Craven Accordion Orchestra

On 5th July 2008 Thom Hardaker played at Trinity Church Skipton, as part of a “Young Musicians in Concert” event staged by the Keighley Vocal Union.

Also taking part in the concert with the Keighley Vocal Union Choir were Imogen Cummings, a very  talented soprano from Silsden who is at present studying music at Royal Holloway University of  London, Daniel Fletcher, a young baritone who is in his final year of a choral scholarship and William Dutton, BBC Radio 2’s Young Chorister of the Year in 2006, who has sung with Jose Carreras at the Albert Hall. He is also a very gifted violinist and has been a member of the National Children’s Orchestra since 2003.  William is only 12 years old!

Thom started his performance with Prelude and Fugue by Bach, followed by Chau Paris by Astor Piazzolla, he then concluded his first session with Wedding in the Farm by Basula, to rapturous applause from the audience, many of whom had never heard Thom play, and did not know what to expect!

In the second half they  heard “March“ and Dance of the Shepherds by Tchaikovsky, then” Amid the dale so wide and even” by Panitsky. His final rendition was a Russian folk piece called “Oh You wintery winter”.

The whole evening was very enjoyable, all the young musicians excelled, and  the audience were treated to a performance of accordion music played at it’s very best!

Click 'read more' to read the review from the local newspaper...