The latest news from Keynsham concerts is…………..
We are holding two recitals in early July 2026 at St John’s Church Keynsham as part of Keynsham Music Festival week.
The first will be a lunchtime recital (13.00 hrs) by Allan Schiller on Thursday 2nd July.
https://www.allanschiller.co.uk/
The second will be an evening recital on Saturday 4th July given by Nurry Lee.
Tickets on sale soon!
Friday, Jan 30th – not a class lesson or masterclass but an opportunity to explore concepts and find commonalities. With Bach specialist Sophie Yates.
St Mary-le-Savoy Church, 10 Sandwich Street, London WC1H 9LP. One place available at reduced rate.
sophie@bbsy.co.uk
Local musicians Helen Reid and Jonathan Rees perform a programme featuring music associated with Nadia Boulanger – 20th century composer and highly influential pedagogue with an amazing list of pupils from Quincy Jones to Aaron Copland.
…. looking to 2026 – we have participants coming from New York and from Hong Kong and we have a new gîte, just opposite the Marie in our beautiful village of Edon. This is currently having a complete refurbishment and will offer four spacious en-suite guest rooms in addition to our beautiful accommodation at the Presbytery.
The number of pianist participants will continue to be limited to seven – this is the magic number that enables everyone to play on a daily basis to either Helen or myself and which keeps our courses bespoke and personal.
There has been a small increase in the fee for next year by £100 in order to reflect the increase in food costs and travel for our guest performers. Course fees for participants will be set at £1700 and partners are welcomed at £425.
Once you arrive at Le Maillard everything is paid for which includes accommodation, food, wine, two private lessons, trips out, restaurant dinners, yoga, concerts and, new for next year, ‘conversation cafe’ with Sofie (not our Daschund, although her French is coming along) but our new resident French teacher in the village.
We are accepting deposits of £850 for participants and £200 for partners and will need this to secure your place.
We look forward to welcoming you in 2026!
With seasonal illnesses affecting not a few of us, a select group of seven met at Jan and Jonathan’s for our first meeting of the new year. We enjoyed the real warmth of their welcome and the log fires after the cold and wet outside. We remembered Len Miller who died last week and some of the music was played in tribute to him. Our thoughts are with Marion and Jack at this very sad time.
Despite our limited numbers there was a lot of music played on the Danemann grand and the meeting lasted over four hours. A great start to 2026 and our thanks again to Jan and Jonathan for being such wonderful hosts.
| Playlist – January 2026 | ||
| Performer | Composer | Piece |
| Simon S | Fauré | Nocturne in Db, op. 63 |
| Ernest Fischer | A Little Piece of Lace (Foxtrot) | |
| Eric Coates | Last Love | |
| Trad. arr Harold Potter | Two Guitars | |
| Brian | Joseph Kosma | Autumn Leaves |
| Arr. Pete Churchill | Abide with Me (in memory of Len Miller) | |
| Pam Wedgwood | Forgotten Dreams, Wild Poppies & Flinders St | |
| Richard | Chopin | Study in E major, op. 10, no. 3 |
| Jonathan | Fauré | Romance sans Paroles, op. 17 no. 3 |
| Copland | No. 2 from Four Piano Blues | |
| Jan | J S Bach | Gigue from English Suite No. 2 in A minor |
| Jean | Earl Wild | The Man I Love No. 3 from Seven Virtuoso Etudes after Gershwin |
| Panrace Royer | L’Aimable | |
| J S Bach | Chromatic Fantasy | |
Matthew and Leo organised a Club afternoon at Southmead Hospital on Saturday November 29th. We played on the Bluthner baby grand in the atrium from 1 to 5 pm and patients, visitors and staff were treated to a huge variety of music from Christmas themed duets to baroque and 20th century and much in between. And we had Sarah playing her cello and Chris brought his tuba, wow! A sizable and appreciative audience had built up by the time we finally had to pack up and leave. I am sure we will be back for more performances next year.
The Club Christmas party was held at Jan and Jonathan’s just over a week later and around twenty five of us enjoyed more Christmas music as well as a superb buffet. A huge thanks to Jan and Jonathan for their work in preparing and hosting – very much appreciated!!
Twenty of us gathered in the Henleaze Trinity URC for the Club AGM (to be reported on later) followed by the normal play and socialise meeting. We enjoyed the mellow sounds from the Yamaha C3 with a variety of piano music from the 19th to the 21th century. Plus some delicious home baking.
| Bristol Piano Club November 2025 | ||
| Performer | Composer | Piece |
| Matthew | Joby Talbot | Cloud Watching |
| Juliana | Beethoven | Sonata in D minor, op. 31, no. 17, 2nd mvt |
| Chris | Johnny Mercer & Henry Mancini | Moon River |
| RJ | Coldplay, Aikii, Ed Sheeran misc. | A Sky Full of Stars, Viva La Vida, Wake Me Up, Shape of You |
| Simon H | Charles Tebbs | Airships |
| Anne K | Grieg | Air from Holberg Suite |
| Steve B | Carrara | No Time to Die |
| Boyang | D J Okawari | Flower Dance |
| Jean | Bartok | No. 1 from Six Dances in Bulgarian Rhythm |
| Richard | Cui | Waltz in E minor, op. 32 |
| Simon S | Ancliffe | Sorrento |
One of our members heard James Lisney play the last three Beethoven piano sonatas at a piano summer school in France earlier this year and this recital comes highly recommended. Acclaimed British pianist James is playing op. 109, 110 and 111 at St Georges on Tuesday 18th November at 7:30 pm. Should be very special indeed!
We will be playing Christmas themed music in the atrium of Southmead Hospital from 13.00 – 17.00 hrs on Saturday 29th November.
Last time we went it was a great success and our music making was really appreciated by patients/ visitors and staff.
If you would like to come along please let Leonora know so we have an idea of how many people will be playing.
There is usually parking available at weekends in the multi-storey car park of the Brunel building with direct access to the atrium. – There are cafes and toilets available – all on the same floor – & accessible.
Looking forward to seeing you there.
BPC members had a lovely afternoon of piano music at Jan’s house as always. Several of us had been to the Nurry Lee masterclass the previous weekend so we were keen to share our thoughts and demonstrate our improvements!
| Bristol Piano Club October 2025 | ||
| Performer | Composer | Piece |
| Peter H | Scarlatti | Sonata in D major K 96 |
| Richard | Brahms | Intermezzo op. 119 no. 1 |
| Anne K | Boëly | Valse Romantique op. 13 no. 15 |
| Tchaikovsky | October from The Seasons | |
| Simon H | Jules Massenet | Melodie no. 5 from op. 10 |
| Jonathan | Astor Piazzolla | Extasis Tango |
| Granados | Spanish Dance | |
| Chris UW | Handel | Allemande from Suite in D minor |
| Jan | Bach | Gavotte I from English Suite III |
Bristol Piano Club 