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Simon Mayor & Hilary James
“Sheer Musical Brilliance”
'Remarkable and entertaining with it.' ****
Duo - Vocal & Instrumental
Instrumentation
- Simon Mayor - Mandolin/Mandola/Mandocello/Fiddle/Guitar
- Hilary James - Voice/Mandobass/Guitar
Repertoire
A superbly entertaining mix of instrumental music, song, poetry and humorous anecdotes in a show that ranges from movingly evocative to hilarious.
World class mandolin, elegant vocals, guitar and fiddle wizardry...anything from a Vivaldi concerto to a tango, folksong, 1930s swing or French Chanson...and of course one or two of Simon's comic ditties reminiscent of Flanders and Swan!
Also available for children's concerts/workshops. Primary and secondary age ranges.
NB: Please note the fee depends on schedule - please enquire for a quote.
Biography
Simon Mayor
‘One of the world’s great mandolinists’ (BBC Radio 3), composer and wit. Simon’s many-faceted career has taken in two nights at Wembley Arena as soloist with the BBC Concert Orchestra, his own series on BBC Radio 2, an album in the Classic FM Top Ten chart, a song on The Simpsons, causing mayhem at a Canadian humour festival, and most memorably.... a trip through the square window on BBC TV’s iconic children's programme Play School.
Hilary James
‘One of Britain’s finest voices' (BBC Radio 4), Hilary has recorded six solo albums, including collections of Scottish, English and Irish folksongs; traditional blues and forays into French chansons, Berlioz and Irving Berlin. She has recorded As well as her fine singing she plays guitar on anything from Vivaldi to an Irish jig. She also has an unlikely taste in bass instruments, including the amazing mandobass!
Together - Mayor and James DUO
Captivating live performers they have toured the globe from Seattle to Singapore, taking in a truly diverse roster of classical, world, folk and humour festivals, including the Classical Mandolin Society of America, Rudoldstat World Music Festival (Germany), the Vancouver Folk Festival (Canada), the Stephen Leacock Humor Festival (Canada), The Henley Festival, Cheltenham Literature Festival and Sidmouth Folk Festival. They host regular vocal and instrumental music workshops including twice yearly at The National Centre for Folk Arts in Halsway Manor, in Somerset.
They share a passionate interest in children’s music and have worked extensively with young people in theatres and schools, as well as writing and presenting music education programmes for BBC Radio and TV for six years. They have recorded eight albums together including six collections for children of original songs and traditional lullabies. They have written three books for children including a songbook published by Faber Music.
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