The
BRIDPORT CHAMBER ORCHESTRA
MEET OUR SOLOISTS:
Alex Roche
Alex Roche is a multi-prizewinning guitarist, arranger, composer and dedicated teacher based in Taunton. He has performed solo recitals in venues such as St.Martin-in-the-Fields, St.James’s Piccadilly, Blackheath Halls as well as internationally in Taiwan (for the Taiwan Guitar Society), Canada, United States of America and the Cayman Islands. He has also performed as a concerto soloist, notably with a Royal Birmingham Conservatoire orchestra at the CBSO centre, Birmingham.
He received his 1st class Bachelors degree from the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire and his Masters degree (Distinction) from Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance as a Leverhulme Trust Scholar.
In 2018 Alex was invited back to the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire to give a recital and gave the world premiere performance of a lost guitar work by English Composer William Lloyd-Webber (father of Andrew and Julian), attended by the then principal Julian Lloyd-Webber. Alex has premiered other solo guitar works by Sabino de Bari and Marisa Lopez as well as being in the orchestra for the premiere of Michael Walters' opera Ava’s Wedding.
In a duo alongside mezzo soprano Samantha Oxborough, Alex has performed to capacity audiences at the Royal Albert Hall, Oxford Town Hall and Ashmolean Museum, Oxford. In 2019 the duo was invited to perform alongside internationally acclaimed baritone Roderick Williams OBE (Guildhall School alumnus) in his own concert celebrating 100 years of the Women’s Institute.
For a preview of Alex playing, click here
And some former soloists...
Jonty Hedges: flute
Jonty Hedges studied flute with Michael Cox before continuing his musical training at Birmingham Conservatoire, where he studied with Judith Hall and Marie-Christine Zupancic, graduating in 2014.
Now based in Oxfordshire, Jonty enjoys a varied musical career. He performs regularly in care homes, often accompanied by his dog, Timo. Alongside this work, he performs for weddings and events as both a flautist and pianist. He can sometimes be found playing the piano for afternoon tea at The Randolph Hotel in Oxford and performing piano-vocal sets for pubs, parties, and private functions. Among his current projects is a Billy Joel and Elton John band.
Alongside his varied performing work, Jonty also teaches flute, piano, and drums privately. Jonty remains closely connected to his roots in Somerset and regularly returns to perform with the Somerset County Orchestra in the percussion section.