Chetham’s International Piano Summer School

Lecture with Murray McLachlan - Traum der Jugend: reflections on Ferruccio Busoni 100 years on
2024-08-09 17:15 - 18:00 (Europe/London) | Stoller Hall
The 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 of the seemingly unprepared. The spirit of music arises from the depths of our humanity and is returned to the high regions whence it has descended on mankind.’ F.Busoni
Free to all summer school participants. Tickets available to the public from the Stoller Hall.

Junior Piano Group Class
2024-08-10 08:45 - 09:30 | Carole Nash Hall
The morning begins for the Junior pianists with a group class in the magnificent Carole Nash Hall. This photo from last year shows the class exploring the importance of posture with Murray McLachlan.

Junior Foundation 'drop in' practice workshop
2024-08-10 09:30 - 10:15 | G06
The daily ‘drop -in’ class for all Junior Foundation pianists. A great way to set up the day with tips on every aspect of piano playing from a member of the faculty. Come along with a bar, or a small section for lots of advice and help to take you into your practice room.

Adult amateur workshop
2024-08-10 11:30 - 13:00 | G06
Enjoy 90 minutes of music making with pianists on the adult amateur course. Marta Karbownicka will offer helpful and constructive feedback. Observers always welcome.

Faculty Gala recital
2024-08-10 20:30 - 21:45 | Stoller Hall
The now traditional Gala Recital featuring outstanding members of the faculty. An exciting and varied programme guaranteed.
Free for all summer school participants. Tickets available for the public from the Stoller Hall.
Rachmaninov Caprice bohémien Op. 12 (Capriccio on gypsy themes) Honor O’Hea and Robert Andres
Brahms 3 Intermezzi Op 117 John Thwaites
Arnold Griller’s ‘Songs of the ChenFinch’ for two pianos Bobby Chen and Douglas Finch
Graham Lynch (1957-)
Blue Bird in the Mythic Forest
Rock Crystal world première Lauryna Sableviciute
Both pieces come from the set The Chimeras, and they share a similar theme in that they are related to the idea of the ‘story’. Blue Bird in the Mythic Forest evokes the atmosphere of a fairy tale, where the piano creates sustained and luminous harmonies and conjures up a hushed and dark forest. By contrast, Rock Crystal moves rapidly towards a series of climactic chords that summon up the elemental power of the glacier onto which two young children have accidently wandered on the night of Christmas eve. The story that inspired this piece was written by Adalbert Stifter, and it’s one of the most unique works in German literature.
Grieg Notturno Op. 54 No. 4 Debussy L’Isle Joyeuse Gemma Webster
Jeremy Pike – Prelude on E flat major world première Katie Laing
Douglas Finch – Improvisation – audience suggestions very welcome!
Ravel La Valse for 2 pianos Kathryn Stott and Ben Powell

Junior Piano Group Class
2024-08-11 08:45 - 09:30 | Carole Nash Hall
The morning group class for all pianists enrolled on the Junior Course. Inspiration and camaraderie as you learn together, in a supportive and friendly group.

Junior Foundation 'drop in' practice workshop
2024-08-11 09:30 - 10:15 | G06
The final ‘drop -in’ class on part one for all Junior Foundation pianists. A great way to set up the day with tips on every aspect of piano playing from a member of the faculty. If you haven’t made it to the class yet do come in for some helpful tips.

'Drop in' performance class
2024-08-11 16:15 - 17:00 | G06
An exciting addition to the course – a daily opportunity to perform and hear other pianists on the course in a very informal performance session, hosted by a member of the faculty. All welcome.

Lecture with Robert Andres - Pianos and Pianism: Frederic Horace Clark and the Quest for Unity of Mind, Body and Universe
2024-08-11 17:15 - 18:00 | Stoller Hall
Pianos 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 Stoller Hall.

