Two talented sisters who are rising stars of the classical music world are set to perform together in North Wales. Acclaimed conductor Katherine Stonham and her sister, solo violinist Rachel Stonham, will join the Wrexham Symphony Orchestra this weekend. The special concert will take place at the William Aston Hall in Wrexham on Sunday, July 19, 2026.
Final Concert of the Season
The final concert of the orchestra's current season is named "Vitality" and features three famous musical pieces. Katherine Stonham has previously conducted several professional groups and will lead the orchestra through the afternoon. Her sister Rachel is currently completing a master's degree and has already played with the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra.
Programme Highlights
The performance will feature music by world-famous composers including Antonín Dvořák, Anna Clyne, and Florence Price. One of the highlights is a historic symphony from 1933, which was the first by an African-American woman to be played by a major orchestra.
Organisers are promising a superb afternoon of world-class music to celebrate the very end of their concert season. The orchestra team are delighted to welcome back the musical siblings to the local stage for this performance.
Comments from the Chairman
Matthew Ellis, chairman of Wrexham Symphony Orchestra, said: "We are delighted to invite you all to our upcoming afternoon concert, the final concert in our 2025-26 season. The afternoon features a compelling programme inspired by the raw power of nature, historical milestones, and deep human emotion. This performance marks a particularly special occasion for the orchestra as we welcome the exceptionally talented Stonham sisters to the stage: Katherine Stonham returns to conduct, while her sister, Rachel Stonham, will feature as our guest solo violinist."
Concert Details
He added: "The concert opens with Anna Clyne’s Restless Oceans, a striking contemporary piece written in 2018 for the World Economic Forum and inspired by the poetry of Audre Lorde. Rachel Stonham will then join the orchestra to perform Antonín Dvořák’s Violin Concerto in A Minor. Dvořák wrote this fiery, lyrical masterpiece specifically for Joseph Joachim, the greatest violin virtuoso of the late 19th century. Today, it stands as one of the most celebrated and beloved violin concertos in the classical repertoire.
"The second half of the afternoon features Florence Price’s Symphony No.1 in E Minor. This work represents a monumental milestone in classical music history; its premiere in 1933 made Price the first African-American woman to have a symphony performed by a major United States orchestra. The piece beautifully marries traditional classical European structures with the rich melodic heritage of spirituals and the syncopated rhythms of West African dance.
"We look forward to a superb afternoon of world-class music and fitting finale to our current season of concerts."
Event Information
Date: Sunday, July 19, 2026. Location: William Aston Hall, Wrexham. Time: 2.30pm. Full details of the concert can be found at www.wrexhamorch.co.uk where tickets can be booked online.
