Student Concert Performances

In Search of Hope – by Sam Gannon

Seconded to the parish of Tililngdon, the Reverend Dolores has been presented with a challenge.

She’s living in an antiquated house and she’s cold. Furthermore, her new Bishop, Bishop Alice does not approve of ‘showgirls in dog collars.’

Determined to prove the Bishop wrong, she sets about warming her house – who cares if it smells of horse! There is the crochet club, jumble sale, and soup run to organise. And this year, the church bells will ring, no matter what threats are made. Even more so, the newly formed choir will spread a little joy this Christmas, even though they can’t sing – yet! And with a little help from Phil, her bassist, this year could be full of magic.

However, she has a fight on her hands as the townies out in Knob Hill – she must stop calling it that, are trying to stop her from ringing her bells. When Krystal with a K decides to do some volunteer work, Dolores sets out to see just how committed she really is.

Up to her ears in granny squares and squawking choristers, Dolores is revving up for Christmas, yet a deeper darker secret is beginning to emerge!

A secret that could blow the whole parish apart and put Dolores in danger.

(available from Amazon)

This year, the Conservatory – School of Arts of Madeira, Eng. Luiz Peter Clode presents its new edition of the Student Concert Cycle, featuring performances by students from the Professional Instrumentalist Course, the Professional Jazz Instrumentalist Course, and Specialised Artistic Education.

The free concerts will take place in the Conservatory’s Noble Hall, starting at 20:30, reinforcing the institution’s openness to the community and the general public.

The Conservatory emphasises that this series of performances offers a special space for artistic exchange and practice, giving students the chance to build stage experience, refine their technical and musical abilities, and strengthen their artistic journey in a real public setting. For the community, it’s a chance to engage with the Conservatory’s training work and explore and enjoy a variety of repertoires and musical ensembles.

New students will perform throughout the Concert Cycle, integrating different areas and levels of training, reflecting the diversity and dynamics of the artistic education taught at the institution.

In this way, the Conservatory invites everyone to attend and enjoy this musical opportunity, which reflects the continuous work developed by students and teachers throughout the school year.

Agenda:

• 09/01/2026 – “Pianíssimo I” (Piano Concert)

• 16/01/2026 – “Pianíssimo II” (Piano Concert)

• 23/01/2026 – “Musical winter” (Piano & Chamber Music Concert)

• 30/01/2026 – “Musical winter breezes” (Euphonium, Trumpet & Trombone Concert)

• 20/02/2026 – “Winter musical strings I” (Violin Concert)

• 27/02/2026 – “Winter musical strings II” (Mandolin & Guitar Concert)

• 06/03/2026 – “CelloNíssimo” (Piano & Cello Concert)

• 17/03/2026 – “From the Baroque to Romanticism” (Violin Concert)

• 20/03/2026 – “Musical equinox” (Violin Concert)

• 27/03/2026 – “Roots and Routes of the Madeiran Chordophones” (Madeiran Chordophones Concert)

Teachers and Companions:

09/01/2026 – Iryna Kózina and Cristina Pliousnina

16/01/2026 – Honor O’hea and Robert Andres

23/01/2026 – Iryna Kózina and Cristina Pliousnina

30/01/2026 – Alexandre Andrade, Fabien Filipe, Pedro Pinto, Anikó Harangi, Tetiana Semenova

20/02/2026 – Norberto Gomes, Anikó Harangi

27/02/2026 – Teresa Leão, Ricardo Mota, Hugo Ferreira, Rebeca Oliveira, Nuno Basílio

06/03/2026 – Cristina Pliousnina, Jaime Dias, and Tetiana Semenova

17/03/2026 – Elena Kononenko, Valeriy Perzhan, Tetiana Semenova

20/03/2026 – Yuriy Kyrychenko, Tetiana Semenova, Anikó Harangi

27/03/2026 – Roberto Moniz, Pedro Gonçalves

Samantha Gannon

info at madeira-weekly.com

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