Lunchtime Music

Nebula Quintet

Maia Roberts flute
Luke Cutler oboe
Jamie Salters clarinet
Dominic Allison French horn
Joshua Friend bassoon

Danzi Quintet No.2 in G minor
Arnold Divertimento for Wind trio Op.37

Daisy Rentong Zhao (piano)

Beethoven Piano Sonata No.18 in E flat, Op31/3

Enjoy a musical interlude in your day with an hour-long, free, concert.  Today’s music begins with a delightful wind quintet from German composer Franz Danzi, a contemporary of Beethoven, that makes great use of the instruments.  From two centuries later, Malcolm Arnold’s Divertimento for Wind Trio is both quirky and compelling.  The vivacious finale of Beethoven’s sonata lends itself to its nickname ‘The Hunt’, but the rest of the sonata is equally lively and joyful. 

The Nebula Quintet (pictured) is a brand-new ensemble made up of students and a recent graduate from Royal Birmingham Conservatoire, who have come together with a shared passion of chamber music. The ensemble members are Maia, Jamie, Luke, Sining and Josh.

Luke (oboe) is a second year studying under Jenni Phillips. He recently gained a place on the Birmingham Royal Ballet Scheme and in his first year at RBC won the Winifred Micklam Prize.

Both Jamie (clarinet) and Maia (flute) are in their fourth year of study at RBC. They have also both been fortunate to gain a place on the CBSO training scheme during their studies. Jamie has thoroughly enjoyed being part of various projects at the Conservatoire and most recently got the opportunity to perform Weber’s Clarinet concerto No.1 with the Wandsworth Symphony Orchestra in London. Maia has taken part in many performances during her studies, most recently with her duo partner at the Royal Shakespeare Company in Stratford.

Dominic Allison (horn) (Thank you to Dominic for filling in at short notice).

Josh (bassoon) graduated from RBC in 2024. He really enjoyed his time studying at RBC and took part in many major projects including Symphony orchestra performances at Symphony Hall and as a guest soloist alongside Nikolaij Henriques from the CBSO at Birmingham Town Hall. He is delighted to be returning to RBC to make music with his friends.

Daisy Rentong Zhao was born in 2001 in Qiqihar, Heilongjiang Province, China where she started playing the piano at the age of six. She has been awarded in several prizes in competitions in Beijing, Shanghai, Harbin and Qiqihar, including first prize in the 11th ShangHai International Youth Piano Competition (2018), 2nd place in Steinway Piano Competition Harbin (2019).

She is currently a student on the MMus piano performance course at Royal Birmingham Conservatoire, where she studies with Associated Head of Keyboard Daniel Browell. During her time at the Conservatoire, she has participated numerous competitions, and was a finalist in the Donohoe Gold Medal Piano Prize (2024), Renna Kellaway Piano Prize (2024), Beryl Chempin Beethoven Prize (2023), highly commended in the Denis Matthews Piano Prize (2022).

She has given lunchtime concerts at RBC during 2023-2024, as well as both solo performance and piano duets in Royal Leamington Spa.

Running time approx. 55 minutes