on 10 February 2024
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Jamaal Kashim, solo harp
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Jamaal Kashim, solo harp
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Inez Karlsson, cello
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Inez Karlsson, cello
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Miriam Grant, violin
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Miriam Grant, violin
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Matty Oxtoby, piano
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Matty Oxtoby, piano
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The Mayor of Woking, Cllr M Ilyas Raja
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Alison Rhind, piano accompaniment
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Kumi, Jamaal, Matty, The Mayor, Miriam, Inez
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It was an incredibly pleasurable evening given by four very talented young performers. Listening to four different instruments in one evening is such an enthralling experience, and the diverse range of sound varieties, tones and colours was priceless. Not only were this year’s performers (harpist Jamaal, cellist Inez, violinist Miriam and pianist Matty) talented, we also felt that they showed way more than what had been taught and instructed by their teachers. At such a young age, they certainly had their own convincing style of expressing and conveying messages to the audience.
I took full advantage of sitting next to the Mayor and Mayoress in the front row, and was fascinated by how effortlessly Jamaal Kashim negotiated the harp strings (particularly the top range) and pedals. It was amazing how one instrument created an incredible range of tones - from the shiveringly deep sound to feathery light tingling. The most notable was the lowest register notes in Hindemith’s Sonata that sounded almost like a majestic pipe organ - really impressive. In Grandjany’s Rhapsodie, Jamaal created a surreal orchestral world, which felt like it was surrounding us.
Jamaal passed the baton to cellist Inez Karlsson, who started her programme with Beethoven’s Variations. It was as if we were having a sweet dream – Inez’ sounds were so pure and transparent, creating beautiful singing lines. Dvorak’s Waldescruhe brought heartfelt serenity and stillness – a truly moving account. Popper’s Elfentanz was insanely fantastic, both eye popping and jaw dropping.
The abrupt start of Subito jolted the audience up. Miriam Grant made this piece into a fierce and dynamic drama, keeping the audience glued. Debussy’s Sonata was atmospheric and sensuous as Miriam entertained us with many textures and layers of sounds. The interaction between Miriam and Alison was naturally flowing. Clara Schumann’s glorious Romance sent us to a peaceful and pleasurable state.
The final performer of the evening was pianist Matty Oxtoby. He was in the groove right from the beginning. Rachmaninov’s Etude-Tableau Op. 39 No. 5 had such an emotional whirlwind and surge. In Chopin’s Scherzo No. 2 Matty expressed oppressing dark sarcasm and hopeful tenderness. Matty allowed the piece to breathe, which added extra freshness. And what a pleasure to listen to his own composition, so original and articulately expressed.
We cannot be more grateful to our piano collaborator Alison Rhind for her contributions to the evening. We are also very thankful for the attendance of the Mayor and Mayoress of Woking and it was a pleasure to celebrate the depth of talent in the community with them and our loyal audience.
- Jamaal Kashim, harp
- Paul Hindemith: Sonate fur harfe
- Marcel Grandjany: Rhapsodie pour la harpe
- Inez Karlsson, cello
accompanied by Alison Rhind
- Beethoven: 7 variations on ‘Bei Männern, welche Liebermann fühlen’ from Mozart's The Magic Flute
- Dvorak: Waldesruhe
- Popper: Elfentanz
- Miriam Grant, violin
accompanied by Alison Rhind- Lutoslawski: Subito for Violin and Piano
- Debussy: Sonata for Violin and Piano, L.140
- Clara Schumann: Number 3 (Leidenschaftlich schnell) from her 3 Romances for Violin and Piano, Opus 22
- Matty Oxtoby, piano
- Rachmaninov: Etude-Tableau Op.39 No.5
- Oxtoby: Alpenglockenlauten
- Chopin: Scherzo No. 2 in B flat minor Op.31
Jamaal Kashim is a harpist, studying with Professor Daphne Boden at the Royal College of Music Junior Department (RCMJD). He was inspired to do so following a family concert with the LSO, having been dazzled by the sound of the opening twelve notes to the Danse Macabre. Since then, he has shown himself equally accomplished in both orchestral and recital settings, in addition to performing as a concert harpist. He is thrice winner of RCMJD’s Gordon Turner Harp Competition, twice runner up of their Barbara Boissard Concerto Competition and was awarded first prize at Silk Street Junior Concerto Competition.
Inez Karlsson began playing the cello at the age of 6 with Maryan Balkwill at the Colourstrings Music School. Since the age of 10 she has been studying at the Royal College of Music Junior Department. For five years she studied with the late Michal Kaznowski, and from autumn 2023 she has started to study with Professor Melissa Phelps from the Royal College of Music. She is a music scholar at the Godolphin and Latymer School.
Miriam Grant was born in 2007 and is a music scholar at Guildford High School, currently studying for her GCSE's. Miriam started learning the violin at the age of six, studying for several years with Natasha Boyarsky and latterly with Lutsia Ibragimova and Alison Rhind. She has been a student at the Junior Department of the Royal College of Music since 2019, where she has played with a variety of chamber music groups. Miriam also plays with the Stoneleigh Youth Orchestra.
Matty Oxtoby is 17 years old and a lower sixth former at Reigate Grammar School. He started to play piano at the age of 5 and is taught by Andrew Zolinsky, having previously been a pupil of the late Niel Immelman. He is in his sixth year attending the Royal College of Music Junior Department where he also studies cello and composition.
Alison Rhind is recognised as one of the leading collaborative pianists specialising in the repertoire for piano and strings. Her ability to accompany was recognised and nurtured at an early age whilst still at Chetham’s School of Music and she became increasingly in demand throughout her time at Oxford University where she read Music at Wadham College. Chetham’s invited her back immediately she had finished her degree but she completed her studies with Edith Vogel at the Guildhall School of Music before returning there.