The premiere of a new work by composer Iestyn Harding will feature in the Summer Concert of the 50-strong Abergavenny Symphony Orchestra on Sunday June 26 at Our Lady and St Michael’s Church in Abergavenny conducted by Michael Bell, MBE.

Iestyn is Principal Trombone and originally the work was put together during Covid lockdown restrictions with players recording the parts separately and then combining them.

Now they have the satisfaction of playing together.

Called Sur le Bout des Doigts meaning at the fingertips the work is based on a Welsh fiddle tune called Pwt ar y Bys. 

Variations of the tune also appear in English folk music under the name Buttered Peas.

The concert opens with Suppé – Overture, Morning Noon and Night in Vienna, followed by Debussy’s Prelude de l’apres midi d’un Faune.

Iestyn’s Harding new piece opens the second part of the concert which ends with Grieg’s Symphonic Dances.

Abergavenny Symphony Orchestra is drawn from musicians of all ages who live within a 40-mile radius of the town and is one of the oldest in the country having been founded in 1886.

Musicians continued to play throughout the pandemic when they could, either virtually online or rehearsing together during periods when restrictions were lifted.

Conductor Michael Bell was elected music director last year having been a guest conductor for many concerts previously and has vast musical experience with community orchestras.

He succeeded Dennis Simons, a conductor with extensive experience in the UK and North America who was instrumental in building up the orchestra with new members and is now its President.

The concert is at Or Lady and St Michael’s RC Church, Penypound, Abergavenny NP7 5UD on Sunday June 26 2022 and starts at 7.30pm.

Tickets are £10 each, free for students and under-18s, and can be purchased online at

https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/abergavennysymph

If you cannot purchase online, please call Simon Large on 07982 975459.

Further information can be obtained by contacting [email protected]

Composer Iestyn Harding is pictured above