Edward Gregson’s new piece for solo oboe, A Song for Tony, is to be premiered by Richard Simpson (former principal oboe with the BBC Symphony Orchestra) at a concert to celebrate the life and work of composer Anthony (Tony) Gilbert, on 13 April, 2024.

Tony was the first Head of Composition at the RNCM in Manchester from 1973 until his retirement in 1999, and was a prolific composer who championed new music in Manchester for over 50 years – he was an active committee member of the Society for the Promotion of New Music and the New Music Panel of North West Arts, and founder member and Artistic Director of New Music Forum, Manchester.

A Song for Tony is a 5-minute piece based on some of the musical material from Gregson’s Oboe Concerto (2020)