George Xiaoyuan Fu's debut album Mirrors has been nominated for the 2024 BBC Music Magazine Award in the Newcomer Category, featuring music by Ravel, Rachmaninov, Henri Dutilleux, Unsuk Chin and Freya Waley Cohen. The winner is chosen by public vote. You can support George by voting here and read George’s reviews here.
The Academy’s Wigmore Hall Piano Series continues with Yuzhang Li playing on 21 February and Tracy Tang on 13 March. Further details can be found here.
Since the New Year we have had a fantastic month of visiting professors and masterclasses, including Inon Barnatan, Leif Ove Ansdnes, Dame Imogen Cooper and Pascal Rogé. Steven Osborne joins us on 20 February.
Advanced Diploma pianist Junyan Chen made her debut at St John’s Smith Square on 6 February alongside cellist Hugh MacKay. We’re also thrilled to announce that Junyan has been selected to compete in the first round of the Leeds International Piano Competition.
Academy piano students Nikita Demidenko and Lily Petrova recently founded the Forgotten Melodies Society whose mission is to provide a London platform for rarely played music. The opening concert was held on 25 January, with works by Medtner. Further information on concerts can be found here.
First year undergraduate Khrystyna Mykhailichenko made her debut in a packed St James’s Piccadilly on 19 January, performing Beethoven’s Emperor concerto with conductor Leonard Elschenbroich and the Corinthian Orchestra.
Academy pianists Katya Grabova, Julian Chan, Junyan Chen and Milda Daunoraite took part in a multi-disciplinary performance of Stravinsky’s Les Noces at the Woolwich Works (13 to 14 January).
Advanced Diploma student Ignas Maknickas made his debut on BBC Radio 3’s In Tune on 10 January, performing Schubert, Chopin and Liszt. His live performance and interview with Sean Rafferty is available on BBC Sounds here.
Image of Leif Ove Andsnes by Gregor Hohenberg