Published:
'A Boy Called Alex' young musician in daily battle with cystic fibrosis to conduct Bach's St Matthew Passion
A talented musician who battles with cystic fibrosis, Alex Stobbs survives with the help of a massive daily cocktail of drugs, injections and intense physiotherapy. An inspirational Cutting Edge documentary, A Boy Called Alex (Channel 4), set at Eton College, followed his progress as, between frequent hospital stays, this remarkable teenager prepared and went on to successfully organise and conduct a performance of Bach's Magnificat to great acclaim.
After the performance, director Stephen Walker asked the young prodigy:
"So, what's next, Alex?" to which came a determined reply: "The Matthew Passion. All three hours of it."
Now studying at Kings College Cambridge, Alex is preparing for his new challenge, Bach's St Matthew Passion. In giving Alex the opportunity to fulfil his wish, The Rodolfus Choir will put on a memorable performance on 5th April 2009 at London's Cadogan Hall, enabling Alex to conduct this great work. We invite you to attend this inspirational performance by which you will be helping Alex to increase awareness of this disease.
To find out more about the project and details of this performance, or simply make a donation please go to www.stobbs-matthewpassion.co.uk.
Bach's Matthew Passion - 5th April 2009 - Cadogan Hall
Christopher Gillett: Evangelist
Michael George: Christus
Sarah Fox: Soprano
Michael Chance: Counter tenor
Timothy Robinson: Tenor
Thomas Guthrie: Bass Rodolfus Choir
Trebles of Eton College Chapel Choir
Southbank Sinfonia Alex Stobbs: Conductor
Ralph Allwood (Assistant Conductor) The Cutting Edge documentary, A Boy Called Alex (Channel 4), will be repeated on Christmas Day, 25 December 2008 at 6.15 pm.
Tickets will be on sale by website (www.cadoganhall.com) and phone (020 7730 4500) from 12 December.
Issued on behalf of The Rodolfus Choir Ltd Charity Number 1033702.
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Notes for editors:
About Alex Stobbs
Alex has played the piano since he was 3 years old, and at 7 won a music scholarship to Stoke Brunswick School in Sussex. Spurred on by his brothers who were both at choir schools, at the age of 9 Alex became a chorister at King's College, Cambridge. Here he was fortunate enough to tour across Europe and around the world, singing in places such as the Haarlem Concertgebouw and the Sydney Opera House. At King's he was taught piano by Elizabeth Werry, who introduced him to the Romantic repertoire (in particular Chopin) which he is most comfortable playing.
In September 2003 Alex joined his two elder brothers at Eton on a music scholarship where he studied piano with Chris Hughes, and organ with Alastair Sampson and David Goode. He regularly played for chapel services at the College and also frequently conducted the College Chapel Choir. In March 2007 he conducted Bach's 'Magnificat' for chorus and orchestra in Eton College Chapel. This inspiring performance featured on the 2008 Channel 4 documentary 'A Boy Called Alex'.
In October 2007 he was awarded a choral scholarship to Kings College Cambridge, to read music. He was also offered a place to study piano at the Royal Academy of Music.
Alex's long term ambition is to be a conductor and on April 5th 2009 he is to conduct Bach's 'St Matthew Passion' in London.
About Cystic Fibrosis
Some facts about Cystic Fibrosis:
Cystic Fibrosis (CF) is the UK's most common life-threatening inherited disease.
Cystic Fibrosis affects over 8,000 people in the UK.
Over two million people in the UK carry the faulty gene that causes Cystic Fibrosis - around 1 in 25 of the population.
If two carriers have a child, the baby has a 1 in 4 chance of having Cystic Fibrosis.
Cystic Fibrosis affects the internal organs, especially the lungs and digestive system, by clogging them with thick sticky mucus. This makes it hard to breathe and digest food.
Each week, five babies are born with Cystic Fibrosis.
Each week, three young lives are lost to Cystic Fibrosis.
Average life expectancy is around 31 years, although improvements in treatments mean a baby born today could expect to live for longer.
For more information about CF, visit the Cystic Fibrosis Trust website. For more information please contact:
Sue Glanville, Say Communications
Email: sglanville@saycomms.co.uk
Tel: 020 8971 6423
Mobile: 07796 992853
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