For our second classic music concert of 2024 we are very pleased to welcome for the first time performing at the Old Low Light, John Treherne MBE on the harpsichord and cellist Gordon Dixon.
The concert will include some baroque pieces featuring cello and harpsichord duos, but also leaving room for some solo harpsichord items.
Centre director Guy Moody said: “We are able to bring our 2024 winter classic music performances with very welcome support from the Mouth of the Tyne Festival Collective and through once again working with renowned, local professional musicians and teachers, David and Jennifer Murray who are passionate about bringing top quality classical music close to home at a reasonable cost in challenging times.
“The Old Low Light provides an intimate venue for these classic concerts and the programme means our audiences can hear top class performers and discover from them the stories behind the composers and their compositions. All the classic concerts will be introduced by the performers to give audiences a deeper understanding of the music they are listening to.”
More about John and Gordon
Both are highly accomplished musicians, who regularly perform together.
John is an acknowledged education specialist, who is published in his field. He was head of Gateshead’s award-winning music service until his retirement in 2014, now operating as a freelance consultant, leading in-service music courses and examiner throughout the UK.
He performs widely with the York-based ensemble Concert Royal as a specialist performer on period instruments, harpsichord and fortepiano and has toured Europe and the Americas with this ensemble. He has produced several LPs, CDs and cassettes.
Gordon comes from Newcastle and began cello lessons at 14. Rapid progress led to him winning a scholarship at 17 to study at Trinity College of Music, London where he won several prizes including the Sir John Barbirolli Memorial Prize.
On being awarded the Fellowship Diploma he continued his studies privately with the eminent British cellists Christopher Bunting and William Pleeth.
Gordon has performed throughout Britain in numerous solo recitals and has appeared in prestigious venues such as the Wigmore Hall and Purcell Room in London with the Roth Quartet.
In 1991 he was invited to America by the conductor Benjamin Zander and was appointed director of Walnut Hill School in Boston and taught at the New England Conservatory of Music.
While there he performed on occasion as principal cello with the Boston Philharmonic Orchestra, as well as performing on tour with international solo-cellist Yo-Yo Ma and jazz singer Bobby McFerrin.
He returned to Newcastle to focus on establishing the Avison Ensemble, of which he is director. It is now recognised internationally as one of the finest period instrument ensembles in Englan
