Braimah Kanneh-Mason Honors Youth Orchestras at Brighton Festival

That's precisely why he is thrilled to be part of the Brighton & East Sussex Youth Orchestra during this year's Brighton Festival, performing at the Brighton Dome Concert Hall on Monday, May 12 at 7:30 PM (tickets available through Brighton Festival).

Braimah will perform as the soloist for Coleridge-Taylor’s Violin Concerto in G minor Op 80. Conducted by Peter Davison, the performance will also include Farrenc’s Overture No 1 in E minor; Mussorgsky’s Night on a Bare Mountain; and Tchaikovsky’s The Nutcracker Suite Op.71a.

“Performing with a youth orchestra is particularly thrilling,” Braimah remarks. “My memories of those times remain vivid. When you participate in such ensembles, the difference in age between the soloist and the rest of the group isn’t significant, which fosters a closer connection. In my view, youth orchestras hold immense value since classical music can sometimes appear exclusive to older audiences. Additionally, we hear frequent reports about cuts in music education. Youth orchestras like the Brighton & East Sussex Youth Orchestra aren't only crucial for their members’ development but also vital for sustaining the future of music.”

The initial youth orchestra I participated in was the Nottingham Youth Orchestra, where I had the immediate experience of connecting with peers who shared similar interests. This provided me with my first exposure to a musical community, which I found incredibly motivating.

Regarding the Coleridge-Taylor composition: "He is indeed an intriguing composer whose life was marked by considerable tragedy in various aspects, yet it’s crucial that we celebrate his musical contributions. The violin concerto stands out as grand in scope and orchestral in nature. He possesses a remarkable talent for crafting melodies, producing some of the loveliest tunes within the classical canon."

Perhaps his work is gaining recognition today, but he has undoubtedly faced neglect: "If we examine the annals of music history, we find that he composed a piece called 'Hiawatha' which was performed numerous times at the Albert Hall. However, the royalties agreement he entered into was merely a single payment, sadly. Despite this, his composition was immensely popular, and it’s important for people to have the chance to listen to such pieces. I am deeply thankful and thrilled to perform this composition now. It feels extraordinary to bring attention to a piece that truly merits being heard more often."

Coleridge-Taylor (who passed away from pneumonia at the young age of 37 in 1912, frequently attributed to the strain caused by his difficult financial circumstances) initially pursued playing the violin before delving into composing. His concerto is highly virtuosic and requires exceptional technical skill. Given his background as a violinist, it’s evident that he had an intimate understanding of the instrument when writing this piece; one can clearly see how comfortable he was with it. Despite being somewhat intricate, it remains deeply gratifying. This work falls firmly within the Romantic genre, exemplified by early 20th-century British compositions akin to those of Elgar—pieces characterised by abundant use of vibrato and expressive manipulation of timing through slowing down and speeding up. Particularly throughout the first movement, Coleridge-Taylor provides precise tempo indications yet still encourages performers to playfully engage with these timings.