Michael Lewin Recital
2024-08-11 19:00 - 20:00 | Stoller Hall
Michael Lewin is internationally applauded as one of America’s most gifted concert pianists, performing to acclaim in over 30 countries. His many recordings, enormous repertoire and charismatic stage presence have established him as an artist whose warmth, imagination and dazzling virtuosity make him an audience favorite.
We are thrilled to welcome Michael back to Stoller Hall.
Gian-Carlo Menotti Ricercare and Toccate (1953)
(On a theme from “The Old Maid and the Thief”

Charles Griffes Pleasure Dome of Kubla Khan (1915)

Franz Liszt Sonata in B minor

Stoller Hall Professional Film Recording
2024-08-12 08:30 - 12:00
An exciting opportunity for participants to make a professional quality film recording in the award winning Stoller Hall, on a magnificent Steinway Model D piano. We are delighted to welcome back James from Mill Media once again.
The film can be used for entry into competitions, for auditions or to promote the young pianist on social media.
Please book early as space is limited.
NB this is an additional fee – please tick the box on the application form.

Drop in practise workshop
2024-08-12 08:45 - 09:30 | G06
Come along for help with a particular bar, phrase or any aspect of a piece you are playing. A member of the faculty will look forward to helping everyone discover new and exciting ways to practise.

Junior Piano Group Class
2024-08-12 08:45 - 09:30 | Carole Nash Hall
The final daily group class on part one for all pianists on the Junior Piano Course.
A chance to learn together before individual lessons and workshops continue throughout the day.

Junior Foundation 'drop in' practice workshop
2024-08-12 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.

Adult Amateur Workshop
2024-08-12 11:30 - 13:00 | G06
Enjoy the opportunity of playing a world class Concert Grand piano – kindly donated by Forsyth Music shop. Marta Karbownicka will look forward to hearing everyone in the final workshop on part one.

'Drop in' performance class
2024-08-12 16:15 - 17:00 | G06
The final performance class on part one! Don’t miss this opportunity to perform in front of friends on a superb grand piano. Pop in anytime you are free.

Participant recitals
2024-08-12 17:00 - 18:00
An opportunity for participants to perform on the outstanding grand pianos in all of the halls and performance spaces. Observers warmly welcomed.

Sarah Beth Briggs Recital
2024-08-12 19:00 - 20:00 | Stoller Hall
…an exceptionally gifted musician The Guardian
Pianist Sarah Beth Briggs – an artist of extraordinary magnetism (Michael Kennedy, Daily Telegraph) – is a leading recitalist, concerto soloist, and chamber musician.Her professional career was launched at the age of eleven when she became the then youngest-ever finalist in the BBC Young Musician of the Year and a recipient of a Dame Myra Hess Award. Four years later she gained international recognition as joint winner of the International Mozart Competition in Salzburg. Sarah is a celebrated artist at societies and festivals throughout the UK, acclaimed by promoters and critics for her performances and for her engaging and informative introductions to recital programmes.
Haydn Variations in F minor, Hob XVII/6
Schubert Impromptu in B flat, D935 No. 3
Chopin Berceuse, op 57
Mendelssohn Variations Sérieuses, op 54

Junior Course Final Concert
2024-08-13 09:00 - 11:00 | Oglesby Atrium
All the young pianists on both junior courses have the opportunity to perform on the final morning, and receive a certificate of participation.
Family and friends will be welcome to come and listen.

