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Many thanks to Margaret and Graham for hosting another super summer party for the club last weekend.

A few photos from the event are in the galleries below

On Saturday 29th June, Kathryn gave a pre recital to members of our club in preparation for the recital that she will be giving in September. – This was a wonderful opportunity for mutual support between player and members, with constructive feedback and the opportunity f0r Kathryn to prepare. – Thank you to Kathryn for playing for us and to the members who came along to support Kathryn. -It was a wonderful afternoon which left us all looking forward to the recital itself.

Details of the recital are:

Time – 3pm  Saturday 7th September 2024

Venue – St. Andrew’s Church Chippenham

Seats available on the door. Please make a £5 minimum donations to aid Ukraine ( Red Cross). Thank you.

Title ” Chopin and his Russian Followers ” 

Sergei Prokofiev            Op. 12 Preludes Nr.7 from 10 Pieces

Frédéric Chopin            Fantaisie in F minor Op.49

Sergei Rachmaninov    Etudes -Tableaux Op.33 nr. 5 in D Minor and

                                            nr.8 in G minor

Alexander Scriabin       Prelude Nr.1 op16 in B major

                                            Etude Op. 8 Nr. 2 in F#minor

                                            Poeme Op.32 Nr. 1 in F#major

Sergei Rachmaninov    Prelude Op.23 Nr. 4 in D major

                                            Prelude Op.23 Nr. 5 in G minor

Sergei Prokofiev             Op12 Nr. 6 Legenda from 10 Pieces

                                            Op.75 Nr.10 Romeo and Juliet Parting

Please do come along for a first class afternoon of playing in support of Kathryn, and also to provide much needed funds in aid of the Red Cross working in Ukraine.

Jonathan –  Extiasis Tango     –  Piazzolla

                   Valse Op 69 No 1.     – Chopin

Peter  –     Danza de la moza donosa      –  Ginastera

                 2 Chorale Preludes                 –  JS Bach

                 Wer Gott  lasst walten. BMV 691      

                 Jesu, meine Freude BMV 753

Chris –      Cantilena No 1           – Guastavino

Anne K     Nocturne                    – Alanna Crouch

Brian        Liebestraum        Nocturne No 1    – Franz Liszt

Len         Sarabande from Suite No 4         – Handel

Ruth      1^st Movt piano sonata in C major  K330              – Mozart

Simon H   Autumn Leaf             – Rebikov

Graham – Moment Musicale  Op 94 No 3 in F minor   – Schubert

Kathryn –   Prelude in G minor Op 23 No 5.     – Rachmaninov

Margaret –  Arrieta from Grande Sonatine Op 22   – Samuil Maykapar

Ann –         1st Movt piano sonata in F major K332    – Mozart 

Our first masterclass of 2024 was a great success. It was led by concert pianist and chamber musician William Howard, who proved he was not just a superb pianist but also an inspiring, engaging, and insightful teacher. As one participant put it afterwards:

“I can honestly say that I learnt something in every session and have an extensive list of things to reflect upon, try and place in my practice and generally take on board.”

The workshop was held on Tuesday 11 June at the home of Simon and Jill Scott, where we benefited from being able to play their superb Bösendorfer 225 grand piano.

As usual at Club meetings, participants offered a varied programme, with works by composers ranging from Bach to Messiaen:

Simon – Berg: Piano Sonata Op.1

Nancy – Haydn: Sonata No.60 in C major Hob: XVI: 50; Chopin: Mazurka No. 36 in A minor Op.59 No.1

Fran – Chopin: Nouvelle Étude No 2 in A flat KK 2 b/3 No 2

Steven – Bach: Toccata in E minor BWV 914

Mark – Messiaen: Vingt regards sur l’Enfant-Jésus XI: La première communion de la Vierge

Michelle – Bach: Sarabande from the E minor Partita

Anne – Clara Schumann: Pièces Fugitives Op.15 No.1 

Matthew – Chopin: Prelude in A flat, Op.28 No.17; Prelude in F sharp Op.28 No.13

About William Howard

William Howard (see https://www.williamhoward.co.uk/biography) has a wide range of musical interests and repertoire, and in particular is passionate about 19th century piano repertoire, especially Schubert, Chopin, Schumann and Fauré. He also has a strong interest in Czech piano music and has been particularly acclaimed for his performance of Janáček. He has recorded over 40 CDs as a soloist or chamber musician.

Future events

Alton Chan returns to Bristol this summer, with a masterclass for the Club at Henleaze Reform Church on 26 August; private lessons in Keynsham (at Leonora’s house) on 27 August; and a course at Jackdaws 23–25 August – see https://bristolpianoclub.org/2024/05/24/a-visit-from-dr-alton-chung-ming-chan/

Pianist and teacher Helen Reid (https://helenreidpiano.com/) will be leading a masterclass for us on 10 November at Cheryl & Brian’s in Failand – contact Mark for further information at mark@markwareconsulting.com

Willilam Howard will be running a course “Creative Practising – How to Keep Your Piano Practice Fresh” on 25–27 October at Jackdaws – see https://www.jackdaws.org.uk/events/3645/

Bath-based international concert pianist Nurry Lee wowed the audience at her sell-out show in Keynsham who duly rewarded her with a standing ovation.

The 28-year-old South Korean-British pianist, who spent her early years in Bristol and Bath,  flew in from Prague for the concert at The Space on Saturday which was hosted by Keynsham Concerts, the voluntary, not-for-profit group who bring sell-out, high-quality classical music concerts to the town, including the acclaimed Stringfever concert in March.

