This week, the Music Department has hosted the annual Steinway Piano Festival, involving more than 120 pianists from across the school in live public performances.
Each lunchtime this week, around 20 students aged from 10 to 18 have stepped up to play a grand piano in the open Circus area of the school, which has one of the highest footfalls. Like the piano at St Pancras station, students could choose to play a piece they love or something they have written, using sheet music or from memory, and the performances having been regularly drawing a large crowd.
It has been wonderful to welcome students who have never played on a grand piano or in front of an audience before. We have also loved hearing a variety of music – including the theme tune to the cartoon Rugrats!
On Monday, this year’s Steinway Scholar, Upper Sixth student Caden, will perform a recital in the Concert Hall at lunchtime. Caden has been receiving private tutelage from the Royal College of Music’s Head of Keyboard Vanessa Latarche since being crowned this year’s scholar last term.
Also on Monday, the Piano Competition will see the best pianists from throughout the week perform in the Recital Hall for a chance to be invited to Steinway Hall in London, which opened in 1875. Here a bank of Hamburg Steinways gives the students a fantastic opportunity to try out different models to suit their performance style.
Mr Evans, Head of Piano, says, “The Steinway Piano Festival is a unique opportunity for students to perform in public, no matter their level, and in a completely informal (and slightly chaotic) environment. This allows greater accessibility to piano playing and removes the intensity of a concert venue. Our objective is to celebrate the joy of playing the piano and to boost the confidence of every single player, but also to inspire others to play.
“We have enjoyed a huge variety of music this week from classical and jazz, through to musical theatre and pop songs. The standard is exceptional and the whole community here at Trinity are inspired by our wealth of talented young people.”
Trinity regularly hosts recitals from internationally renowned musicians, who often host master classes for the students ahead of the performance. On 10 February, Piano Duo Recital: Daria Bitsiuk and Iain Laks will be performing a programme in the Recital Hall.
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Trinity became the first All-Steinway School in London in 2012 and benefits from an impressive fleet of 25 pianos, including two model D concert grand pianos and five further grand pianos.
Trinity’s Steinway Suite is the first teaching facility of its kind in the world, offering exceptional practice and research facilities. A special Steinway Scholarship for talented young pianists also runs annually, with scholars receiving lessons at the Royal College of Music, international performance opportunities and the chance to study abroad.
Past Steinway Scholars have gone on to study Piano at the Royal College of Music on full scholarships, and the opportunities provided at Trinity prepare them for life as a working musician.
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