Cecile Chaminade (1857-1946) was one of the most famous pianists and composers of her day. She was the first female French composer to receive the prestigious Legion d’Honneur, her music was played at Queen Victoria’s funeral and when on when on tour in the United States she was the guest of Theodore Roosevelt at the White House. Chaminade’s beautiful compositions sit alongside the greats of her generation – Faure, Debussy, Saint Saens, yet today she is scarcely remembered.

Through her songs and compositions for flute and piano, you will learn about Cecile Chaminade, her life and times, who and what influenced her compositions and the reasons why her work was forgotten for so long. By performing some of her most lovely work in the elegant drawing room at St Paul's Walden Bury, alongside some from her male contemporaries Faure and Saint Saens, I am sure you will reach the same conclusion we have that Chaminade is a name to remember.

A donation from the proceeds of the concert will be given to the chosen charity of the Bowes Lyon family to support refugees in Myanmar.