7.30pm, Friday 20th April, Baptist Church

Around the British Isles

In Around the British Isles, cellist James Halsey and his pianist daughter Sally perform works by British composers as well as pieces that have connections with Wales, Scotland, Ireland or England.

The Island-based duo are firm favourites with classical music lovers in Ventnor, and we are delighted that they have agreed to perform as part of the Isle of Arts festival. We only just managed to fit them into the festival schedule, as their many commitments mean they have to line up their diaries well in advance!

While still a senior student at the Royal College of Music in the early 1980s, James joined the Auriol String Quartet and was straightaway involved in more than 40 recitals each season. This love of chamber music stayed and developed through his career and he is now cellist various ensembles, including the Bingham String Quartet. With these ensembles he has played all over the world, broadcast frequently, and made numerous recordings.

Sally is a student at Trinity College of Music, London, where she is studying piano with Penelope Roskell and harpsichord with Steven Devine. Having only started at the college this year, she is already much in demand as an accompanist, including playing for a post-graduate singing competition. She has formed a piano trio at college as she loves playing chamber music. Sally has played with cellist Joshua Lynch in Longleat House and Trowbridge; and in Scotland and the Isle of Wight regularly with James in the Halsey Duo.