The Austen Trio consists of pianist Samantha Carrasco, Harpist Kate Ham and Soprano Helen Neeves; all professionals who are very much in demand in their chosen fields. Between them they have many years of experience performing as soloists and in ensembles, both in the UK and around the world. Individually, they have appeared in some of this country’s top classical concert venues with acclaimed musical ensembles such as the BBC Symphony Orchestra, Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra, Britten Sinfonia, I Fagiolini, and the BBC Singers. Last year the Austen Trio performed at various venues in the UK as part of the Jane Austen Bicentenary celebrations. Highlights included giving a packed concert in Winchester Cathedral on the bicentenary anniversary date of Jane Austen’s death- 18th July- as the Bank of England announced the new Jane Austen £10 bank note. They took part in radio interviews and TV appearances to mark the occasion and performed a recital in the Assembly Rooms in Bath as part of the Jane Austen Festival. The Austen Trio recorded their new CD Jane Austen’s Musical Treasures- A bicentenary celebration which is due to be released in May 2018. They will be performing in Harvard University in April to celebrate the pre-release of the CD. The music of the Austen family is a fascinating collection of printed and manuscript music assembled over the 18th and 19th century. Of the 17 books, 6 were Jane Austen’s own volumes, including manuscripts which she copied by hand. The Austen Trio was formulated as a result of Samantha Carrasco’s PhD research; she was able to study the complete collection which gives us a unique glimpse into the variety of music enjoyed in the Austen household.
The huge range of music found in the volumes includes solo keyboard, keyboard duets, songs from popular theatre, opera and oratorio arias and also harp solos and duet music. Performances of this music illustrate musical taste alongside the broader musical fashions of the day, presenting a glimpse into the world that Jane inhabited. The pieces enable us to experience the social context in which they were performed and the wide variety of musical experience that the family valued. Many of the lyrics to the songs contain political and social undertones – no doubt an integral element in fuelling Jane’s imagination and own writing. UPCOMING PERFORMANCES Harvard University Concert- April 7, 2018 PAST PERFORMANCES & RESEARCH Winchester Cathedral Bicentenary
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