We provide practical support for young musicians up to the age of 18 years, especially those whose families have limited means.
Robert Bouffler always recognised the value of helping amateur musicians to strive for their full potential, and the Trustees will consider all requests for help, whether or not a professional career in music is the objective.
You can read more about our work here.
The Trust were invited by the Bluehouse Festival to present a concert at the United Reformed Church in Oxted on Sunday 21 October 2018. “Stephen Aviss and Friends” enabled Bouffler Young Musicians performed alongside our professional musician Trustees, Stephen Aviss and Nadine Andre.
Reigate & Redhill Festival winner of the 2018 Bouffler Piano prize, Bachir, started the concert with an assured account of Khatcharurian’s Toccata, followed by an amusing piece by Hubert Leonard “The Donkey and the Driver”, played with great feeling and humour by Matty. Freya sang and accompanied herself most stylishly in “Skyscrapers”, a piece she herself wrote at a New York summer camp she attended in August. Matty returned, on piano this time to give a rousing account of Chopin’s Military Polonaise. Nadine played Ravel’s Jeux D’eau most sensitively, one of Robert Bouffler’s favourite pieces. Stephen concluded the first half by bringing laughter to the audience with his topical and cleverly written List Song from Gilbert & Sullivan’s The Mikado.
The high standard was maintained in the seond half with Heather’s beautiful harp playing. She played Handel’s first Toccata, and an impromptu by Gliere. Luca sang two pieces from the world of musical theatre with great passion and feeling; “If I can’t love her” from Beauty and the Beast” and “So In Love” by Cole Porter. Seb, accompanied by his Mum played the challenging Romanze from Wieniawski’s 2nd violin concerto, with great poise. Matty returned to the piano and exquisitley played the exciting Allegro de Concierto by Granados. Stephen again had the audience smiling with the uplifting “O Sole Mio”. Chopin again next with the Grande Waltz from Nadine who had also accompanied Matty, Luca and Stephen with great sensitivity. Stephen completed the evening with some assistance from the audience in Flanders & Swann’s The Hippopotamus Song. The audience left with smiles on their faces having enjoyed a varied and thoroughly enjoyable evening of live music.
The Trust are most grateful to the Bluehouse Festival for this opportunity to show their Young Musician’s talents, and for making it a financially and musically rewarding concert for the Trust.
