Chetham’s International Piano Summer School

Classical improvisation at the piano: too much to choose from? Simon Parkin
2021-08-18 17:15 - 18:00 (Europe/London) | Whiteley Hall
We welcome Simon Parkin to give a fascinating talk on classical improvisation.
Simon, who was awarded a PhD in composition by Manchester University, is an award-winning composer with an extensive catalogue of performed works. His latest ongoing project is to compose a piece for every day of the year, for various instruments together with piano. Some of the ‘December’ pieces, for double bass and piano, were recently recorded by Leon Bosch on Meridian.
As an arranger, Simon is much in demand, and in addition to his role as Arranger in Residence for Manchester Camerata, for whom he produces arrangements in varied styles and for a range of ensembles his work has featured in the commercial recordings of international artists and ensembles including Sheku Kanneh-Mason, Jess Gillam and the Sakura Cello Quintet.

Adult Amateur Workshop
2021-08-20 11:30 - 13:00 | Whiteley Hall
The final workshop of part one. Don’t miss out on the opportunity to play to Philip Fowke and Kathryn Page. Everyone very welcome to come up and play, even just a few bars.

Drop in performance class
2021-08-20 15:30 - 16:30, 2021-08-25 15:30 - 16:30 | Whiteley Hall
An informal class where everyone can come along between lessons and practise to play their piece to a member of the faculty on a lovely concert grand piano.

Adult Amateur Workshop
2021-08-22 11:30 - 13:00 | Whiteley Hall
The first workshop for the adult amateur course on part two. Everyone is very welcome to come and play or just observe. Philip Fowke and Kathryn Page guarantee a very warm welcome.

Drop in performance class
2021-08-23 15:30 - 16:30 | Whiteley Hall
New for 2021 – an informal class where everyone can come along between lessons and practise to play their piece to a member of the faculty on a lovely concert grand piano.

An audience with Paul Lewis
2021-08-24 17:15 - 18:00 | Whiteley Hall
We are thrilled to welcome Paul Lewis to the Summer school.
Paul, a former student of Chetham’s, is internationally regarded as one of the leading musicians of his generation. His cycles of core piano works by Beethoven and Schubert have received unanimous critical and public acclaim worldwide, and consolidated his reputation as one of the world’s foremost interpreters of the central European classical repertoire. His numerous awards have included the Royal Philharmonic Society’s Instrumentalist of the Year, two Edison awards, three Gramophone awards, the Diapason D’or de l’Annee, the Preis Der Deutschen Schallplattenkritik, the Premio Internazionale Accademia Musicale Chigiana, and the South Bank Show Classical Music award. He holds honorary degrees from Liverpool, Edge Hill, and Southampton Universities, and was appointed Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in the 2016 Queen’s Birthday Honours.

Teaching session 1
2023-08-15 08:45 - 11:00
The first session of the day with all members of the faculty working intensely in individual lessons with the participants. Children are encouraged to watch other lessons. Drop in to listen to lessons and learn from the outstanding faculty.

Teaching session 2
2023-08-15 11:30 - 13:00
Individual lessons continue apace. With so many wonderful teachers and course options everyone will be kept very busy!. The piano summer school has an ‘open door’ policy – so do go and listen to other lessons. You might decide you want to learn jazz!

Teaching session 3
2023-08-15 14:45 - 17:00
Individual lessons take place throughout the school on all courses. In addition to the piano course there will be lessons on composition, harpsichord, jazz, theory, aural, sight-reading and much more. Observers always welcome.

