MEDIA RELEASE

4 March 2003

For Immediate Release

OXFORD PHILOMUSICA PLAYS AT THE PALACES

Oxford Philomusica is delighted to have been invited to perform at not one, but two, of Londonπs great royal Palaces: St Jamesπs Palace and Kensington Palace.

On 12 May 2003, the orchestraπs Patron and world-renowned pianist and conductor Vladimir Ashkenazy will conduct the orchestra for a performance at St Jamesπs Palace in the presence of HRH Prince Phillip, Duke of Edinburgh. The concert is being held in aid of the Princeπs own charity: The Outward Bound Trust, and the programme will include Mozartπs Piano Concerto K271 which Ashkenazy will conduct from the keyboard.

Before that, the orchestra will present itself at Kensington Palace on 17 March, to perform for HRH Prince Michael of Kent and guests, in aid of the Live Action Trust. On this occasion the Oxford Philomusica Orchestra will be under the direction of its Music Director, Marios Papadopoulos.

Dr Papadopoulos said ≥we are honoured that the Oxford Philomusica Orchestra has been invited to perform for such an auspicious occasion in St Jamesπ Palace.≤ He added: ≥the Kensington Palace invitation will also be a very exciting event for us. To play in two such world-famous royal palaces within a few weeks must be fairly unusual for any orchestra. It also gives us great pleasure to be assisting two such very worthy charities.≤

Before either of these royal concerts, the Oxford Philomusica continues with its seasonπs programmes in the Sheldonian Theatre, Oxford. On 13 March they will perform Beethovenπs highly popular Eroica Symphony alongside Mozartπs Violin Concerto K219 with the gifted Japanese violinist Mayumi Fujikawa.

Ends

For further information, pictures and interview opportunities, please contact Carole Radford: 01753 771849; 07770 543616, Carole@caroleradfordpr.com

CONCERT SERIES

Thursday 13 March 2003 8pm Sheldonian Theatre, Oxford

MOZART Violin Concerto No 5 in A major, K 219

BEETHOVEN Symphony No 3 in E flat major, Op 55 (Eroica)

Mayumi Fujikawa - violin

Marios Papadopoulos - conductor

Friday 4 April 2003 8pm Sheldonian Theatre, Oxford

MOZART Piano Concerto in D minor, K.466

SAINT-SAENS Symphony No 3 in C minor (Organ)

Simon Preston - Organ

Marios Papadopoulos - piano/conductor

Supported by John Leighfield CBE

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Friday 16 May 2003 8pm Sheldonian Theatre, Oxford

RACHMANINOV Piano Concerto No. 3 in D minor Op 30

TCHAIKOVSKY Symphony No. 4 in F minor Op 36

Peter Donohoe - piano

Marios Papadopoulos - conductor

The Oxford Philomusica

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Friday 6 June 2002 8pm Sheldonian Theatre, Oxford

MAJOR BRAHMS SERIES II

Concerto for Violin and Violoncello in A minor

Symphony No. 2

Thomas Bowes - violin

Raphael Wallfisch ≠ cello

Marios Papadopoulos - conductor

Notes for Editors

The Oxford Philomusica was founded in 1998 and has since developed to become the most significant musical resource in Oxford. It was launched with a concert at Londonπs Barbican Centre in November 1998 and gave its Oxford debut the following February at The Sheldonian Theatre. A television documentary, produced by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, highlighted the Oxford Philomusicaπs mission to establish a professional symphony orchestra in the University City and was broadcast to an audience of over 400 million people world-wide. As recognition of its work, the Oxford Philomusica was honoured at a reception at 10 Downing Street in April 2002, hosted by Cherie Blair.

In February 2001, Vladimir Ashkenazy, Patron of the Oxford Philomusica, appeared with the orchestra as soloist and conductor at Oxfordπs Apollo Theatre. Internationally acclaimed soloists who have appeared with the orchestra include Steven Isserlis, Angela Hewitt, Cristina Ortiz, Oxana Yablonskaya, Maurice Hasson, Jean-Bernard Pommier, Igor Oistrakh, Charles Rose and John Lill. The Oxford Philomusicaπs diverse range of promotions and other activities have made a considerable contribution to Oxfordπs musical life, attracting critical praise and securing a supportive audience for its work.

Education and community work, a central part of the orchestraπs mission, continues to grow. Oxford Philomusica has funded pilot projects in the Wood Farm area of Oxford and at the Oxford Hospital School. The success of these schemes, together with close collaboration with hospital boards, has led to a proposal for Oxford Philomusica to become the resident orchestra at the John Radcliffe Hospital.

Beyond Oxford, the orchestra has extended its touring programme to undertake visits to Switzerland, Cyprus and Azerbaijan. In March 2000, the Oxford Philomusica performed before a capacity audience at the prestigious Sale Gaveau, Paris, and has recently appeared to high critical acclaim at the Athens Megaron. Its commitment to performing in London continued with a concert given at the Queen Elizabeth Hall in February 2000 with further concerts planned.

Marios Papadopoulos, Founder and Music Director of the Oxford Philomusica, made his London debut in 1974, since when his career as pianist and conductor has developed on the international stage. His interpretations of the Beethoven Sonatas, currently being recorded, have compared with those of Schnabel, Brendel, Barenboim and Kempff (Daily Telegraph and Classic FM Magazine Criticsπ Choice).

In August 1999, the Oxford Philomusica presented the first International Piano Festival to be held in Oxford, in collaboration with the European Piano Teachers Association. Described as "the most significant annual musical event in the city" (Oxford Times), the Oxford Philomusica International Piano Festival now enjoys an international reputation as a centre of learning for the musicians of tomorrow. The festival attracts a world class line up of visiting artists of the highest calibre and widest possible breadth of musical experience and the 2003 International Piano Festival intends to build on its enviable record by offering an embarrassment of riches from the piano world.

2002 saw welcome returns by such esteemed artists as Cristina Ortiz, Niel Immelman, Bryce Morrison, Maria Curcio, Marios Papadopoulos, Malcolm Troup and Malcolm Young. Distinguished new participators included John Lill, Christopher Elton, Jack Gibbons, Martino Tirimo and Charles Rosen. Demand for residential places exceeded previous years with students travelling from around the world in order to be part of this unique musical experience. This year the festival runs from 3-10 August 2003.

In October 2002, Oxford Philomusica was appointed as Orchestra in Residence to the University of Oxford. The appointed is for an initial five-year period. As part of the University Residency, the orchestra will continue to collaborate with the Faculty of Music on student education programmes. The highly successful Orchestral Apprenticeship Scheme, now in its fourth year, will once again provide orchestral experience to selected students. Philomusica musicians will also offer training to individual students enrolled on the Faculty's Orchestral Studies Course. As part of its residency, Oxford Philomusica will offer, amongst other programmes, a series of masterclasses for students, conducting classes, provide coaching to students playing in the Universityπs Orchestras, appoint a composer-in-residence from the Faculty of Music, work closely with the Faculty of Music to establish major conferences and colloquia. In addition, the Orchestra hopes to develop a number of pioneering schemes with other University departments using its resources of professional performing musicians to explore non-musical areas of work and research such as medical and neurological research, the psychology of music and performance and the effects of music on a childπs ability to learn.