A Life in Pictures
John aged 18 with members of the International Master Class with Julian Bream, at Dinton House in Hampshire, England. John is standing 3rd from left, next to the English guitarist Eric Hill. Cross legged on the stone pedestal is Anthony Rooley. Julian Bream is standing, 4th from the right.
John aged 20 in a publicity shot for a series of recitals in 11968/69 which culminated in his first BBC Radio broadcast on the "Third Programme" ( now Radio 3 ) in a programme called, "Debut", which also featured new up and coming performers.
John, in 1998, pictured at Marmelejo, Andalusia, Spain, the home of Jeronimo Pena Fernandez, the world famous Luthier. John plays an instrument made by Fernandez in 1978 and describes this guitar as "one of the finest guitars I have ever played, rich in sonority and with a warm tone. An instrument with a real sense of 'presence'".
The pages from "The Complete Guitar" ( a limited publication )which gives a full account of the history of the instrument and features those guitar makers who are universally regarded as the finest. The featured pages focus on the work of Jeronimo Pena Fernandez.
John conducting a performance of Messiah in 1996 at Middlesbrough Town Hall.
John, in 2000 pictured in a break of a BBC Sponsored "Big Sing', to celebrate the Millennium. The picture is taken in York, where John was working with 1000 children from Primary and Secondary schools from Yorkshire.
John pictured in 2006 with Tees Valley Youth Choir at the Finals of the "BBC Choir of the Year Competition". Tees Valley Youth Choir were Runners-Up in the Grand Final to the adult choir, "Chantage".
John in 2010 receiving "The Mayor's Award" for Services to Music in Teesside, England. The award is being presented by The mayor of Middlesbrough, Mr Ray Mallon.
The cast of John's acclaimed Children's Opera, "The Kingfisher's Tale". John wrote the Libretto and Music and directed and conducted the first performance.
The cast of "The Kingfisher's Tale", John in the center with members of the orchestra.
John enjoying a pint with the International Tenor, Geoffrey Lloyd-Roberts, after a
performance of Elgar's, "Dream of Gerontius" , in which Geoffrey Lloyd-Roberts sang the part of Gerontius and John conducted the performance.
performance of Elgar's, "Dream of Gerontius" , in which Geoffrey Lloyd-Roberts sang the part of Gerontius and John conducted the performance.
John with his wife Audrey and the North East Youth Chorale. at The Royal Albert hall in 2011, after their performance of Mendelssohn's, "Elijah" with Paul McCreesh and The Gabrieli Consort and players.
John conducting a performance of William Walton's, "Belshazzar's Feast" at The Sage, Gateshead, ( 2014) with his choir, Cleveland Philharmonic Choir, North East Youth Chorale and Northern Spirit. The soloist ( seated) is the renowned international Bass, Baritone, Sir Thomas Allen.
John performed recitals at the Leran Festival (2015), Southern France, with the Soprano, Suzi Saperia.
John’s CV with some of the artist appearing at the Leran Festival.
In the 1980’s, John played Lute Continuo with “Yorkshire Camerata”, an ensemble of early music instrumentalists and singers from Opera North. The following images are from a programme of one of their performances: “Orontea”, an opera by the Baroque composer Cesti, performed at Beningbrough Hall in conjunction with The National Trust.
A response to an initiative by John to establish an Arts Centre in Wokingham, where he was Director of Music for the “Berkshire Young Musician’s Trust”.
John taking final bows after a performance of Bach’s B Minor Mass, Stockton Parish Church, April 2012, with Cleveland Philharmonic Choir and The Mowbray Orchestra with soloists: Emma Morwoos (Soprano); Carolina Krogius (Mexo Soprano ); Ben Kerslake (Tenor); Allan Smith (Baritone)
John, with Cleveland Philharmonic Choir in 2009, when he was presented with the “Mayor’s Award” by the Mayor of Middlesbrough, Ray Mallon, in recognition of his contribution to Music and the Arts in the Cleveland area.
John highlighted as soloist with Harrogate Chamber Orchestra in a performance of the “Concierto Aranjuez” in 1976.
A Yorkshire Post reviewer’s Crit of a Guitar Recital given by John in 1979.
John conducting the Internationally renowned Mezzo Soprano, Anna Stephany in a performance of Brahms’ “Alto Rhapsody” as part of his 60th Birthday Concert at The Sage Gateshead.
Final Bows of a performance of Beethoven’s, “Missa Solemnis” at Middlesbrough Town Hall, March 2007 with Cleveland Philharmonic Choir and The Mowbray Orchestra with soloists: Rebekah Coffey (Soprano) Amanda Floyd (Mezzo Soprano), Huw Rhys-Evans (Tenor), Paul Keohone (Baritone)
Some of the responses from participating conductors to a Master Class on Choral Conducting given by John Forsyth in 2009.
John (5th from the Left in the centre) with “The Mastersingers” (2011) – A professional Choral Ensemble, Directed by Alan Simmons (2nd from the right), the ensemble’s founder.
(1984) The Wind Orchestra of St Aidan’s CE High School, Harrogate, with John, its founder. John was Director of Music and Performing Arts at the school from 1972 – 1985.
John, in November 2016, conducting Verdi Requiem at The Sage Gateshead, with Cleveland Philharmonic Choir, The Mowbray Orchestra (Leader: Jessica Graham) and soloists: Linda Richardson (Soprano) Amanda Floyd (Mezzo-Soprano) David Butt Philip (Tenor) Philip Smith (Baritone)