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Neal Hampton

Neal Hampton, our guest conductor for the Sense & Sensibility concert
on November 22, brings a wealth of experience to the podium. A
composer, conductor, and educator, Hampton’s work spans several
genres, from orchestral and chamber music to jazz and musical theater.
He has conducted numerous professional and regional orchestras in New
England, New York, and Florida, making his international conducting
debut with London’s Westminster Philharmonic. Founder and Director
of the Brandeis-Wellesley Orchestra, Neal Hampton currently serves on
the faculties of Brandeis University and Wellesley College and is Assistant
Conductor of the Plymouth Philharmonic.

SENSE & SENSIBILITY - THE CONCERT
A Celebration of English Music and Literature at America’s Hometown Concert
Friday, November 22 | 7pm
The Plymouth Philharmonic Orchestra is honored to participate in the America’s Hometown
Thanksgiving Celebration with a captivating evening of English music on November 22nd, 2024,
at Memorial Hall. Under the baton of guest conductor Neal Hampton, the orchestra will present
works by renowned English composers Benjamin Britten, Ralph Vaughan Williams, and Samuel
Coleridge-Taylor, along with selections from Hampton’s own adaptation of Jane Austen’s “Sense
& Sensibility: The Musical.”
Benjamin Britten, one of the 20th century’s most prominent composers, will be featured with his
“Simple Symphony.” Composed when Britten was just 20 years old, this charming work is based
on pieces he wrote as a child, showcasing his early brilliance and wit. The symphony’s move-
ments, with playful titles like “Boisterous Bourrée” and “Frolicsome Finale,” promise a delightful
listening experience.
Ralph Vaughan Williams, known for his pastoral style and incorporation of English folk tunes, will
be represented by his beloved “Fantasia on Greensleeves.” This orchestral arrangement, based
on the traditional English folk song, exemplifies Vaughan Williams’ talent for reimagining classic
melodies with lush, evocative orchestrations.
The program also includes Samuel Coleridge-Taylor’s “Novelette No. 1 in A Major.” Coleridge-Tay-
lor, an English composer of mixed race, gained prominence in the late 19th and early 20th centu-
ries. This piece showcases his gift for melody and his unique blend of European classical traditions
with his African heritage.
A highlight of the evening will be selections from Neal Hampton’s adaptation of Jane Austen’s
beloved novel, Sense & Sensibility: The Musical. With book and lyrics by Jeffrey Haddow, this work
brings Austen’s timeless characters and themes to life through Hampton’s original compositions,
blending period-inspired melodies with contemporary musical theater styles.

38 Plymouth Philharmonic Orchestra