Vladimir Tropp

Martino Tirimo recital
2023-08-15 19:00 - 20:00 | Stoller Hall
We are thrilled to welcome back Martino Tirimo to perform and teach on the summer school.
Chopin 3 Mazurkas Op.59
Schubert Sonata in D major D850 (Gastein’)
i Allegro Vivace
ii Con Moto
iii Scherzo – Allegro Vivace
iv Rondo – Allegro Moderato
“A formidable virtuoso and one with unmistakeable magnetism.” The Guardian
“Tirimo’s playing belongs to a past generation of ‘greats’. Listening to him I conjure up aural images of Solomon, Arrau, Kempff, Serkin, Schnabel and Rubinstein. Throughout the evening one was consistently aware that this supreme musician placed himself entirely at the service of the composer.”
Bill Newman, Music and Vision

Carlo Grante Recital
2023-08-15 20:30 - 21:45 | Stoller Hall
“Grante’s meticulous, thoughtful virtuosity and stylistic insights have markedly evolved… Like Horowitz, Grante is a master at creating a multicoloured portfolio of legato shadings through fingers alone, pedaling ever so discreetly.” – Gramophone
We welcome back Carlo to give a recital and to teach on part one. Always a very popular teacher we await his recital with eagerness.
Rachmaninov

Etudes-Tableaux Op 33
No. 1 Allegro non troppo in F minor
No. 2 Allegro in C major
No. 3 Grave in C minor
No. 4 Moderato in D minor
No. 5 Non allegro—Presto in E♭ minor
No. 6 Allegro con fuoco in E♭ major
No. 7 Moderato in G minor
No. 8 Grave in C♯ minor

Etudes-Tableaux Op.39

No. 1 Allegro agitato in C minor
No. 2 Lento assai in A minor
No. 3 Allegro molto in F♯ minor
No. 4 Allegro assai in B minor
No. 5 Appassionato in E♭ minor
No. 6 Allegro in A minor
No. 7 Lento lugubre in C minor
No. 8 Allegro moderato in D minor
No. 9 Allegro moderato. Tempo di marcia in D major

Teaching session 3
2023-08-16 14:30 - 16:45
Individual lessons take place throughout the school on all courses. In addition to the piano course there will be lessons on composition, harpsichord, jazz, theory, aural, sight-reading and much more. Observers always welcome.

Philip Martin

Teaching session 2
2023-08-18 11:30 - 13:00
The final day of individual lessons on part one. Over 25 faculty will be working throughout the school.

Noriko Ogawa in Baronial Hall

Teaching session 3
2023-08-18 14:30 - 16:45
The final teaching session of the day. Take full advantage of the ‘open door’policy – have a listen to the amazing faculty throughout the day.

Dina Parakhina Recital
2023-08-18 20:30 - 21:30 | Stoller Hall
Dina is in great demand both as a performer and teacher. We are thrilled to welcome her back to the Stoller Hall for a solo recital.
After graduating with a “Diploma of Distinction” from both the Central Music School and the Moscow State Tchaikovsky Conservatory, Dina Parakhina went on the become one of the youngest-ever members of the Central Music School faculty when she inherited the chair formerly held by her teacher, professor Tamara Bobovich. She occupied this post for fifteen years until she moved to the UK in 1996, and was one of the most-wanted pedagogues in her native Russia. She combined teaching with a busy performing career, collaborating with many outstanding instrumentalists, singers and conductors, as well as playing with major Russian orchestras, giving recitals and making TV and radio broadcasts at the most prestigious venues in Moscow and other cities of the former Soviet Union.
Rachmaninov

Melodie Op 3 no. 3 (revised version)
Variations on a Theme of Corelli Op 42
Serenade Op.3 no. 5 revised version)
Moment Musicaax Op 16 no. 2 (revised version)
Second Sonata (revised version).

Diploma exams
2023-08-19 09:00 - 14:00 | G09
An opportunity for participants to take a Trinity College of London performing diploma on the summer school. Specialist examiners will listen to the performances in a large recital room with a Steinway grand for participants to play. Full details are on the website here.

