Lecture with Murray McLachlan – Traum der Jugend: reflections on Ferruccio Busoni 100 years on
Stoller HallThe first lecture of the course celebrates Ferruccio Busoni - 1866 – 1924 'Music is so constituted that every context is a new context and should be treated as an 'exception'. The solution of a problem, once found, cannot be reapplied to a different context. Our art is a theatre of surprise and invention, and …
Lecture with Robert Andres – Pianos and Pianism: Frederic Horace Clark and the Quest for Unity of Mind, Body and Universe
Stoller HallPianos and Pianism: Frederic Horace Clark and the Quest for Unity of Mind, Body and Universe Robert Andres, author of Pianos and Pianism, will give illuminating insight into Clark's work and his place in the history of the development of piano technique. Free to all summer school participants. Tickets available to the public from the …
Lecture with Paul Hindmarsh – Who was Wilfred Heaton?
Stoller HallIn the early 1950s Sheffield composer Wilfred Heaton undertook a number of consultation lessons in composition with the distinguished emigre Hungarian teacher Matyas Seiber. The results of this advice were far-reaching on Heaton's style, as can be heard in this Piano Sonata. Paul Hindmarsh, a former BBC producer for 21 years now devotes his time …
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The Taubman Approach with Nina Tichman
Stoller HallAmerican pianist Nina Tichman gave her Debut at the age of 17 with Beethoven´s 'Emperor' Concerto. Since that time she has performed in the musical centres of the world (Carnegie Hall, Kölner Philharmonie, Berliner Konzerthaus, Salzburger Festspielhaus et al). Winner of important international competitions – Busoni, Mendelssohn, Casagrande – Nina Tichman was Professor of Piano …
Dina Parakhina – Lecture Recital
Stoller HallDelighted to welcome back Dina Parakhina to perform a recital. Medtner Romantic Sketches for the Young, Op 54 1. Prelude, Pastorale 2. Bird’s Tale 3. Prelude, Tempo di Sarabanda 4. Tale, Scherzo 5. Prelude, Tender Reproach 6. Tale, The Barrel-Organ Player 7. Prelude, Hymn 8. Tale, The Beggar Medtner’s Op.54 “Romantic Sketches for the Young” is a rarely performed cycle. It consists of four short …
Lecture Recital with Murray McLachlan
Stoller HallToday Murray celebrates the 80th year of composer Edward Gregson. I have no hesitation in declaring Gregson to be one of the most significant British composers currently active in this country Robert Matthew-Walker, International Record Review Edward Gregson was born in Sunderland, Co Durham, England, in 1945. He graduated from London’s Royal Academy of Music in 1967, …
“PPP, Passion, Piano, Politics”; A brief history of piano music in Iran, particularly last 50 years.
Stoller HallToday we welcome Neysun Rouhani to give this fascinating lecture- a brief history of Piano in Iran and then the effects of the 1978 Islamic Revolution on the music. Neysun will introduce composers who have written music for piano and performances of their music will be given by young pianists including Deedeh Rouhani, Luca Boston …
Lecture “What about the Twiddly Bits?” with Charlotte Turner
Stoller HallThe first of the lectures for the 2026 course. This lecture explores how to approach ornamentation in Baroque keyboard music by understanding the expressive logic behind it. Charlotte Turner will discuss the principles of preparation, dissonance and resolution, showing how ornaments arise naturally from harmonic tension and release. Participants gain practical tools for shaping “twiddly …
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Lecture ‘Letting the wrong notes become the right notes (in ANY order!) with Douglas Finch
Stoller HallWe are delighted to welcome Douglas Finch - improviser extraordinaire - to give us an introduction to improvising for fun and profit (And ways of thinking about music)
Lecture – Levelling Down: Why Easier Repertoire Can Produce Better Piano Playing with Murray McLachlan
Stoller HallProfessional, peer and personal pressures often encourage pianists to pursue ever more technically demanding repertoire, sometimes at the expense of artistic freedom and musical satisfaction. This lecture explores how working on easier repertoire can create greater space for imagination, sound quality, phrasing, voicing, colour and character, allowing pianists to develop the most important aspects of …