Tours of Forsyth's Piano Workshops, Showrooms & Private Collection of Historical Keyboard Instruments
2024-08-13 12:30 - 15:45
12.30pm – 1.45pm or 2.30pm – 3.45pm
Forsyth’s free, informal, behind-the-scenes tours are a popular feature of the Summer School programme every year and offer a rare and fascinating insight into the inner workings of pianos, how they are restored and maintained by their on-site specialists, and the different methods of construction of the various makers. Forsyth stock new pianos by Schimmel, Bösendorfer, August Förster, Yamaha, Kawai, Shigeru Kawai, Casio and Ritmüller, and always have an interesting selection of quality pre-owned instruments by makers such as Steinway and other well known brands all fully-serviced in Forsyth’s workshops.
As an extra treat, the tours will also include exclusive access to Forsyth’s private collection of historical keyboard instruments. If you are interested in how the piano and its relatives have developed over time, and what we can learn from earlier models to apply on today’s instruments, this is for you!
To book your place on one of these tours book on via their website https://www.forsyths.co.uk/content/476-chethams-pianoworkshop-tours or speak with a member of Forsyth’s staff at their pop-up shop in Chetham’s Oglesby Atrium, at their city-centre store, by phone on 0161 834 3281 (option. 3).
Opening Times
Forsyth Brothers Limited, 126 Deansgate, Manchester M3 2GR
Opening Times: Monday – Saturday, 10am – 5.30pm; Sunday, 11am – 5pm
Forsyth’s pop-up shop at Chetham’s Oglesby Atrium is also open:
August 8 – 17th 9.45am – until at least 5.30pm (closing time advertised each day) and August 18th 9 – 11am

Junior Piano Group Class
2024-08-14 08:45 - 09:30 | Carole Nash Hall
The first morning group class for all Junior Course pianists on part two, in the outstanding Carole Nash Hall. An opportunity to learn from some of the inspirational faculty on the course.

Junior Advanced 'drop in' practice workshop
2024-08-14 10:15 - 11:00 | G06
The daily ‘drop -in’ class for all Junior Advanced pianists. A great way to set up the day with tips on every aspect of piano playing from a member of the faculty. Come along with a bar, or a small section for lots of advice and help to take you into your practice room.

Junior Piano Group Class
2024-08-15 08:45 - 09:30 | Carole Nash Hall
The daily group class for all pianists on the Junior Piano Courses. A chance to learn together before individual lessons and workshops continue throughout the day.

Junior Advanced 'drop in' practice workshop
2024-08-15 10:15 - 11:00 | G06
A great way to set up the day with tips on every aspect of piano playing from a member of the faculty. Come along with a bar, or a small section for lots of advice and help to take you into your practice room. Come for 5 minutes or stay for the whole class.

Adult Amateur Workshop
2024-08-15 11:30 - 13:00 | G06
Join Martyn Parkes for the daily group workshop. Everyone is very friendly and the atmosphere will be warm and inviting, offering a supportive setting for performance and discussion. The piano is an outstanding concert grand, kindly donated by Forsyth Music shop.

Philip Fowke with the Adult amateur group.

Lunchtime Recital - Pedro López Salas
2024-08-15 13:45 - 14:30 | Stoller Hall
The daily lunchtime recital in the Stoller Hall.
Gubaidulina Chaconne
Beethoven – Piano Concerto No 3 with Henry Cash 2nd piano
1 Allegro 2 Largo 3 Rondo Allegro-Presto
Tickets available through the Stoller Hall. Free to all summer school participants and observers.

Lecture with Paul Hindmarsh - Who was Wilfred Heaton?
2024-08-15 17:15 - 18:00 | Stoller Hall
In 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 to historical and analytical research. British music of the past 150 years is his special field of interest. His Thematic Catalogue of the music of Frank Bridge (1879 – 1941) became the standard reference work on this composer.
Today Paul will talk about Wilfred Heaton and the sonata before it is given the World Premiere by Murray McLachlan.

Graham Scott Recital
2024-08-15 19:00 - 20:00 | Stoller Hall
Hailed by the Gramophone magazine as ‘an exceptional talent’ Graham Scott has performed extensively throughout the world most notably in New York (92nd St. Y), Washington DC (Kennedy Center), Los Angeles (Ambassador Auditorium), Tokyo (Suntory Hall), Beijing (Beijing Concert Hall and Forbidden City Concert Hall), Paris (Bagatelle) as well as all the major London venues (Wigmore Hall, Royal Festival Hall, Queen Elizabeth Hall and Barbican Centre.)
Graham studied at Chetham’s School of Music and the RNCM. He became the first artist to win both the YCA Inc. auditions in New York and the YCAT auditions in London. He also won the Dudley National Piano Competition and the Jaen International Piano Competition in Spain.
Since 2007 he has held the position of Head of Keyboard Studies at the Royal Northern College of Music and the Artistic Director of the RNCM James Mottram International Piano Competition.

