Maria Willsher and Bianca Vancea have been collaborating since 2021, regularly performing in competitions, recitals and other professional engagements. They won the John Ireland Prize together in 2024 and, soon after, Maria won second place in the Edward Brooks English Song prize whilst Bianca was awarded the accompanist prize. The duo, together with Anna Thirkettle, recently performed a short recital for the Arthur Bliss Celebration, held at RBC, to commemorate 50 years since his death.
Since exploring contemporary English repertoire for prizes and recitals, the duo were keen to delve further into this genre. Its wealth of vibrant harmonies, rich textures and profound poetry being so compelling and incredibly satisfying to perform. The pieces chosen for this album each encapsulate these elements which make 20th century English Song so remarkable. And together, compile the pride, humour, sorrows and delights which characterise both our human nature and that of our wilderness.
Anna Thirkettle is a clarinettist, saxophonist and flautist from Cambridge. She is in her fourth year at the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire, studying clarinet with Jo Patton and Dougie Mitchell, having previously studied at the Junior Guildhall School of Music and Drama. She has performed with the RBC Symphony and Jazz Orchestras, CBSO Youth Orchestra, RBC Wind Ensembles, Folk Ensemble and RBC Operas. Anna has performed in venues such as Symphony Hall, Barbican Hall, Birmingham Town Hall and Sinfonia Smith Square. As a soloist, Anna has recently enjoyed performing for the RBC Lunchtime Concert series and in Queen’s College Chapel Cambridge.
Bianca Vancea is a Romanian pianist in her final year of undergraduate studies at Royal Birmingham Conservatoire, studying under Professor John Thwaites. She has performed solo recitals throughout the West Midlands and is a member of the Boulanger Piano Trio, who have enjoyed performing at venues such as the Alexandra Theatre and St Hilda’s Church. Bianca has featured in RBC Lunchtime Recitals and is a joint winner of the John Ireland Prize. She has also received the Edward Brooks English Song Accompanist Prize, the Edward Brooks Lieder Accompanist Prize, and the Gordon Clinton Prize for English Song Pianist.