Forysth Piano Workshop tour
2023-08-19 12:30 - 15:45
12.30 – 13.45 and 2.30pm – 15.45 – Tours of Forsyth’s Piano Workshops, Showrooms & Private Collection of Historical Keyboard Instruments

If you’ve enjoyed trying the 20 or so beautiful pianos that Forsyth have brought to the Summer School, you’ll love the enormous piano showroom just down the road at their historic 5-storey premises where you can try over 150!

Tai Chi
2023-08-20 08:00 - 08:30
We are thrilled to welcome Philip Smith to take early morning Tai Chi on part two of CIPSS. A perfect start to the day. Suitable for all ages.
The session will be held outside if the weather is kind.

Teaching session 3
2023-08-20 14:30 - 16:45
The final teaching session of the day for all individual lessons.

Philip Martin

Tai Chi
2023-08-21 08:00 - 08:30
Tai Chi’s gentle exercise help to reduce stress and tone and strengthen muscles. Suitable for all ages and fitness levels. Everyone welcome.

Junior Foundation 'drop in' practice clinic
2023-08-21 09:30 - 10:15 | G06
For all young pianists on the Foundation Course. Drop in to play a bar, or a small section, ask about fingering and learn lots of tips to take you into your practice room. Stay for 5 minutes or the whole class – so much can be discovered by listening to everyone.

Teaching session 3
2023-08-21 14:30 - 16:45
The third teaching session of the day. Over 100 pianos will be played during this session!

Martino Tirimo

Lecture with Peter Donohoe
2023-08-21 17:15 - 18:00 | Stoller Hall
In the years since his unprecedented success as Silver Medal winner of the 1982 7th International Tchaikovsky Competition in Moscow, Peter Donohoe has built an extraordinary world-wide career, encompassing a huge repertoire and over forty years’ experience as a pianist, as well as continually exploring many other avenues in music-making. He is acclaimed as one of the foremost pianists of our time, for his musicianship, stylistic versatility and commanding technique.
Today Peter will talk about his experiences as a jury member on some of the world’s leading piano competitions. This promises to be a fascinating and illuminating talk.

Tai Chi
2023-08-22 08:00 - 08:30
Join Philip for another refreshing session of Tai Chi. If the weather is good we will hold this outside.

Teaching session 1
2023-08-22 08:45 - 11:00
Individual lessons continue with lessons taking place throughout the school. In addition to the piano course there will be lessons in jazz, composition, harpsichord, analysis, improvisation, theory, aural, sight-reading, dalcroze and alexander technique!

Noriko Ogawa teaching.

Teaching session 2
2023-08-22 11:30 - 13:00
The 2nd teaching session of the day. All of the faculty are busy giving daily individual lessons on all courses. Observers always welcome.

Philip Fowke working with the adult amateur workshop.

John Lenehan presents Sounds for Silents
2023-08-22 19:00 - 20:00 | Stoller Hall
We are delighted to welcome back John Lenehan for another outstanding programme of silent films. Free to summer school paritipcnats – tickes are available for the general public from the Stoller Hall.
Praised by the New York Times for his “great flair and virtuosity”, John Lenehan’s performances and recordings have been acclaimed throughout the world. With more than 70 albums to his credit, reflecting an enormous variety of genres and styles, John Lenehan ranks as one of the most versatile pianists on the international classical music scene today.
In this original programme, John accompanies a programme of silent movies and music-inspired films. As director of “Sounds for Silents” he has written and arranged more than 20 film scores, which have been performed throughout the UK in Festivals such as Aldeburgh, Cheltenham, Brighton and Harrogate as well as in Italy, Germany, Norway and Australia. He continues to present film and music programmes, reviving the art of the improvising pianist – the most recent including the silent films of Laurel and Hardy.

Tai Chi
2023-08-23 08:00 - 08:30
The final session of Tai Chi. If you have not been before don’t miss the chance to come along and find out more. Suitable for all.

Teaching session 1
2023-08-23 08:45 - 11:00
The last day on part 2 for individual lessons. All lessons are open to observe – don’t miss this incredible opportunity to learn from the outstanding faculty.
