After Dinner Speakers: Evelyn Glennie, Geoff Cooke, Gyles Brandreth

Evelyn is one of the world's top international concert soloists and the most in demand solo percussionist in the world. To this end Evelyn has commissioned over one hundred new works for solo percussion from many of the world's most talented composers. Despite all the advice to the contrary, Evelyn is not only the first person to successfully create and sustain a full-time career as a solo percussionist in the history of classical music but is redefining the goals and expectations of percussion students, orchestras, concert promoters and the general public the world over. Evelyn's recording career has been as illustrious as her performing career. Evelyn's first CD, a recording of Bartok's "Sonata for two Pianos and Percussion" won her a Grammy in 1988. Subsequent solo recordings have earned a further two Grammy nominations, one of which won in 2002 (Bela Fleck collaboration for Sony Classical), a Classic CD Award and great critical acclaim. Evelyn's twelfth solo CD, Shadow Behind the Iron Sun (BMG Records) was based on a radical concept and has once again questioned people's expectations. Despite working a relentless schedule Evelyn is in constant demand to release new recordings, seventeen so far, the most recent being 'Oriental Landscapes' (BIS) and 'Fractured Lines' by Mark-Anthony Turnage (Chandos). In 1993 at the age of 27, Evelyn was awarded the OBE (Officer of the British Empire) for her services to music.