City of Peterborough Symphony Orchestra
Spring Concert
16th March at 3.00pm
Conductor: Bjorn Bantock
Guitar: Dimitris Soukaras
Queen Katherine Academy
Programme
​Granville Bantock: The Sea Reivers
Granville Bantock: The Witch of Atlas
Rodrigo: Concierto de Aranjuez
Brahms: Symphony No.4 in E minor
Next Concert
​​Summer 2025
28th June - Cathedral - 7pm
Rossini: William Tell Overture
Shostakovitch: Cello Concerto No.1
(Soloist – Jakob Kullberg)
Tchaikovsky: Symphony No.5 in E minor
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Bjorn has an extensive performance schedule conducting ensembles and orchestras internationally. He is principal conductor of the Irish Memory Orchestra and has been a guest conductor for the Cape Town Philharmonic Orchestra, the Philharmonia Choir of Cape Town, the European Bienniale in Naples and the Svanker Music Festival. Bjorn was also principal conductor for the St Albans Symphony Orchestra, the London Medical Orchestra, the Huntingdonshire Philharmonic Orchestra and Choir, the Europa Ensemble and the Film Score Spectacular Orchestra and the International String Orchestra Festival in Malta.
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Passionate about teaching, Bjorn runs the Conducting Course for the National Schools Symphony Orchestra course in Malvern College and the Conducting Course for the Open Strings Festival in Denmark. He also founded and is principal conductor for the London Chamber Strings which showcases London’s finest string professionals. Hand-picked specifically for their musical integrity and stunning virtuosity the London Chamber Strings are led by David Juritz.
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Bjorn regularly conducts the Hertfordshire Philharmonia and worked as conductor at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, the London Contemporary Dance School and the National Children’s Orchestra of Great Britain. He has broadcast live on the SABC, BBC and S4C and has recorded and produced CD’s for the Kingsway Record label. Bjorn studied conducting with Colin Metters, Head of Conducting at the Royal Academy of Music in London. He has won numerous prizes, bursaries and scholarships including first prize in the Sir John Barbirolli competition, RNCM Contemporary Music Performance Prize
 and a Full International ABRSM Scholarship.
Dimitris Soukaras, a distinguished Greek classical guitarist based in London, has swiftly risen to prominence as one of the most awarded and promising musicians of his generation. He is the first student of the Ionian University to complete his Bachelor’s Degree in three years instead of five, showcasing his exceptional dedication and talent.
Dimitris pursued his advanced studies at the Royal Academy of Music in London on a full scholarship, achieving both a Master of Arts and an Advanced Diploma. His outstanding performance earned him the DipRAM, the highest accolade conferred by the academy. He is the proud recipient of over 20 international awards, including First Prizes at numerous competitions, including David Russell Guitar Prize, Ivor Mariants Award, Mottolla International Guitar Competition, Academy of Athens Music Award, and is recognized as a D'Addario Artist, a Yeoman of the Worshipful Company of Musicians, and a beneficiary of the Stradivari Trust.
In 2021, Dimitris released his first official album, "ROOTS," under the NAXOS international label, marking a significant milestone in his career. His concert performances have taken him to prestigious venues such as the Megaron Athens Concert Hall, King's Place in London, Musikverein in Vienna, and St. Martin-in-the-Fields. He has collaborated with esteemed orchestras including the Athens State Orchestra, Audentia Ensemble, Academica Athens Orchestra, and Filarmonica Orchestra Campana. Notably, Grammy Award-winning composers Leo Brouwer and Sergio Assad have dedicated new compositions to him, further cementing his status in the classical music world.
In 2024, Dimitris completed his Ph.D. at the University of Surrey, where his research focused on "The role of the performer through the creation of new works for guitar by non-guitarist composers," adding another significant academic achievement to his name.
Dimitris is also the founder and Artistic Director of the MUΣA Concert Series, a role he has held since 2019. His contributions to music have been recognized by renowned figures such as Costas Cotsiolis, David Russell, and Fabio Zanon, who have praised his powerful technique, musicality, and imaginative interpretations. His recordings have been featured on BBC Radio 3 and the National Greek Radio’s 3rd Programme, further showcasing his artistry to a global audience.
A unique occasion with Granville Bantock works conducted by his great-grandson Bjorn. The “Sea Reivers” expressing the daring exploits of Hebridean pirates and “The Witch of Atlas”, based on a Shelley poem, and described as “a delicate piece of painting in sound, full of ingenious orchestral effects.”
Joaquin Rodrigo’s Concierto de Aranjuez for guitar was inspired by the royal gardens of Aranjuez near Madrid. Revel in the Spanish dance rhythms, stunning guitar techniques and the famous solo cor anglais lament in the slow movement.
Brahms’ Fourth Symphony is full-blooded and intensely romantic. A beautiful ‘cello melody in the slow movement, a vigorous scherzo with piccolo and triangle, and a final majestic “passacaglia”, where over 30 variations create an effect of overwhelming grandeur.
A colourful musical journey!