The April 2017 Concerts in the West series features none other than the supremely talented international cellist Bartholomew LaFollette, who was described by the Irish Times as being: “As free in touching the heartstrings as he was in dashing off dazzling runs.”

An award winning soloist and chamber musician with many noteworthy achievements to his name, LaFollette studied at the Yehudi Menuhin School and the Guildhall School of Music & Drama. His career was launched by the Young Classical Artists Trust and he has performed at many prestigious venues, including Wigmore Hall, Barbican Centre, Bridgewater Hall and Royal Festival Hall.

His outstanding ability was recognised in 2013 when he won first prize at The Arts Club’s and Decca Records’ Classical Music Award. He was also the first person to receive the Irish Chamber Orchestra’s Ardan Award.

Highlights from LaFollette’s career include performances with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and, as a soloist with the City of London Sinfonia. He performs frequently with the award winning Doric String Quartet and at just 26 years of age, in 2011, he became principal cello teacher at the Yehudi Menuhin School.

Caroline Palmer studied at the Guildhall School of Music & Drama and was a finalist in the Busoni competition. She has played in the USA and in much of Europe and is well known as both a solo pianist and chamber musician. Caroline has recorded for British, Swiss, French, German and Italian radio stations and has made televised appearances in Italy and Bulgaria.

Caroline’s latest CDs include the cello sonatas of Saint-Saens, Faure and Busoni and the Brahms violin sonatas with Krzysztof Smietana. She has made numerous recordings as soloist and chamber musician for the BBC. She has been a piano professor at the Guildhall since 1990, where she coaches chamber repertoire as well as teaching individual students.

Catherine Maddocks, founder and director of Concerts in the West is delighted to have secured Bartholomew LaFollette for the April series, saying: “Bartholomew is one of the most exciting young classical talents in Britain and is admired equally for his solo, duo and concerto performances. His duo partner, Caroline Palmer, is a prize winning pianist with an established reputation and together they make a wonderful musical combination.”

Evening Recital programme
JS Bach Cello Suite No 4 In E Flat Major; Schubert Arpeggione Sonata In A Minor D821; Britten Cello Sonata In C Major (1960); Brahms Cello Sonata No 2 In F, Op. 99

Performance and Box Office Details

Thursday 6 April 2017 7.30pm, Lower Pulworthy, Highampton, Hatherleigh, Devon EX21 5LQ. Box Office: 01837 810940 (Salar Gallery, 18/20 Bridge Street, Hatherleigh EX20 3HY. 9am-5pm) or book at Eventbrite www.eventbrite.co.uk or you can buy on the night from 6.45pm, when the doors open, but it is worth checking ticket availability beforehand and advance booking is advised. Tickets: £15. Concessions for students and children.Interval drinks, parking.

Lower Pulworthy is an old rural farmhouse, approximately two miles out of Hatherleigh on the A3072. Take a right turn which is signposted to Legge Fisheries. Follow the road up the hill and take the right fork, which will lead you down a bumpy drive. You will see gate posts ahead of you and you will have arrived. There are several farm buildings, but they are no longer in use. The concert is in the house. Please park where you can find a space.