Hosted by the wonderful Diane Day, a concert especially for children aims to bring the magical world of nature to life through music and storytelling. Joined by prize-winning flautist and pianist Nicola Woodward, children will enjoy the soundworld of well-loved classic Carnival of the animals and other accessible gems!

There will also be ever popular facepainting and an icecream for audience members, large and small.

Audience numbers are currently limited to 100. Children must be accompanied by an fare paying adult. Ideal for children aged between 6 and 13. All tickets (adults and children) are £10.

We all love stories. What are your favourite stories?

Have you come across Music that tells a story? A lot of Music does.

Sometimes words are used too, but other times the instruments tell the story and the title, or the programme notes, invite you to paint a picture in your mind and imagine things as you go along.

My favourite stories in music are those set outside in nature.

During the concert we will talk a little bit about Beethoven who loved going for walks in the countryside. We will hear excerpts from Peter and the Wolf by Prokofiev and The Carnival of the Animals by Saint-Saens. Nicki Woodward will perform some beautiful flute music inspired by birdsong: a goldfinch and a nightingale, and Arthur Coomber will introduce you to Papageno from Mozart’s opera, The Magic Flute. Finally, we meet a friend of his, Papagena, who might encourage you to join in, so bring your singing voices!

Diane Day

Diane studied Piano and Voice as joint first studies at the Royal College of Music, with John Barstow and Margaret Kingsley. During her student years she played in many of the leading London Hotels, ran a vocal quartet for corporate events, sang for the Red Arrows, performed at the Garrick Club for the RCM director, performed with Patrick Moore in his ‘Extravaganza’ stage show, sang on Clive Anderson’s ‘Notes and Queries’ series and gave a live recital for Classic FM (in their first week on air!). She went on to perform for various opera companies including Opera Interludes, Surrey Opera, London Opera Players and Opera Holland Park where she met her husband, the baritone Arthur Coomber. With a young family her attention turned to teaching, both privately and in schools.  After spending a few years teaching music in Grammar schools, she became Director of Music in a local Prep school.  Currently, she teaches at Sevenoaks School and is about to return to the Royal College of Music to embark on a Master’s in Education. Her interest in psychology, philosophy and pedagogy has led to her becoming involved in the Institute of Teaching and Learning at Sevenoaks School.  She also enjoys running choirs for children both in her local community and here at Finchcocks during the holidays. She continues to juggle teaching and performing with the demands of parenthood.

Arthur Coomber

Arthur began his performing career with the Sevenoaks Players, Surrey Opera and Kentish Opera, before studying on the Opera Course at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, where he was awarded the Sidney de Vries Memorial Prize. Following a period with the Opera de Nancy in France, he returned to the U.K. and continued to perform with numerous opera companies both here and as far afield as Tokyo and Barbados. On television he appeared as Rigoletto in Channel 4’s ‘The Singing Voice’, and as Germont Pere in ‘Harry Enfield’s Guide to Opera’. Operatic roles have included Rigoletto, Figaro (Mozart and Rossini), Scarpia, Marcello, Sharpless, Escamillo, Enrico (Lucia di Lammermoor), Posa, Don Carlo (Forza del Destino), Zurga, Dr Bartolo (Mozart and Rossini), Don Magnifico, Don Pasquale, Masetto, Schaunard, Alfio, and Eisenstein. Most recently he sang Germont Pere for Opera South-East’s production of La Traviata. His singing teaching has inspired many. Currently he is working with younger voices, building confidence, technique, performance skills and repertoire, whilst enthusing them with his own passion for singing and performance.

Arthur’s creativity also extends to drawing, painting, pottery and jewellery design. He attended Art School in his late teens and continues to enjoy all things creative.