First, a warm welcome to those new members who have joined us for our 2025-6 season; we hope that you’ll continue to enjoy the artistes that nadsa brings to Newton Abbot. After such a well-received opening concert of the season, in October we welcome a string ensemble which is new to us here . On Sunday 19th October at 3.30pm (note the later starting time for our Sunday afternoons this season) we have the American based Cret Trio coming to the Courtenay Centre. And you’re right; there can’t be many musical ensembles named after an architect!
Modernist-classicist architect Paul Cret (1876 –1945) was responsible for many of the most iconic public works in the USA, whose monumental stripped-down classicism “dispensed with the Greek orders but preserved a sense of proportion, balance and symmetry.”
The Cret Trio was formed by three virtuosi friends to explore masterpieces in the relatively unheralded string trio repertoire. Their inaugural season included recitals in Philadelphia, Boston, Concord, Portsmouth, and the Newburyport Chamber Music Festival, of which founder David Yang is Director.
Praised for her sensitive musicianship and heartfelt playing, violinist Stephanie Zyzak is quickly gaining a reputation as one of the most soulful and profound musicians of her generation. Since making her debut in 2004 with the Louisville Orchestra, Stephanie has performed as a soloist throughout Germany, Russia, Austria, Sweden, Spain, Italy, and France. A deeply passionate chamber musician, Stephanie has had the privilege of collaborating with many renowned musicians and performed at a number of festivals. Stephanie studied with Miriam Fried and Mark Steinberg and performs on a 1778 Joseph and Antonio Gagliano violin, generously on loan from Ravinia’s Steans Music Institute, and a bow by François-Nicolas Voirin.
Violist David Yang has been described as “lithe and expressive” in the Strad Magazine and called “a conduit for music;” the renaissance man has forged a career that is a blend of performing, composition, and storytelling, and been heard in collaboration with members of the Borromeo, Brentano, Miro, Pro Arte, Tokyo, and Vermeer String Quartets. David was founder/director of the chamber music program at the University of Pennsylvania for twenty years in addition to being a member of Ensemble Epomeo based in the U.K., whose recordings have been designated “critic’s choice” in Gramophone Magazine and their second CD described in the Strad with “remarkable intensity and elegant assurance throughout.”
Cellist Clancy Newman, first prize winner of the Naumburg International Competition and recipient of an Avery Fisher Career Grant, has had the unusual career of a performer/composer. He has performed as soloist throughout the U.S., as well as in Europe, Asia, and Australia, and he has been a member of Chamber Music Society Two of Lincoln Center, Musicians from Marlboro, and the Weiss-Kaplan Newman trio. He has been a featured composer on series by the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center and the Chicago Chamber Musicians, and his “Pop-Unpopped” solo cello project has expanded cello technique in ways heretofore unimagined. Clancy is a graduate of the five-year exchange program between Columbia University and The Juilliard School.
The trio’s programme for us will include Arnold Schoenberg’s String Trio Op.45; Beethoven’s String Trio in C minor, Op.9 No.3, and a world premiere, Greg Sandow’s String Trio.
This promises to be an exciting evening of chamber music brought to us by three accomplished and experienced artists, which you won’t want to miss: we don’t often get an opportunity to hear musicians from across the pond, and certainly not a world premiere here in Newton Abbot. Go along to Cret Trio: Rare Repertoire & Riveting Resonance – nadsa concerts to book your tickets now.
Note that if you’re not already a member, you can still save on ticket prices by joining nadsa, when you’ll be able to take advantage of preferential pricing and season tickets – look under the “Membership” heading on the web page.
What else is happening musically nearby? Only one event in October it seems; musicians are still getting back together after the summer break! However they’ll be ready in November so here are some advance dates for you.
In October the Ambrosian Strings will be at the church of St Mary the Virgin, St Marychurch, Torquay on Friday 24th with a programme celebrating Samuel Coleridge-Taylor’s 150th birthday. Victoria Cornet will play his Clarinet Quintet, and also Mozart’s Quintet. More information and tickets (£20 online, £25 at the door, £5 under 16s) available at Celebrating Coleridge-Taylor’s 150th Birthday – Ambrosian Strings
Moving into November, on Saturday 8th Exeter Philharmonic Choir are at the Cathedral, together with the Bristol Ensemble with a programme which will include Brahms’ Tragic Overture and also his Alto Rhapsody; Vaughan Williams’ Toward the Unknown Region; Poulenc’s Gloria, and for the home of the Met Office, the world premiere of Cecelia McDowall’s The Weather Book. Details and booking here: EPC Digital Programme 2526 v1.03.pdf
Saturday 15th November will see Devon Philharmonic Orchestra at the Cathedral with a concert featuring last year’s BBC Young Musician winner Ryan Wang playing Rachmaninov’s 2nd Piano Concerto. Also on the programme- Glinka’s overture to Russlan and Ludmilla, and Tchaikovsky’s 5th Symphony. Tickets & details at WHAT’S ON | Devon Philharmonic Orchestra | Devon
On Saturday 22 Nov 2025 the Torbay Singers will be at St Matthias Church, Babbacombe Road, Torquay to sing Bach’s B Minor Mass. They are joined by the Amici Orchestra and soloists Molly Noon, Benjamin Irvine Cape, Thomas Hobbs and Harry Hoyland, under the direction of Matthew Cann. Advance tickets are £15 from Torbay Singers – 22/11/2025 7:00pm – Bach: Mass in B-minor or £18 on the door.
On Sunday November 30th at 3pm at St John’s Church, Bridgetown Totnes, the Devon Telemann Chamber Ensemble’s next concert will include music by Handel, Caldara, Mozart (and of course Telemann), for recorder, violin, cello, double bass and organ. The players are Pam Canter, Pierre Joubert, Anna Cockroft, Clare Garton-Sprenger and Patrick Butterly, and tickets will be available on the door, priced £15 to include refreshments, with under 18s going in free.
That’s it for now; happy listening
John R
