A Happy New Year to you all. I wish you joy, happiness, and peace. As it’s the beginning of the year, I want to highlight something special, and with the war still raging in Ukraine, this wonderful, heart-warming project offers a positive start to 2023. The internationally acclaimed concert pianist Margaret Fingerhut is known for…
Tag: Concert Pianist
Studying at the Conservatorium van Amsterdam: Yuki Negishi
The first guest post of 2022 has been written by Japanese concert pianist Yuki Negishi. This is the third article in Yuki’s series for this blog, reflecting on her training, and, specifically, her time spent studying at various music conservatoires around the world. The first two posts explored her experiences studying in New York, at…
Studying in Hong Kong and the USA: Rachel Cheung
Today’s post is a continuation of my series exploring advanced music study, and, more specifically, how studying at a music conservatoire or university plays a crucial, and often defining, role in a musician’s life. My guest post today has been penned by concert pianist Rachel Cheung, who is based in Hong Kong. In this fascinating…
Pianists From The Past: Sergei Rachmaninov
My Pianists From The Past series continues this week featuring the great Russian pianist and composer Sergei Rachmaninov. Today’s article has been penned by British concert pianist, teacher and broadcaster Robin Zebaida. Aspects of Rachmaninov the pianist Although I first became familiar with Rachmaninov’s recordings in my mid-teens while studying his Preludes, I can precisely…
Pianists From The Past: Edith Vogel
Pianists From The Past continues today with this fascinating article featuring Austro-Hungarian-born pianist and pedagogue Edith Vogel, written by one of her pupils, British pianist and piano professor Andrew Bottrill, who is head of keyboard at Latymer Upper School and professor at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London. Over to Andrew… Recollections…
Hamish Milne: reflective memories
The relationship between piano teacher and piano student can last a lifetime. When the teacher passes, inevitably, the student takes stock and reflects. Concert pianist and pedagogue Hamish Milne was a highly respected, much-loved piano professor at the Royal Academy of Music in London, where he taught for over forty years. He died earlier this…
Words and Music with Lucy Parham and Friends
British concert pianist Lucy Parham came to prominence when she won the piano final of the BBC Young Musician of the Year in 1984, and has since played with many of the world’s finest orchestras and conductors. More recently, she has become synonymous with performances of Words and Music. Lucy teams up with eminent actors, and themes…
Barry Douglas in conversation with Melanie Spanswick
The thirty-ninth interview in my Classical Conversations Series features Irish concert pianist Barry Douglas. We met for a chat in London recently, where he talked about his life and career. Barry Douglas has established a major international career since winning the Gold Medal at the 1986 Tchaikovsky International Piano Competition, Moscow. As Artistic Director of…
Cristina Ortiz in conversation with Melanie Spanswick
My thirty-eighth interview guest is Brazilian concert pianist Cristina Ortiz. We met at her home in West London a couple of weeks ago to discuss her life and career. Even though Cristina has been resident in Europe for many years, it is the passion, spontaneity and allure so characteristic to her Brazilian cultural heritage, which…
Nicholas McCarthy in conversation with Melanie Spanswick
My Classical Conversations Series continues today and features British left-handed concert pianist Nicholas McCarthy, who is my thirty-seventh guest. He met with me earlier this month at Steinway Hall in London. Nicholas was born in 1989 without his right hand and only began to play the piano at the late age of 14 after seeing…
Melanie Spanswick 