News

April news

 Ervallagh for solo saxophone is played by Robert Finegan on April 9th. His lunchtime concert is at B of I Theatre, University of Galway. 

The British Music Society of York have appointed me as their President.

The premiere of Moon over Humber, commissioned by the Chapter House Choir of York Minster, is on Saturday April 18th, 7.30pm, at the Minster.

Review of 'Be still, my soul' in BBC Music Magazine

 In a review of ORA singers new album, Songs of Angels, the reviewer wrote

'The haunting beauty of Nicola LeFanu's Be still, my soul is a sublime response to [Gibbons] aching, yet assuaging O Lord in thy Wrath.' 

Chamber music performances, March/April 2026

Saturday March 21st:
Songs without Words (clarinet and string trio) - Gemini, 7.30pm, Cromer New Music, Norfolk.
Also Saturday March 21st: A Postcard and a Letter, and A Birthday Card (solo piano) - David Hammond piano, 1.00pm, Late Music York.

Saturday April 11th: Nocturne (cello and piano) and Lullaby (clarinet and piano) - Amabile trio, 7.30 pm, Late Music York. 

Be Still my Soul released on new ORA Singers recording

 ORA Singers, director Suzi Digby,  have released a new album 'Songs of Angels'. It includes Be Still my Soul (SSAATB) in a beautiful performance, along with Orlando Gibbons recordings and other new works. The album is on Orchid Classics, ORC 100423

https://www.orasingers.com/albums


New Anthem for Westminster Abbey, Sunday March 1st 2026

Westminster Abbey have commissioned a new anthem from me, and will sing it for the first time at Evensong, 3pm on Sunday March 1st. "Hand in Hand to Heaven"for SATB a cappella, sets a poem by George Herbert in praise of Sundays.

St Ita's Lullaby

 Several beautiful performances of my carol St Ita's Lullaby, this Christmas: notably in York Minster (the Chapter House Choir) and in Waterford Cathedral (Ad Hoc choir.) 

Find it on YouTube! 

Octandre concert November 26th: Night Songs with Frogs

On Wednesday November 26th, 7.30pm in the Lyons Concert Hall, York, Octandre ensemble are playing a new version of 'Night Songs with Frogs'. The concert includes 'Blue upon Blue' (David Lumsdaine) and Shadowy Fish (Christian Mason.) 

Hermes Experiment CD - 5 star review

 The new CD, 'Tree' from the Hermes Experiment, had a five star review in The Guardian. The album, on Delphian, includes my Rossetti setting 'The Bourne', in an arrangement by Anne Denholm for soprano with clarinet, harp and double bass.

Duo premiere, September 28th

 On September 28th, Peter Sheppard Skaervard and Morgan Goff will give the premiere of my duo for violin and viola. The concert is a 3pm in Iffley Church, just outside Oxford. My duo is called 'A Meditation on St Mary's Church, Iffley'.

On August 29th, the pianist Aleks Szram gave a seminar on my piano music (at the Women's Work conference held at Trinity Laban) and played it in concert the following night.

'Be still, my soul' for SSAATB, a cappella

 Be still, my soul received its premiere on June 17th, in a beautiful performance by ORA Singers, conducted by Suzi Digby. The concert celebrated the quatercentenary of Orlando Gibbons, and there was a large and appreciative audience in St Martin in the Fields.