Junior Piano Group Class
2024-08-16 08:45 - 09:30 | Carole Nash Hall
The daily class for all young pianists – a chance to learn together in the glorious Carole Nash Hall.

Lunchtime Recital - Jeremias Fliedl, cello and Callum McLachlan, piano
2024-08-16 13:45 - 14:30 | Stoller Hall
The daily lunchtime recital in the Stoller Hall.
J.S. Bach – Arioso from the Cantata “Ich steh mit einem Fuß im Grabe” G-Dur BWV 156
Debussy Sonata
Prologue: Lent, sostenuto e molto risoluto
Sérénade: Modérément animé
Finale: Animé, léger et nerveux

Brahms Sonata in E minor op 38
Allegro non troppo
Allegretto quasi Menuetto
Allegro

Jeremias Fliedl is among the leading Austrian cellists of his generation. He has performed at prestigious international stages, most notable engagements include the Salzburg Festival, the Mozart Week Salzburg, the Carinthian Summer, the Südtirol Festival Merano, CLASSIX Kempten, the Musiktage Mondsee, the Vevey Spring Classic Festival, the International Chamber Music Festival Utrecht, the Grachtenfestival Amsterdam, the Salzkammergut Festwochen Gmunden, the Festival Sankt Gallen as well as concerts at the Vienna Musikverein, the Vienna Konzerthaus, the Centre for Fine Arts Brussels, the Konzerthaus Dortmund and the Laeiszhalle Hamburg.
He has appeared with Petrit Çeku, Stéphane Denève, Veronika Eberle, Ziyu He, Maximilian Kromer, Nikola Meeuwsen, Nils Mönkemeyer, Daniel Müller-Schott, Benedict Mitterbauer, Julian Rachlin, Timothy Ridout, Case Scaglione, Benjamin Schmid, the Simply Quartet, Emmanuel Tjeknavorian, Kiron Atom Tellian, Dominik Wagner and Stefan Wilkening among others.
As a soloist he has performed with orchestras such as the Brussels Philharmonic, Royal Chamber Orchestra of Wallonia, Württemberg Chamber Orchestra Heilbronn, Salzburg Orchestra Soloists, Zagreb Soloists, Zagreb Chamber Orchestra, Beethoven Philharmonie, Matrix Orchestra, Carinthian Symphony Orchestra, Academia Ars Musicae, Camerata Ars Vivendi, Sandor Végh Institute Chamber Orchestra, Webern Chamber Philharmonic, Euro Symphony SFK, Olsztyn Philharmonic Orchestra, Artsakh Symphony Orchestra and Kaunas City Symphony Orchestra.

In 2024, he released his debut album “TRANSFORMATION”, which was met with great acclaim among critics: “a sumptuous feast of cello timbres” (BBC Music Magazine), “brilliant” (Die Presse), “technically brilliant and with astonishing musical maturity” (Concerti), “soulful expression, marvellous legato” (Klassik Heute). The album was recorded with the Württemberg Chamber Orchestra Heilbronn under Emmanuel Tjeknavorian and was released by the label Berlin Classics.
Born in Klagenfurt in 1999, Jeremias Fliedl’s musical development was significantly influenced by Heinrich Schiff as his last student at the University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna after his initial training with Igor Mitrovic. He completed his bachelor’s degree with Clemens Hagen at the University Mozarteum Salzburg and graduated with a master’s degree from Julian Steckel at the University of Music and Theatre Munich. He received important artistic input from Daniel Müller-Schott and Michael Sanderling. He is a prizewinner of the Liezen Competition, the Svirél Competition, the Antonio Janigro Competition and also the first Austrian cellist to be awarded as a laureate at the Queen Elisabeth Competition.
Jeremias Fliedl plays the “ex Gendron, Lord Speyer”, a cello made by Antonio Stradivari in 1693, which is privately loaned to him
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Tickets available through the Stoller Hall. Free to all summer school participants and observers.
