Red Hot Chilli Cellos

The Red Hot Chilli Cellos or the ‘Chillis’ came about as a way of inspiring the kids at my Spike People concerts. Up until this time only the students had performed their ensemble pieces.

I thought that it would be lovely to form a group of professional cellists who would inspire the young people. I have been very fortunate that some of my professional cello buddies have helped out with Spike People, as well as on occasion colleagues from the ranks of the Music Service. I chose players from amongst these people, or cello collective.

The line up changed depending on what we were playing. We would often play cello quartets, but occasionally larger works, such as the Bach ‘ Pasacaglia, which was arranged for 6 Cellos with double bass. However, our leader has always been the inimitable David McCann, Wing Commander of Spike People and myself in the number 2 seat.

We play a wide range of repertoire, some of it specially arranged by Jonathan Simmance, a very talented violist with the Ulster Orchestra. We have also performed many arrangements by our friend in the ‘Topeka Cello Collective’ in USA, Erinn Renyer. The ‘Chillis’ has their 1st appearance in the 2013 Spike People concert at The Braid, in Ballymena.

They have now transferred to my ‘Summer Cello Soirées’. This year (2019) we will only perform 1 item, the epic ‘Chaconne’ from Partita No.2, BWV 1004, by J. S. Bach, arr. Laszlo Varga. It is fair to say it has fiendishly difficult 1st cello part. No one better than David to pull it off.

It is one of my favourite pieces, and I was delighted to find this wonderful arrangement for cello quartet, and I know will be one of the highlights this year’s concert!