The Amberg Trio – piano, cello and clarinet

The Programme

Christopher Benham – piano
Lawrence Durkin – cello
David Kirby – clarinet

Konzertstück, Op 11
1 Allegro di molto
2 Andante
3 Allegro molto

Mozart-Adagio

Trio for Clarinet, Cello and Piano, Op 11
1 Allegro
2 Allegretto quasi-Andantino
3 Presto

The Artists

Christopher Benham began his musical education as a chorister at Wymondham Abbey, Norfolk. He continued his studies at the Colchester Institute School of Music, studying piano with Robert Bell and organ with Ian Ray. After graduating, he joined the Institute’s staff as a piano accompanist. In 1989 he trained for the teaching profession and subsequently held posts in Harlow and Hertford. At this time, he was appointed Organist and Director of Music at All Saints’ Church, Hertford where he continued to develop the strong choral tradition, introduced regular lunchtime recitals and managed the overhaul of the Willis organ.

Lawrence Durkin combines teaching with performing as a chamber and orchestral cellist. He completed his studies with Leonid Gorokhov at the Royal College of Music where he received First-Class honours. He has worked with the Chilingirian and Bochmann Quartets and has performed on Radio 3 with works by Mark-Anthony Turnage. Lawrence currently teaches at St George’s College in Surrey and The Latymer School in Edmonton. He is enormously passionate about encouraging players of all ages to discover and develop their own talent and musicianship.

David Kirby studied at the Franz Liszt Academy in Budapest. While there, he gave performances of Krommer’s Double Concerto with the internationally renowned soloist Kálmán Berkes as well as recitals at the major artistic venues in Hungary. For more than twenty years David has been busy with recitals throughout Britain, Europe and America. Since being awarded his PhD by the Royal College of Music, this international prize-winning clarinettist has performed the great Mozart Concerto at St John’s Smith Square on a number of occasions and has presented world premiere performances of a variety of pieces including three from the esteemed British composer Brian Chapple.