carr-Gregory Award; San Martino Scholarship; Bach Prize; Goetze Bequest Award; Arthur Hervey Scholarship; Clumber Studio Scholarship; Kobler Award; Poulett Scholarship; D Day Fund Award; and the Moir Carnegie Prize for Violin.

Charitable causes have always been close to Lisa’s heart, focusing her efforts lately on Save the Children Japan and the Childhood Eye Cancer Trust, in aid of young people as well as for hospices. A number of her performances annually are solely for such trusts. Also passionate about creating bridges for UK-Japan relations, she has performed for various special guests over the years, including International Olympic Committee guests during the London 2012 Olympics for Tokyo 2020. Lisa performs on a 1775 Antonio Gagliano violin on kind loan from Stringers, London.

Ian Byrne Brito

Ian Byrne Brito was born in the UK but brought up in Spain. He graduated as a performer and teacher from The Hague Royal Conservatory and went on to complete a masters at the Royal Academy of Music in London where he studied with James Sleigh. Since graduating, Ian has developed a successful international performing career and has won several prestigious awards and scholarships. He continues to perform and teach alongside his role as Assistant Manager and Viola Specialist with Stringers in London, a role he took up in February 2013.

Nigel Blomiley

Nigel Blomileyis one of the most distinguished principal cellists in the country. Pierre Fournier, with whom he studied, described his playing as “very musical” and “creating a marvellous atmosphere”. Largely self-taught, Nigel Blomiley did not begin any musical training until he was fourteen years old, by twenty he was playing professionally and soon established himself on the front desk of the BBC Northern Symphony Orchestra. Since 1981 since he was appointed principal cellist of the BBC Concert Orchestra, Nigel has toured in Spain, Italy, Germany as well as North America, Japan and Hong Kong. He has worked with distinguished conductors including Sir Charles Mackerras, Vernon Handley, Sir Peter Maxwell Davies and world-renowned soloists such as Dame Kiri Te Kanawa, Yehudi Menuhin, Cliff Richard, and Dionne Warwick. He also featured regularly as a soloist with the Orchestra at many major venues in the U.K and for radio and television broadcasts. Nigel recently relinquished this post with the Concert Orchestra to devote more time to chamber-music and teaching. As a chamber musician, he was a member of the Ad Solem Ensemble which was resident at Manchester University and also formed Archi da Camera, a string sextet which performed in may national venues.