Songs from my homeland and beyond
Susana Gilardoni Mirski was born in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Passionate for singing started singing lessons at a very early age with the Russian mezzo soprano Nina Slaviansky D'Agreneff. Musical studies include piano, violin and composition, and an introductory course to Musicology at the University of El Salvador, UCA, Buenos Aires.
She has trained vocally and in repertoire with prestigious singers and repetiteurs in Buenos Aires, Florence and London.
Member of Lagun Onak, Cantoria del Socorro, and Bach choir of Buenos Aires, San Marco in Florence and Philarmonia chorus in London.
As a soloist she has performed in Buenos Aires for Ars Nobilis at La Scala de San Telmo, biblioteca Mentruyt, and city churches.
In London at Bolivar Hall, Westminster Music Library and city churches among other venues.
Her repertoire includes the great European masters and Latin American giving pride of place to the Argentinian composers.
Benedict Lewis-Smith was organ scholar at The Queen’s College, Oxford (2007–2010), and prior to this was awarded a place as a specialist musician and organ scholar at Wells Cathedral School, Somerset. He is now Director of Music at St Columba’s Church, Knightsbridge and combines this role with a substantial freelance career in London including vocal coaching, accompanying and conducting. He currently conducts the office choirs of BNY Mellon, Fidelity International and News Corp.
He has broadcast on BBC radio 3, and recently recorded on the digital label Resonus Classics and Regent Records. Recent performances include recitals in the Victoria International Arts Festival, Gozo, and a concert tour of Buenos Aires, where he delivered classes in English song to the students at the Departamento de Artes Musicales y Sonoras.
Previously Director of Music at St. George’s School, Windsor Castle he now works with choirs at Westminster School and Hill House International Preparatory School in London. He also performs alongside Julian Collings as the Oxbridge Organ Duo, with recent performances in Kristiansand Cathedral (Norway) and St George’s Basilica (Gozo). They are soon to release a CD with Regent Records 'Firebird: virtuosic works for organ duet'
Upcoming recital at St George’s
16th October: BNM Series 10: Illuminate Women’s Music - Cassie Matthews (Guitar) and Sabina Virtosu (Violin) perform works by Slater, Boyd, Larsen, Jones, McGregor and Westwood.
18th October: Bernado Santos (piano) performs works by Schubert, Granados, Verdi-Liszt and de Freitas
23rd October: BNM Series 10: Daryl Runswick (double bass and electronics) – Runswick performs his own compositions and improvisations for double bass and live electronics
25th October: Martha Hayward (soprano)
30th October: BNM Series 10: Trinity Laban John Halford Piano and Composition Competition Prize-winning recital with performers Miha Smirnov Ostir, Alexander Arenare, Yaoying Wang, Isabella Gori, Mikaela Livadiotis (piano) and works by Pradalie, Mia, Cheng, Stephens, Ganesan and Monatague
1st November: Klanglust String Orchestra perform works by Bach, Jenkins and Mendelssohn
6th November: BNM Series 11: Celebrating ‘ABRSM Spectrum’ with pianist Michiko Shimanuki performing works by Burrell, Tanaka, Ruders, Roxburgh, Cashian, Shimanuki and Mills