Seasons of the Sea
performed by Ken Calvert

written by Diana Calvert

Vaccine Xmas
performed by Ian Campbell

written by Ian Campbell

Prelude No. 1
performed by Marian Hutchinson

from Quatre Preludes, written by Marcel Tournier

Hush
performed by Su Inman

written by Su Inman

She Moves Through The Fair
performed by Kate Jones

trad. collected by Herbert Hughes

Allegro
performed by Neil Rathbone

written by Mauro Giuliani

Moonlight In Vermont
performed by Colin Billyard

written by John Blackburn (lyrics) / Karl Suessdorf (music)

Che farò senza Euridice
performed by Francesca Bowkett

from Orfeo ed Euridice, written by Christoph Gluck

Etude-tableau Op. 33 No. 5
performed by Angela Carey

written by Sergei Rachmaninoff

Grenadilla Grunts
performed by Robert Porter

written by Robert Porter

My Dad’s Magic
performed by Glyn Shipman

written by Glyn Shipman

Gaudi’s Castle
performed by Jim Smith

written by Jim Smith

Ken Calvert

Tell us a bit about where you live?

My wife Diana and I live in South Herefordshire by the beautiful Malvern
Hills. We came to live here again in 2016, after 20 years by the sea in
North Devon, to be near our family. The Malverns is such a stunning area
to live near at any time of the year.

What inspired your work?

'Seasons of the Sea' reminds us of our lives together and living so much of it by the sea in Cornwall & Devon for nearly 55 years of marriage!

Ian Campbell

Tell us a bit about where you live?

I live in a small fishing village called Portpatrick in the south-west corner of Scotland, about 20 miles from the Irish coast.

Why did you enter the King Lear Prizes?

I entered because of the challenge to my own skills - I hadn’t done any serious songwriting or performing for many years and I really missed the social and competitive aspect.

What inspired your work?

The song was inspired by the dark times we were all facing, and I thought it might be a nice piece of light amusement which would hopefully bring a smile back to our faces!

Marian Hutchinson

Tell us a bit about where you live?

I live in Harefield, Middlesex in a house which backs onto the Grand Union Canal. It has been our family home for more than 30 years. My children have grown up and left home now which allows me time to enjoy the canal wildlife and music. 

Why did you enter the King Lear Prizes?

I love to sit at the harp and play, but I also believe it is an important experience to perform music – to share a piece. The added incentive of the King Lear Prizes competition definitely heightened my resolve and concentration when practising!

What inspired your work?

I am keen to try a variety of musical styles on the harp and particularly to explore works written by harpists for the instrument. When I discovered the Tournier Prelude, I was excited to learn it to challenge and develop my technique and for the sheer enjoyment of the piece.

Su Inman

Tell us a bit about where you live?

I live near the Cree estuary in SW Scotland, in a self-converted ex Kilt-makers Cottage/workshop. This area is often referred to as ‘Galloway’s best kept secret’, only to be discovered by turning left at Gretna Green instead of travelling on to the Highlands.

Why did you enter the King Lear Prizes?

Being involved with King Lear Prizes has enabled me to explore my creativity and increase my confidence. During the pandemic I have been developing my self-taught guitar playing and song writing. I work quietly in my shed developing new ideas in my advancing years.

What inspired your work?

My song ‘Hush’ was inspired by the surrounding landscape. It is a lullaby in which the lyrics tell a true story about this ancient land.

Kate Jones

Tell us a bit about where you live?

I live next door to the beautiful country park in Hastings on the south east coast with a view of the English Channel from my windows.

Why did you enter the King Lear Prizes?

Sadly my husband Martin died last June after fighting the effects of a brain tumour for 20 years. I’ve been singing since I was a child plus I needed something positive to focus on and potentially make him proud.

What inspired your work?

The song itself resonated with some of what I had been feeling since Martin’s death as I’m sure it would with others. This felt like a positive way to share and express it.

Neil Rathbone

Tell us a bit about where you live?

Brought up in Stoke-on-Trent, my wife and I have lived in the Leicestershire market town of Melton Mowbray for 33 years. I retired last year in the middle of ‘Lockdown One’, and wanted to improve my musical knowledge and ‘chord strummer’ guitar playing.

Why did you enter the King Lear Prizes?

I have always hated the thought of performing: so I didn’t. King Lear tempted me out of my comfort zone, to overcome debilitating performance nerves. Weirdly, I’m starting to enjoy performing, which I really don’t understand - at least not yet.

What inspired your work?

I joined an informal weekly meet-up of classical guitar learners. Giuliani’s Allegro is one of the first pieces that I learned to play from a ‘proper’ musical score. The group is now learning to understand music theory and to analyse music and put our own expression into it. I find that the more I think about and learn a piece, the more I get from it.

