Aaron Azunda Akugbo      Trumpet

Aaron, who is 26 years of age, grew up in Edinburgh and is of Scottish Nigerian descent. He began playing trumpet after listening to his Dad’s Louis Armstrong CDs as a child and cites this as his biggest musical inspiration. He is a charismatic performer with an abundance of natural humour and an effortless engagement with people and audiences.

A graduate of the Royal Academy of Music and an ex-principal of the National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain, Aaron can often be seen freelancing in the principal chairs of some of the most prestigious orchestras in the UK including the Philharmonia, BBC Philharmonic, BBC Symphony and Royal Philharmonic Orchestras. He made his debut at the BBC Proms in 2023 with the Chineke Orchestra performing Haydn’s trumpet concerto.

Zeynep Özsuca     Piano

Turkish pianist Zeynep Özsuca has performed worldwide as a soloist, chamber musician and accompanist and many of you will remember her stunning performance for the Milverton Concert Society in 2023 with Saxophonist Jess Gillam. Zeynep has worked with conductors such as Gustavo Dudamel, Sir Simon Rattle and Sir Antonio Pappano. She also regularly appears in concert with her duo partners, saxophonist Jess Gillam, clarinettist Sacha Rattle and trumpeter Aaron Akugbo, as well as her wind and piano sextet Berlin Counterpoint. Zeynep currently lives in London and pursues her career as concert pianist, repetiteur and educator.

Concert Programme

• Honegger · Intrada
• Boulanger · Nocturne
• Turnage · True Life Stories: Elegy For Andy (solo piano)
• Vivaldi · “Agitata da due venti”
• Bozza · Aria
• Françaix · Sonatine
• Interval
• Hubeau · Trumpet Sonata
• Price · The Glory of the Day was in Her Face
• Turnage · True Life Stories: Tune for Toru (solo piano)
• Price · Song to the Dark Virgin
• Mahler · Ich atmet’ einen linden Duft!
• Ropartz · Andante and Allegro