Smith Square Hall, London, SW1P 3HA
Vivaldi (transc. Glennie) Concerto in C major
Schnelzer Apollonian Dances
Reich Different Trains
interval
Smadbeck Rhythm Song
Glennie A Little Prayer
Kate Bush Wuthering Heights
Gerassimez Piazonore
With arrangements by Harry Baker
We open our 2026/27 Smith Square season with one of the world’s most extraordinary musicians: Dame Evelyn Glennie.
A pioneering solo percussionist, composer and musical communicator, Evelyn has transformed the way audiences think about sound, listening and performance. For this special season opener, she joins Fantasia Orchestra for a programme pulsing with rhythm, movement and imagination.
The concert moves from reimagined Vivaldi through percussion to Steve Reich’s landmark Different Trains. Alongside music by Albert Schnelzer, Ivan Trevino/Paul Smadbeck, and Evelyn Glennie herself, the programme also takes in Kate Bush’s iconic Wuthering Heights and Alexej Gerassimez’s virtuosic Piazonore.
From the elegance of Vivaldi to the restless momentum of Reich, this is a concert full of contrast, invention and irresistible energy: a thrilling way to begin our new season at Smith Square Hall.
Book early and save: enjoy 15% off tickets for our 2026/27 Smith Square season until 30 September - Use Code: PERCPOWER
Evelyn Glennie is the world's premier solo percussionist, a double GRAMMY winner, BAFTA nominee, and recipient of the Companion of Honour.
Dame Evelyn Glennie is the world’s premier solo percussionist. A double GRAMMY award winner and BAFTA nominee, Evelyn composes for film, theatre and television, and has recorded over 40 CDs. Evelyn was awarded an OBE in 1993 and has over 100 international awards to date. Her iconic film Touch the Sound, TED Talk and charity The Evelyn Glennie Foundation embody her life-long mission to Teach the World to Listen.
Tom is Fantasia's Conductor & Artistic Director.
Tom’s start in music was fortuitous, as he was lucky to be introduced to an inspiring violin teacher by his grandmother at the age of four.
At eight he became a chorister of Westminster Abbey, an experience he describes as ‘transformative’, benefitting from musical training that featured high profile occasions like singing the solo at the Royal Wedding in 2011. Tom then attended Cardinal Vaughan Memorial School, a state comprehensive that champions music and the arts.
He continued with the violin, sang, played the organ, and started to explore conducting, enjoying the process of rehearsals and the ability both to make music with and to bring together large groups of people. It was in his final year at school that he saw the potential for a career in it, founding Fantasia Orchestra in 2016.
Tom now enjoys a busy career with major orchestras, including with the BBC Philharmonic and the National Symphony Orchestra Ireland. In his rare moments of downtime he enjoys running, listening to jazz, and cooking, likening the process to conducting — it being about balance, flavour, pacing and bringing people together.
Smith Square Hall, London, SW1P 3HA