Join us for a live performance of flute and recorder at Bell House

About this event

Madera is a Baroque ensemble comprising of founder members Lesley Holliday and David Beaney on Baroque flutes and recorders. The ensemble often expands to include harpsichordist Claire Williams when performing trio sonatas, and string players for larger scale works.

The name derives from the Spanish, relating to objects constructed of wood. This is particularly apt for the type of instruments that the musicians play, being copies of 18th century originals.

Having performed extensively throughout the UK, the ensemble is renowned for its innovative programmes reflecting the surprising wealth of music written for flutes in duos and other contexts presented in a fresh, lively manner. They have also developed a reputation for encouraging young musicians through their school workshops.

About the performers

Lesley Holliday (Baroque flute)

Lesley graduated in music at Huddersfield University, and then gained a post-graduate diploma in baroque and modern flute at the University of York. She then studied at the Royal college of music with Lisa Beznosiuk and gained a first-class diploma in early music performance. She has subsequently also studied with Rachel Brown.

Lesley has performed with several leading period instrument ensembles including The London Handel Orchestra, Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment, The King’s Consort, Ex-Cathedra, Yorkshire Baroque Soloists, Scottish Baroque Players, Charivari Agreable and La Serenissima. She has made several recordings with her flute quartet, The Galeazzi Ensemble. She is also a member of The Hoffmeister Trio, comprising of two baroque/classical flutes and ‘cello.

The flute that Lesley plays is an eight-keyed classical flute – a copy of a Grenser model, which was made by Austrian maker, Rudolf Tutz, and a one-keyed baroque flute made by Roderick Cameron. She teaches in South East London.

David Beaney (Baroque flute and recorder)

Originally from Kent, David studied at Chetham's School of Music and the Royal College of Music, where his principle instruments were the recorder and baroque flute. He has performed with numerous baroque orchestras and is a regular performer with early music ensembles Flautotonic and Madera and frequently joins Baroque Encounter as a guest musician.

David has appeared in venues such as St. Martins in the fields, The Royal Festival Hall, Handel & Hendrix in London and at the Cheltenham and Aldeburgh festivals. In addition to performing David enjoys working in music education. He is head of recorder for Southwark Music Service and teaches woodwind at Dulwich Hamlet Junior School.

Ticketing

Tickets are £15 each. Discounted tickets for students, children and OAPs are £10. For a discounted ticket please use the promo code DISCOUNT at the checkout.