'Susanna MacRae as Mabel has a thrilling voice with top notes that reminded me of "The Lark Ascending", so high and beautiful are they. A petite and pretty Mabel, who has grace, command and so much else in her slim frame, Susanna is clearly destined for a great career in music and theatre.'

Jazz, classical and big band were on the musical repertoire at the 2013 Guernsey Sinfonietta concert which was held last month.

More than 400 people attended the two concerts on Wednesday 24 July and Saturday 27 July which were performed by 70 of the island’s most accomplished musicians together with a number of the UK’s top young professionals.

The Sinfonietta jazz night saw the full orchestra entertaining the audience with ‘Rhapsody in Blue’ and Bernstein’s ‘Wonderful Town’. The brass section then took to the stage in big band style to perform a number of classic swing hits including ‘New York, New York’, ‘Come Fly with Me’ and ‘Feeling Good’.

The main concert on Saturday showcased a number of classical pieces including Mahler’s ‘Symphony no. 5’ and Beethoven’s ‘Piano Concert no. 3’ and an outstanding performance by local piano soloist Susanna MacRae.

The two events were sponsored by BWCI, Rothschild, the Guernsey Arts Commission and Butterfield Bank.

“The repertoire performed at this year’s concert was enormously enjoyed by the 400 people who were able to able to attend,” said John Robinson, Managing Director of Butterfield in Guernsey.

“We are very pleased to support the island’s young musicians who perform as part of the Sinfonietta annual concert which is a great opportunity for them to produce a concert hall performance and a chance for the local community to enjoy their musical talent.”

Founder and principal conductor of the Guernsey Sinfonietta Sebastian Grand said: “I am delighted to have celebrated the fifth year of the Guernsey Sinfonietta in such a special manner. Such concerts would never be possible without the help of our sponsors and I thank them sincerely for their support over our first five years.”

Inspired by Indonesian arts and cultural traditions, Indonesia Kontemporer, is a creative event mixing exhibitions, performances, workshops, crafts, film screenings, as well as food and handicrafts stalls.  Artists and crafts people participating in this event hailed from many parts of the world outside Indonesia. With their acute awareness of the source tradition while engaging with lives abroad, these works and offerings do not only remain inspired by Indonesian tradition but in turn contribute to shaping the arts and crafts of contemporary Indonesia.

Fiona le Tissier plays 'The Ash Grove' from Susanna MacRae's Britten Folk Songs.

Conductor: Roger Coull

Mozart Overture: La Clemenza de Tito

Strauss Oboe Concerto in D Major

Soloist: Oliver Philips Mozart Exsultate

Jubilate, K165

Soloist: Susanna Macrae

Britten Three Folk Songs

Soloist: Susanna Macrae

Beethoven Symphony No 2, Op.36 in D Major In this year’s annual concert; Oliver Philips plays one of the most challenging works in the oboe repertoire, the late Strauss concerto, written after the end of the Second World War. Oliver has won many prizes while studying at the Royal College of Music, including the Evelyn Rothwell Oboe Prize and gained his postgraduate degree, Master of Performance, with Distinction. He has recently completed a one year placement playing with the BBC Symphony Orchestra.

Susanna Macrae also graduated from the Royal College of Music in 2013 having achieved a Distinction in the College’s Concerto Competition and is now embarking on her career in London both playing piano and singing with several choirs. She is a chorus member with Park Opera and recently sang the solo part in Fauré’s Requiem with the Uxbridge Choral Society. In this concert she sings Mozart’s glorious ‘Exsultate Jubilate’ and some of Britten’s most delightful folk songs.

Tickets £15, £12, £6 restricted view, students free.

A welcome return by some of Guernsey’s most talented young musicians for the first concert of this popular Camerata weekend. All the performers are currently studying at top UK music conservatoires and universities.

The concert features Chiara Beebe - cello, Laura Campbell - oboe and cor anglais, Tom Hicks - piano, James Keirle - trombone and tuba, Susanna MacRae - Piano and Rhiain Taylor - mezzo-soprano.

The programme includes:

Liszt Schubert Song transcriptions

Mendelssohn Variations Sérieuses Op. 54 (piano)

Jos Jongen Aria et Polonaise (trombone)

Joseph Arban Fantasie Brilliante (tuba)

Schumann Adagio and Allegro (cello)

Extracts from Stravinsky’s Petrushka as well as English and French songs including works by Fauré.

An evening which promises to delight its regular supporters and inspire the next generation of young musicians. Not to be missed! Admission free with a retiring collection.

Kindly supported by BWCI Group and St James Youth Promotions Trust.