Classical to Folk -
In the Spirit of the Season
Sunday, 13th December, 2026, 7:30pm. Doors at 7:00
The Assembly Rooms, Presteigne
A concert that spans a few centuries of classical music and works its way to folk in the spirit of the season. Ruth Watson, oboe; Peter Cornish, clarinet; Leila Basletic, piano; John Hymas, violin and accordion.
Ruth Watson came to live in the Welsh hills nearly 30 years ago via York University, the Banff Centre in Canada, London and Portugal, and having played with many orchestras en route including the National Youth Orchestra, Scottish Opera, Scottish Chamber Orchestra , Ulster Orchestra and Bournemouth orchestras, WNO, London Sinfonietta and five years as principal oboe in the Orquestra do Porto. Chamber music has always formed an important and enjoyable part of her musical life, and alongside teaching and examining, she formed the Marches Oboe School and has arranged numerous concerts locally.
Peter Cornish studied the clarinet as a teenager with Michael Saxton at the Welsh College of Music and Drama, and then, subsequently, with Alan Hacker. He studied Mathematics at Birmingham University and completed an Arts and Humanities Research Council funded PhD in musicology at Royal Holloway University of London. He has given numerous lecture-recitals at UK universities focused on the conception and performance of twentieth century music for clarinet. As part of an international music festival in Germany in 2002 he took part in the first performance and live broadcast of John Woolrich's Watermark for bass clarinet and violin.
Leila Basletic was born in Croatia and has lived in Presteigne since 2013. She started playing piano at the age of seven and studied Theory of music and Keyboards (piano, organ, harpsichord) at Music Academy of Zagreb. She has given recitals in various countries including Croatia, Slovenia, Austria, Italy and the US. She currently teaches piano at John Beddoes School.
John Hymas divides his time between writing, performing and teaching music. He studied jazz and contemporary music at Leeds College of Music and attended the Orchestral Studies course at Goldsmiths College, London. His string writing and playing can be heard on recordings by bands as diverse as The Psychedelic Furs, The London Community Gospel Choir, Orquestro do Porto, folk crossover band, Hoover the Dog and local favourites Little Rumba. Since moving to Presteigne projects have included writing scores for Diversions Dance Company, Theatr Powys, Presteigne Festival, and many community arts projects. He directs the Presteigne Pop Choir.
Tickets - £15
Under 25s - £10
Available at The Workhouse Gallery, Presteigne or online at: https://wegottickets.com/f/22917
PLEASE NOTE - to return tickets please let us know 48 hrs before the performance