Benefit Evening In Memory Of Mark Blanco

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A night for justice, fund-raising, powerful performances and exciting music, all in memory of the late Mark Blanco. A life cut tragically short in suspicious circumstances in 2006. The fight continues and we persist. Justice will be done and Mark will be honoured. Comedy string quartet Graffiti Classics, Cuban rhythms from Ahmed Dickinson Cardenas and Emma Blanco and guest appearance from Michael Wolkind QC. Attend this unique evening; support the Justice for Mark campaign.

Charity Auction

There will be a charity auction on the evening. Click to see the auction items (Word .doc file, 23kb).

Graffiti Classics

Graffiti Classics have moved the classical string quartet into the 21st Century. Not gypsy, not jazz, not trad, not classical but 16 strings, 8 dancing feet and 4 voices. Scintillatingly slap-stick with brilliant arrangements and mischievous humour. Every item in the programme reveals a unique talent, displayed in an individual and group performance with an exciting choreographed presentation.

Founded in 1997 by four young professional musicians, who met whilst busking in Covent Garden, London, the groups unique style has developed a refreshing insight into the world of classical music for everyone whatever their age.

They were accepted onto the Yehudi Menuhin's 'Live Music Now!' scheme in 1998 enabling them to tour extensively throughout England and Wales and gain valuable experience working with children, the elderly and people with special needs. In 1999, they gave their Welsh Prom debut at St. David's Hall, Cardiff and in 2000 helped launch Bryn Terfel's Faenol festival to a vast audience and great acclaim. During this time they also appeared at the St. David's, Wrexham and Criccieth festivals in Wales and the Raw Talent Festival, Leicester . Following this Graffiti Classics performed at the Middleham and Northern Aldborough Festival, Yorkshire , Bude Festival, Cornwall and toured extensively throughout Somerset and Devon giving concerts in rural churches.

Since their debut on 'The Late Late Show' with Gay Burne in 1998, the group have been in regular demand on TV and radio featuring on Lyric FM, The Gay Burne Hour, The Saturday Show, Live at Three, PM Live, Open House and Den 2.

Ahmed Dickinson & Emma Blanco

Ahmed Dickinson Cardenas is one of the finest young performers of the Cuban Classical Guitar School. He is a sophisticated virtuoso on his instrument and an ambassador of Cuban culture.

Born in Havana, Dickinson Cardenas began playing drums and percussion at age 4, then classical piano and guitar at 9. He graduated from the Superior Institute of Art (Havana) in Guitar for which he was awarded a first-class honours degree, and also graduated a year early. Later he received lessons at the Royal College of Music and in 2006, supported by The Kramer- Chappell Scholarship and the Mad Hatters Club, he undertook studies at the Guildhall School of Music & Drama.

For almost a decade Ahmed had the privilege to work closely with the late Cuban guitar composer Jose Antonio (Ñico) Rojas. Over this period Ahmed single-handedly transcribed, learned and performed most of the old master’s unpublished works, enabling access to this cultural legacy for future generations of guitarists.

In the UK he has performed in prestigious venues such as the Wigmore Hall, the Sage Gateshead, King’s Place, the ICA (Institute of Contemporary Art), St James’ Church Piccadilly and the Bolivar Hall amongst others. Recent festivals include The London Guitar festival, Bath International Guitar Festival, Ards Guitar Festival (Northern Ireland) Hispano-American Guitar Festival (Mexico), King’s Place Festival and Dublin Guitar Week (Ireland). In recent years he has frequently collaborated with many outstanding musicians from various musical spectrums including Cesar Portillo de la Luz, Eduardo Niebla, Lizzie Ball, Ben Wragg, Luzmira Zerpa, and Laura Mitchell to name a few. In 2008 he performed works by famous composer Judith Weir, in a series of concerts broadcast by BBC Radio3.

Tickets £22, concessions £19, UCL staff and students £10
For UCL concession call or visit our box office.