WSO guests highlight ‘Forces of Nature’ show
The winner of the 2013 Young Artist competition and a guest conductor will join the Washington Symphony Orchestra for its “Forces of Nature” concert at 8 p.m. Feb. 8 at Trinity High School.
Bassoon player Liam Skiffington, a junior at Trinity High School, will be the featured soloist as the Young Artist winner, and James Gourlay, artistic director of the River City Brass, will be guest conductor.
Skiffington will perform “Concerto for Bassoon” by Von Weber. He has been playing bassoon for the past five years and has been studying privately for the last two years with Jim Rogers, principal contra-bassoonist for the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra.
He was selected after an audition to play for the Pittsburgh Youth Symphony this past season, and he participates in Trinity’s marching band and wind ensemble.
Skiffington, son of Mary Skiffington of South Strabane Township and the late Dr. Gene Skiffington, said his father encouraged his children to pursue an interest in music through band and orchestra participation. Liam’s sister, Deirdre, plays oboe and was the 2012 Young Artist winner. The competition includes a $500 cash prize.
After high school, Skiffington plans to either study music and perform with a symphony or pursue a career in chemical engineering.
Gourlay, who is vice president of the International Tuba and Euphonium Association, became involved in music when he was 10 years old and learned to play the tuba. A performer and conductor since his days at the Royal College of Music, Gourlay has played principal tuba for the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, the BBC Symphony Orchestra and the Orchestra of the Zurich Opera.
He also is a guest conductor of the Brass Band Treize Etoiles, with which he has won the Swiss National Championship and the Swiss Open Championship. The Treize Etoiles also placed second at the European and World Brass Band championships under his direction.
Gourlay has served as head of wind and percussion at the Royal Northern College of Music and deputy principal and music director at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama. He has a doctorate in musical arts from Salford University, a master’s degree from Leeds University and fellowships at the Royal Northern College of Music and the London College of Music.
“Forces of Nature” tickets are available at all branches of Washington Financial Bank, Citizens Library in Washington and Peters Township Public Library; online at www.washsym.org; or by calling 724-223-9796. Tickets also can be purchased at the door.