Nurry is regarded as one of the most dynamic pianists of her generation. She began studying the piano aged six with her mother, and three years later won her first concerto competition.

She studied at Wells Cathedral School and completed her undergraduate and Masters degrees at the Royal College of Music. She was accepted at the prestigious Korea National University of Arts in Seoul and completed her Artistic Diploma at the Royal Northern College of Music.

Nurry, who spends her time between Bath and London, has toured internationally and last year gave a sell-out performance at Carnegie Hall in New York.

Mickleburgh Musical Instruments sponsored Nurry’s Keynsham recital, at which she showed her incredible range, beginning with three technically  challenging etudes by Chopin and then enchanting the audience with her renditions of works including Tchaikovsky, Beethoven, Ravel and Liszt and Chopin’s 10-minute Ballade No 1 in G Minor (the soundtrack from the film The Pianist).

If you missed Nurry in Keynsham, you can catch her this coming  Saturday (1st June) when she will be playing two concerts at Burdall’s Yard in Bath. The first, Childhood Memories, draws on contemporary music including covers of Disney.

The second performance of the night will include great classical works, including some of the most virtuosic pieces in the piano repertoire.

Find out more at https://www.burdallsyard.co.uk/whatson

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Steve Kings will be giving a piano recital at St Mary’s Parish Church in Thornbury on Sunday 16^th June at 4pm.

There will be music by Beethoven, Scarlatti, CPE Bach, and Moeran.

Entry is free, the concert lasts about an hour, and there are refreshments.

Address details from the organisers are here.

Saturday 15 June 2024

7.30pm

Clifton Cathedral

​with Helen Charlston mezzo soprano

​Ravel Le Tombeau de Couperin
Mahler Rückert-Lieder
Tchaikovsky Symphony No. 6 in B minor (Pathétique)

​The Clifton International Festival of Music 2024 is brought to a close with singing sensation Helen Charlston and the Bristol Symphony Orchestra.

BBC Music Magazine’s Vocal award winner 2023 delights in Mahler’s profoundly moving Rückert-Lieder, a collection of five songs based on poems by Friedrich Rückert, which delve into themes of love, loss, and existential reflection with profound intensity.

​The dynamism of Bristol Symphony Orchestra will be on full display as they present Tchaikovsky’s deeply personal Symphony no. 6 in B minor, known as the ‘Pathétique’, known for its passionate melodies and harmonic intensity, reflecting the deeply personal struggles of the composer.

​The programme also features Maurice Ravel’s “Le Tombeau de Couperin”, a heartfelt tribute to François Couperin and fallen friends of World War I. The work blends Baroque influences with Ravel’s unique harmonic palette to create a work of profound beauty.

​

Book tickets here: Bristol Beacon

bathboxoffice.org.uk 01225 463362

Performance 1 Childhood Memories

Piano Covers of Disney and Studio Ghibli

Sat 01 June 2024 at 17.30 Burdall’s Yard Bath BA1 5NH

Performance 2 Classical Musical Recital

Classical works, featuring some of the most virtuosic pieces in the piano repertoire

Sat 01 June 2024 at 19.30 Burdall’s Yard Bath BA1 5NH

Simon S – Berg: Sonata Op.1

Jean A – Albéniz: Sous Les Palmiers

Ret – Chopin: Nocturne G Minor Op.31 No.6

Simon H – John Barry: Out of Africa

Chris – Handel Fantasia in A major

Cheryl – Debussy: Clair de Lune

Steve W – Chopin: Waltz No 10 in A minor

Steve W – Mendelssohn: Venetian Gondola Song Op.80 No.6

Anne K – Haydn: Adagio in G Hob. XV:22

Jon – Erik Satie: Gnossiennes 1, 2, 3

Matthew G – Chopin: Prelude in F sharp major Op.28 No.13

Richard – Debussy: Hommage à Rameau (from Images Book 1)

Nancy – Haydn: Sonata No. 60 in C major Hob: XVI:50

Nancy – Chopin: Mazurka in A minor Op.59 No.1

Brian – Liszt: Liebesträume E in Ab No.3

Ernest – Scriabin: Nocturne in D flat Op.9 No.2 for left hand 

Steve B – Beethoven: Sonata in C minor Op.13 (Pathétique) 1st Mvt

Mike – Bach: Sinfonia No.14 in B flat major BVW 800

Following the success of last year’s visit to Bristol by Dr Alton Chung Ming Chan, Bristol Piano Club is delighted to welcome Alton back this August. 

Alton will be running the following during his stay:

1.  A course at Jackdaws in Frome on Fri 23rd/Sat 24th and Sun 25th August.- Details below. (Places bookable directly with Jackdaws).

2. Masterclasses at Henleaze United Reform Church on Monday 26th August, with places for players costing £45 and for observers costing £15. (To include costs for hall hire and insurance) The day will run from 11- 16.00 hrs. We will break for lunch and have our usual lovely ‘pot luck’ bring and share food and drink. 

At the end of the day Alton will be giving us an informal recital.

Booking is open now via Leonora and payment is required advance by Monday 12th August please.

3. Private lessons in Keynsham (at Leonora’s house) on Tuesday 27th August. The lessons will last 30 mins and cost £30 each. Booking is open now via Leonora and payment is required in advance by Tuesday 13th August please.

Please contact Leonora on 07973802739 or leonora.bristolpiano@yahoo.com  to book for the masterclasses and private lessons, or for any queries.