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As a solo guitarist, he commissioned a new guitar sonata from Gareth Glyn and premiered pieces written especially for him by John Pickard, Jochen Eisentraut and Andy Crowdy.
In 2008/2009 FCMG celebrated its 50th Anniversary and this celebration was marked by further commissions: Two song cycles for children’s choir from composers John Pickard (Songs of Rain and Sea with text by Sigrún Davídsdóttir) and James Weeks (Hototogisu, a setting of 17 Haiku written by the great Japanese post Basho).
The pianist gave the European première of Paul Schoenfield’s Piano Concerto Four Parables, as well as the first performance of John Pickard’s Piano Concerto, which is dedicated to him.
They have an active commissioning policy and have performed works by many of Britain’s leading composers; John McCabe, Judith Bingham, Elgar Howarth, Edward Gregson, Alun Hoddinott, Karl Jenkins, Gareth Wood, David Bedford, as well as John Pickard.
John Pickard’s tenure with the band ended in July 2005 when the band made history giving the première performance of his Gaia Symphony at the prestigious Cheltenham International Festival.