London law firm Bishop & Sewell LLP has been announced as sponsor of the London Phoenix Orchestra’s spring and summer concert season, which features one of its Trainee Solicitors as a Piano Concerto soloist.
The agreement will support the orchestra’s musical activities, ensuring that audiences can enjoy live classical music at some of London’s top concert venues over the coming months.
The London Phoenix Orchestra of the Insurance Orchestral Society (originally The Insurance Orchestra) was founded in 1924 by Harold Rawlinson to provide members of the insurance industry with an opportunity to meet regularly and enjoy playing music together. Today players are drawn from all backgrounds, not just the insurance industry, and include music students and it is considered one of London’s finest amateur orchestras.
Stephen Smithers is a Trainee Solicitor in Bishop and Sewell’s Employment team, and will be performing as a solo pianist at the orchestra’s Spring Concert, which is being held at St John’s, Smith Square on Wednesday 26 April from 7.30pm.
The Orchestra will be delivering a varied programme – Smetana’s lively overture to “The Bartered Bride” opens the concert before Stephen joins to perform Shostakovich’s perennially popular “Piano Concerto No.2”. Dvořák’s “Sixth Symphony” rounds the concert off, which was one of the first pieces to bring this great composer’s music to an international audience.
Stephen said: “I have been performing as a viola player with the London Phoenix Orchestra since 2018, but this is my first concert as a solo pianist with the orchestra. I’m thrilled and privileged to have the opportunity to perform such an uplifting, humorous, youthful piece of music, and I hope these themes will be shine through in the upcoming performance.
“The Orchestra offers a fantastic forum for busy professionals to come together to rehearse, play and enjoy making music each week, and this approach strikes the right balance between maintaining high standards in performance whilst ensuring we all enjoy our time together. Music is a real passion of mine, and I am very fortunate that Bishop & Sewell has been so supportive while I continue my training.”
Bishop & Sewell’s Senior Partner, Mark Chick, said: “As a registered charity, the Insurance Orchestral Society is reliant on the generosity of a variety of companies and individuals to support its valuable work. We are delighted to announce our partnership with the London Phoenix Orchestra, and we are particularly looking forward to welcoming our clients and friends to two special concerts in the coming months.”
The London Phoenix Orchestra continues its concert series with its Summer Concert, which will be held in Cadogan Hall on Tuesday 27 June. The programme will feature performances of works by Poulenc, Satie and Stravinsky.
For more information about the London Phoenix Orchestra please visit: http://londonphoenixorchestra.org/
