Once again the orchestra is delighted to be performing in the Dinas Powys Music Festival. CDPO is a friendly and enthusiastic orchestra of all ages with members ranging from semi-professionals and students to enthusiastic amateurs. Musical Director Antony Tarlton has been our conductor since 1992 and his professional expertise and guidance has helped the orchestra grow from strength to strength. The orchestra have been playing and enjoying music making for over 30 years and are looking forward, once again, to welcoming Ben Tarlton as soloist and performing at this year’s Festival.

Ben Tarlton

Ben gave the UK Premier of Anders Hillborg’s work ‘Duo’ for Cello and Piano, which The Guardian commented ‘playing with extraordinary precision and insight.’ Concert highlights include an Award-winners’ Recital at Wigmore Hall, Recitals at both Buxton and Harrogate International Festivals, St James’s Church Piccadilly and St Martin-in-the-Fields and Concerto performances at St John’s Smith Square, West Road Concert Hall and Dora Stoutzker Hall. He performed in Messiaen’s ‘Quartet for the End of Time’ in The Barbican Hall, which was broadcasted on BBC Radio 3.

Born in Wales, Ben attended the Yehudi Menuhin School, studying with Thomas Carroll before completing his studies at The Guildhall School of Music and Drama under Louise Hopkins. He was a Concordia Foundation Artist, a Park Lane Group Artist, recipient of awards from Help Musicians UK, Countess of Munster Trust and The Worshipful Company of Musicians and was a Guildhall Gold Medal concerto competition finalist.

Ben is Festival Director of the Llantwit Major Chamber Music Festival, a cello teacher at The Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama and a chamber music coach for Pro Corda, where he was invited to be guest Course Director for their 2022 Cello Course.

He plays a William Forster cello generously loaned to him by The Royal Society of Musicians of Great Britain.

Programme

Mozart – Salzburg Symphony No.1 in D Major, K.136

C.Ph.E. Bach – Cello Concerto in A Major (Soloist – Ben Tarlton)

Beethoven – Symphony No 1 in C Major, Op.21