- This event has passed.
Thursday Lunchtime Concert – Niall Townley, Ambrose Chiu, Malena Benavent Gimeno
January 15 @ 1:00 pm - 2:00 pm
Welcome to the first lunchtime recital of 2026 at St Mary le Strand! This unique recital includes a violin and piano sonata by Fauré, as well as Schumann’s Dichterliebe sang by a baritone Ambrose Chiu and accompanied by Niall Townley.
Pianist Niall Townley is currently studying Collaborative Piano at the Guildhall School of Music & Drama with Andrew West, having previously trained with Jakob Fichert at Leeds Conservatoire. A passionate advocate for the song repertoire, he has performed at the Ludlow English Song Festival and has been greatly inspired by working with eminent figures such as Iain Burnside, Graham Johnson, and Ann Murray. These collaborations have been central to developing his unique insights. While his primary focus lies in the world of song, Niall is also an active chamber musician, and enjoys working in close partnerships with a variety of instrumentalists.
Ambrose Chiu, born and raised in Hong Kong, is a high baritone with both Chinese and Indonesian heritage. He is currently studying at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama as a scholarship recipient under the supervision of John Evans. Ambrose pursued his studies at Wells Cathedral School and moved to England in 2018. During his studies in Guildhall, Ambrose performed in a vocal Octet at the Royal Albert Hall and as a soloist in St John’s Smith Square. In addition, he has performed in around 20 churches throughout England, and this year he received a bass choral scholarship with St Mary Newington. Recently, he was selected as one of the singers for the Josephine Baker Trust. As Ambrose’s journey continues, he is inspired to further promote the beauty of classical music and singing. It is his deep belief that music brings people and cultures together, while respect and communication are key to creating fabulous music.
Malena Benavent Gimeno is a Spanish violinist from València, currently based in London. A musician with a strong interest in collaborative and creative projects, she has performed as part of the London Contemporary Music Festival, and regularly works across orchestral, chamber, and interdisciplinary settings. Her orchestral experience includes performances with the Guildhall Symphony Orchestra and Guildhall String Ensemble, with concerts at venues such as the Barbican Centre and Milton Court. Of note is her recent role as concertmaster in the Guildhall Opera Orchestra production of Der Wald by Ethel Smyth and Respighi’s Lucrezia.
Born in Catarroja (l’Horta Sud, València), Malena began violin lessons at the age of five and entered the Conservatori Professional de Música de Catarroja at eight. In 2020, she was awarded a scholarship to study at the Guildhall School of Music & Drama in London, where she graduated in 2024 with a First Class Bachelor of Music (Honours). She is currently in her second year of a Master’s degree in Performance at Guildhall, studying with Professor Krysia Osostowicz, having previously studied with Simon Blendis and Jacqueline Ross. She continues her studies as a Guildhall Scholar.
Over the years, Malena has attended multiple masterclasses and international courses across Europe, receiving lessons and coaching from musicians such as Lena Neudauer, David Takeno, Simon Blendis, Sarah-Jane Bradley, Sam Armstrong, Johannes Meissl, András Keller, Candida Thompson, Roberto González-Monjas, Dominic Wheeler, Gianandrea Noseda, and Rebecca Gilliver.
Alongside her studies, Malena regularly participates in recitals, chamber music concerts, orchestral projects, and interdisciplinary collaborations with artists from electronic music, jazz, and theatre. She is also active as a violin teacher in secondary schools in London.
Programme:
Fauré 1st Violin Sonata, Op. 13; 4 Mvts.
Schumann Dichterliebe, Op. 48; 16 Songs
Schumann Dichterliebe, Op. 48; 16 Songs