Colin Billyard

Tell us a bit about where you live?

I live, with my wife Pamela, in Denmead, Hampshire, having previously lived and raised our two children near Petersfield in Hampshire. We then retired to Norfolk for seven years but missed Hampshire and our grown-up children so returned eight years ago.

Why did you enter the King Lear Prizes?

I entered KLP last year and was delighted to receive a “highly commended”. For us baby-boomers there is nothing quite like KLP to motivate us into using our dormant creative talents. It really is a way of inspiring us to continue doing what we love to do.

What inspired your work?

I love jazz and particularly songs from the Great American Songbook of which Moonlight in Vermont is just one. Michael Parkinson once said that “it has to have a good tune”. In today’s world of popular music, melody and harmony seem ever less present but those composers knew their craft.

Francesca Bowkett

Tell us a bit about where you live?

I live in Burnham On Sea in Somerset and enjoy singing in an amateur capacity in Wedmore Opera Group and charity concerts, and especially for my local church - Saint Andrew’s.

Why did you enter the King Lear Prizes?

During lockdown I felt the need to sing, and having seen the King Lear competition advertised, thought that it would be a great performance to prepare for and enter! How wonderful for my age group that we are recognised and encouraged to enjoy and perform in the Arts!

What inspired your work?

I enjoyed singing ‘Che faro…’ at my local opera group, Wedmore Opera, and I think this aria suits my contralto voice (a type of voice which hasn’t enjoyed so much popularity over the last few decades perhaps since the wonderful Kathleen Ferrier). I have loved singing as a hobby over the years and hope to carry on raising money at concerts and particularly love singing the finales at the local prom concerts. I am a retired primary teacher and have raised four boys, but have managed to fit singing in as much as possible!

Angela Carey

Tell us a bit about where you live?

I have lived in Bromley for most of my adult life and in normal times I enjoy the proximity to both central London and to the countryside. There is a thriving musical life in which I have enjoyed participating since retiring 14 years ago.

Why did you enter the King Lear Prizes?

Over the last 15 months I have really missed playing in ensembles and in concerts with Bromley Music Makers. The King Lear Prizes competition gave me the impetus to explore the solo repertoire, I bought music and relished learning new pieces.

What inspired your work?

My hearing has deteriorated so I no longer have the pleasure of listening to music, however, I took my lead from Beethoven, who persevered despite his disability. Rachmaninoff's piano music is wonderful for pianists, as long as you choose the right pieces for the size of your hands!

Robert Porter

Tell us a bit about where you live?

I've lived and taught Music in the Bromsgrove area for the last forty years, but was brought up in Surrey and Essex and studied at Exeter University.

Why did you enter the King Lear Prizes?

My cycling partner and ex-colleague had entered his story in the competition and he suggested that I entered as well.

What inspired your work?

I love playing the Bass Clarinet, and I wrote this piece for a bit of fun, to explore the lower register of the instrument - hence 'Grenadilla Grunts', and 'Subterranean Sulks'. The piano part was deliberately designed to challenge the (very excellent) accompanist in the 'Yes we have no Bananas' fugato section and afford us both some amusement!

Glyn Shipman

Tell us a bit about where you live?

I’m lucky to live in the beautiful Ribble Valley, in Lancashire. I moved here with my young family over 35 years ago and have stayed ever since. Although I’m a southerner by birth, life has taken me steadily northwards and I now feel that this is where I belong.

Why did you enter the King Lear Prizes?

I entered the King Lear Prizes competition last year and found it to be a very enjoyable distraction from the lockdown. I was pleased then when this year’s competition was announced and I didn’t hesitate to get involved once again.

What inspired your work?

When my Mum moved into a place more suited to her needs, I was clearing her house and came across my Dad’s long-forgotten magic paraphernalia. My Mum reminded me of Dad’s early exploits as a party conjurer and I was inspired to write ‘My Dad’s Magic’. My Mum always loved it!

Jim Smith

Tell us a bit about where you live?

I live in Beckenham, Kent, and have been here for thirteen years. I’m divorced and have three daughters and six grandchildren. In 1976 my life was in crisis; I was 27 and found the help I needed. It was a new beginning. Throughout this, my music has been a constant companion. For the last 20 years I have shared my lived experience with music in rehabs and prisons.

Why did you enter the King Lear Prizes?

The lockdown was a big factor,I was curious as this was a new thing for me.I’ve learned that if i’m proactive, there’s more chance of new experiences.

What inspired your work?

Fifteen years ago I ran ‘Recovery Holidays’ for people in early recovery from addiction, which took place near Barcelona over three years. I came to love the buildings of the architect Antoni Gaudi. The instrumental ‘Gaudi’s Castle’ was composed as a result of this wonderful time in my life.