Anthony Brown (saxophone) Carl Raven (saxophone) Leo Nicholson (piano)

Julian Arguelles - Sonata for two saxophones (world premiere)
Jean-Baptiste Singelee - Duo concertant (published 1858)
David Lang - Wed
Graham Ross - Caged Bird (world premiere)
Christian Lauba - Porgy Stride

The Anthology Ensemble is a piano trio comprised of 2 saxophones and piano. This very unique trio formed as a result of Anthony’s debut album, Anthology, released on the label Métier in May 2023 which features 7 brand new commissions for the saxophone.

As well as programming some of this exciting new repertoire for the saxophone, they also perform new arrangements especially written for the trio.

This recital takes the listener through influences of Baroque, Neoclassicism, Poetry and Jazz. This varied programme challenges the modern saxophonist to be as diverse as possible in their approach to such a versatile instrument. Two of the works are world premiere performances, and appear on Anthony’s debut album, Anthology.

“the highlight is Julian Argüelles’s stately, almost baroque-sounding Sonata” – The Guardian

“Extraordinary debut recordings by a highly creative performer” – CASS

Anthony Brown (saxophone)

Described by The Times on his debut Purcell Room performance as an ‘outstanding young saxophonist’, multi-award winning, Manchester based saxophonist, Anthony Brown graduated from the Royal Northern College of Music with an International Artist Diploma in chamber music and a First Class Honours degree, attaining full marks in his final recital.

Together with pianist Leo Nicholson, he has won awards from The Worshipful Company of Musicians, the Tillett Trust, Park Lane Group, Making Music and the Hattori Foundation, as well as first prize in the Haverhill Sinfonia Soloist Competition and the Bromsgrove International Young Musicians’ Platform.

Anthony has performed extensively throughout the UK, including solo recitals at the Wigmore Hall and the Southbank Centre. He has performed with orchestras including the BBC National Orchestra of Wales, BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra, BBC Philharmoic, Hallé, Opera North, Royal Northern Sinfonia and the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra. He features on a CD with the Choir of Clare College, Cambridge, and has performed live and recorded broadcasts as a soloist at the BBC Proms and also with Beats and Pieces Big Band on BBC Radio 3.

Anthony is a member of the Ferio Saxophone Quartet. They have recorded two albums together, one with pianist Timothy End, and another with the Corvus Consort (Revoiced - music for saxophones and voices), two exciting projects that explore a varied range of repertoire and styles.

Carl Raven (saxophone)

Carl is a freelance saxophonist, improvisor and educator. He performs regularly with Halle, BBC Philharmonic, BBC Scottish, RLPO, RPO,  Manchester Camerata, Opera North, Northern Sinfonia. He is also a member of House of Bedlam, a UK based contemporary music ensemble and is a member of the Apollo Saxophone Quartet. He has solo recordings on Naxos and Odradek and appears regularly on BBC radio. Carl is a saxophone tutor at the RNCM, Manchester University and Chetham's School of Music.

He has performed with many top UK and US jazz performers: inc. Gwilym Simcock, Jason Rebello, Julian Arguelles, Brian Blade, Danilo Perez and John Pattitucci.

During lockdown, Carl created a ground-breaking new education project, taken up by eight UK Music Centres. A series of on-line instruction videos triggers musical material from local students of all ages, this was then transformed into a unique musical and visual creation. The 'Biggest Big Band' project stretched students' listening, performing and creative skills and kept young musicians challenged during lockdown.

Carl's current project involves electronics, electronic sensors on the saxophone and MaxMSP programming. The project premiered at Dartington Summer Festival this year (2021).

Leo Nicholson (piano)

Leo Nicholson studied at the Royal Academy of Music with Michael Dussek and Joseph Middleton, and at Trinity Laban with Douglas Finch and the late Yonty Solomon.

He was a consistent prize-winner at Trinity, winning both the John Longmire Beethoven Competition and the Alfred Kitchen Chopin Competition, and graduated with First Class Honours, the TCM Silver Medal (Keyboard) and a Silver Medal awarded by the Worshipful Company of Musicians. He continues to work as a soloist and performs with six-piano group Piano Circus.

Leo and Anthony have a long standing partnership of over 10 years that continues to flourish. Together they have won national competitions and performed throughout the UK. They continue to bring new and exciting programmes to audiences, most recently the world premiere of George Nicholson’s Far Cry at Sheffield’s St. Andrew’s Music Festival in 2021.