'It is often said that a person is usually not a prophet in their own land, except the wonderful Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra granted me the extraordinary honour and opportunity of being their Artist In Residence until the end of 2020. Alongside my residency, in September 2019, I released my debut solo CD, A Love Letter To Liverpool, on which I am accompanied by my old and very dear friend Alisdair Hogarth and also the RLPO, Choir and Youth Company, in tribute to my home city and its music. All profits from the album were donated equally to two outstanding charitable organisations: Alder Hey Children’s Charity supports the work of one of the world’s leading specialist children’s hospitals; and the Liverpool Phil’s Youth Company, which encourages the development of the next generation of young musicians and composers from across Merseyside. I am especially proud that this album contains new works by seven of the Liverpool Phil’s young composers, all of whom are at the beginning of their careers. The Liverpool Phil gave me my first taste of world-class classical music when I joined their choir at the tender age of 15, and so I have come full circle, back to where I started a quarter of a century ago. What a journey it has been. I have travelled the globe and experienced many wonderful places, yet I love nowhere more than Liverpool: the gateway to the Atlantic, my native land, my beloved city, my home.'