To mark the Golden Jubilee celebrations of the Arts Society (previously known as NADFAS), the London area of the organisation presents an afternoon concert of music directly associated with the English capital.  It is often forgotten that London has not only inspired a wide range of musical compositions from the time of Henry VIII onwards, but has also played host to many European performers and composers – including GF Handel, J Haydn and F Mendelssohn – who found London audiences particularly receptive to their latest compositions.

With a team of eight performers, Peter Medhurst introduces and discusses a range of compositions that reflect changing tastes in London’s musical life down the centuries.  Drawing on some of the finest composers ever associated with the musical life of London, Peter Medhurst presents and introduces a range of works from Cornysh to Coward that reflects the diversity and brilliance of masterpieces associated with England’s capital.  An added delight for the event is the commissioning of a new work by the young up and coming composer Joe Howard.

Peter Medhurst’s work as singer, pianist and lecturer-recitalist has taken him all over the world. Closer to home, he has presented events at the Barbican, St John’s Smith Square, and the Royal Festival Hall and has directed presentations at the Wallace Collection, the National Gallery, the National Portrait Gallery and the V&A, linking the visual arts with the world of 17th & 18th century music making.

Helen Semple held a Choral Award at St Catharine’s College, Cambridge, before going on to postgraduate performance studies at Trinity College of Music. Her recent concert highlights include Dvořak’s The Spectre’s Bride in a new English translation, in association with the Dvořak Society. Her most recent operatic production was as Mozart’s Donna Anna in Tylney Hall, Hampshire.

Jeremy Limb read music at Queen’s College, Oxford, then studied piano at the Royal College of Music. Since leaving the Royal College of Music he has broadcast on BBC Radio 3 as part of their Young Artists’ Forum concert series; given numerous recitals round the country, and won 1st Prize in the 18th Brant National Piano Competition. He now works as a freelance musician in various capacities.

At the age of 16, Julia Desbruslais won an open scholarship to study the cello with Florence Hooton at the Royal Academy of Music. Under the direction of Sydney Griller she was a founder member of the all-female Fairfield String Quartet. On leaving the Quartet, she became Co-Principal Cello with the London Mozart Players, where she regularly performs with the Chamber Ensemble and as a concerto soloist.

Founded in 1949 by Harry Blech, and looking forward to celebrating its 70th birthday in 2019, the London Mozart Players is the UK’s longest established chamber orchestra. Known for its unmistakable British roots, the orchestra has developed an outstanding reputation for adventurous, ambitious programming from Baroque through to genre-crossing contemporary music.