Lunchtime Recital - Jen Townsend (flute) and Jonathan Lilley (piano)

Programme:

C. Saint-Saëns: Introduction and Rondo Capriccioso

J. Rutter: Lament for the Holy City by Rutter

L. v Beethoven: Romance No. 2 in F Major

J. Massenet: Meditation by Massenet

A. Khachaturian: 3rd Movement, Flute Concerto

Free Entry. No Ticket Required. Retiring collection, suggestion £5

Biography:

Jen has returned to the world of flute performance with a flurry of competition wins, dazzling performances and offers to teach her from some of the highest regarded names in the flute world. In the last year, she has won and been placed in 7 national and international competitions, been asked to return to the venues she has performed at, and had her playing described as ‘beautiful’, ‘breath-taking’, ‘enchanting’, ‘fantastic’, ‘exceptional’, ‘remarkable’, ‘sparkling’, ‘incredible’, ‘brilliant’, and ‘inspirational’ – when she plays people stop and listen.

Programmes and projects for this year include accompanying English Arts Chorale on tour in Italy and in concert with the piano part of Rossini’s Petite Messe Solennelle, performances of organ versions of Le Tombeau de Couperin and Bolèro for Ravel’s 150th anniversary year, and the release on YouTube of Stanford’s mighty Bible Songs with bass-baritone Laurence Williams.‘

Jen is currently touring the UK as a soloist at venues such as St. Brides, St Mary le Strand, and St Pancras churches in London, Lincoln, Wakefield and Ripon Cathedrals, the Universities of York and Leeds, and Otley Courthouse.

Jen’s numerous awards and scholarship wins include the LUUMS String Orchestra Concerto Competition 2025, 2nd prize in the prestigious Royal Maas International Competition 2025, being shortlisted as a finalist in the Vienna International Music Competition 2025, becoming a semi-finalist in the London Concerto Competition 2025, 2nd place in the Purmerade International Solo Competition, and winning the John Sheerer Prize for Woodwind, The Robert Tebb Trophy for Outstanding Performance, the Arnold and Marjorie Ziff Concerto Award, the Friends Scholarship, and the Rotary Scholarship.

Underpinning Jen’s performance ability is the education she received at Leeds College of Music (Leeds Conservatoire), the University of Leeds and the flute teachers under which she has studied. These include Alena Walentin (international soloist, orchestral player and teacher at conservatoires around the world), Carla Rees (recording artist, director of Rarescale and Professor at the Royal Academy of Music), and Luke O’Toole (Principal Flute at Opera North). Previously Jen studied with Rachel Holt, Clare Southworth and Elisabeth Parry, and has undertaken masterclasses with Trevor Wye, Wissam Boustany, Helen Vidovich and Peter Lloyd.

Since her return to music, Jen has enjoyed collaborating with acclaimed pianists, Joanna Garcia, and Director of Music at Waltham Abbey, Jonathan Lilley. She also enjoys playing with the LUUMS Symphony Orchestra as Principal Flute and the Yorkshire Wind Orchestra, in addition to many chamber groups. Her recent performance of ‘Suite Antique’ by Rutter with the LUUMS String Orchestra was met with acclaim and described as ‘incredibly beautiful’.

Previously, Jen has performed as a soloist in Israel and Holland and was privileged to perform the Ibert Flute Concerto with orchestral backing at Buxton Opera House. As a chamber and orchestral musician she has performed at the Royal Albert Hall, the Royal Festival Hall and Chatsworth and Harewood Houses. She has also played extensively in pit orchestras for ballets, operas and musicals.

Jen’s programme’s have included works by Doppler, Mouquet, Borne and Dutilleux. Her love of French repertoire and ‘bravura’ music from the romantic era showcases her strengths of a beautifully expressive tone, dazzling finger work, and an ability to connect with the audience on an emotional level. Her biggest achievement, demonstrating her impressive technical ability alongside her tone and expression, has been to perform the Khachaturian Flute Concerto, one of the most demanding pieces available for flute. She has been invited to perform this in December 2025 with the LUUMS Symphony Orchestra, and in 2028 with the Camden Philharmonia.

Jen is passionate about promoting composers who have succeeded despite the barriers in their lives. She hopes to serve as a role model to other musicians facing adversity, inspiring them to realise their potential through hard work and determination. Her programmes showcase composers such as Angela Morley (a transgender composer from the early 20thcentury), Jennifer Higdon (a 21st century lesbian composer), Hendrick Hofmeyr (a gay South African composer who exiled to Italy during the apartheid), and Clara Schumann (a female composer with caring responsibilities for many children and grandchildren). These composers reflect aspects of both Jen’s own life and that of her children; Jen is a carer to 5 disabled children, is a member of the LBGTQ+ community, and is a mature student.

Jen has risen to every challenge that she has faced and is now being invited to take part in concert series’ that are filled with musicians of a national and international standing. Her outstanding talent and remarkable ability to connect with audiences is being recognised, and Jen is using social media platforms to bring her music to wider audiences. Jen has achieved a great deal in a very short time period, showing that her level of determination and self-direction match her ability to enchant audiences with her beautifully expressive sound and technically brilliant playing.’

Jonathan Lilley grew up in Salisbury where he was a cathedral chorister, and in Oxford as a music scholar at St Edward’s School. He went on to study at the Royal Academy of Music, at the same time as being Organ Scholar at St George’s Chapel, Windsor Castle and gaining Fellowship of the Royal College of Organists while still a first year. After graduating he became Sub-Organist of what is now Leeds Minster then also an accompanist and repetiteur at Leeds College of Music, before advancing to equivalent roles at the cathedral and King’s School in Ely. Since 2013 he has been Director of Music at Waltham Abbey, Essex.

Jonathan’s career highlights so far include Poulenc’s organ concerto on a live broadcast from Ely on BBC Radio, and a number of improvised silent film accompaniments, as well as accompanying his churches’ respective choirs on numerous recordings, broadcasts, tours and great occasions. He also maintains a freelance career as organ and piano accompanist, having been a go-to person for tricky piano accompaniments since his teens; he is the resident accompanist to the English Arts Chorale, the Waltham Singers (Chelmsford), and now also of Royston Choral Society. He holds diplomas in piano and singing as well as organ and choral conducting, and performs solo piano repertoire for pleasure.