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Fantastic evening in prospect - as live music returns to the community

Saturday 2 October 2021

At 19.30 at St Thomas’ Cathedral, Old Portsmouth

Borodin Overture - Prince Igor

Liszt Piano Concerto No 1 in Eb

Soloist: Thomas Luke

Winner of the Portsmouth Music Festival Concerto Award 2019

Winner of the keyboard category of the BBC Young Musician of the Year 2020

Dvorak Symphony 8 in G major

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A month of final rehearsing - preparing with Catherine Lawlor (Violin)

for our live lunchtime recital at Portsmouth Cathedral on Thursday 30th September

followed by more recording sessions in the Turner Simms Recital Hall at Southampton University

for our forthcoming CD 'Myths and Legends'

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Have been priviledged to take part in a sort of VLog/Podcast by Anthony Cheng.

He's just published the results - which you can see at https://youtu.be/Hwc0o0IE4tk

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Hello people - at long last my latest CD - number 14 ! - the one I made in Lviv, Ukraine, with the Ukrainian Festival Orchestra under Grammy winning conductor John McLaughlin Williams, and in a recording studio in Paris - just over 2 years ago, has finally been released.
Its delay has been caused by Covid issues along the way - but has now received it's first international review.
It's title is 'Boissier : Two Piano Concertos and a Sonata'.
The first in-depth and fantastic review has appeared on-line at Music Web International.
The review is mostly an analysis of the music; and of the composer himself.
Here are some edited extracts relevant to the actual recordings.
“I clicked on the first of the available samples out of interest, but literally couldn’t believe my ears. The start was exactly like hearing the ‘Warsaw Concerto’ all over again, and as I then avidly played through the remaining samples, I quickly realised that the musical content of the disc was something quite different from what I’d initially imagined it to be.… ”.
“The highly-committed performances from the Ukrainian Festival Orchestra are very much at one with the composer’s intentions, with inspired American conductor, John McLaughlin Williams, constantly keeping them on their toes, and extracting the maximum pizazz from each section.”
“In Bulgarian pianist Valentina Seferinova, Boissier has a fine exponent to deal with the powerful style of writing, which frequently leans more towards the massive chordal writing in Brahms’s Second Piano Concerto, ………”
“The absolutely first-rate recordings are most vivid and additionally add to the Boissier’s total credibility and overall appeal of his works.”
“You could become instantly smitten by what you hear ….”
—Philip R Buttall, MusicWeb International
Elsewhere it’s apparently receiving plenty of airtime in the USA and across Europe (where someone says “just luxuriate in it!”)
Suggest you seek out samples of each track - widely available across the internet - including lower down on this page of my website - then make up your own mind ! before making your final decision.
http://www.musicweb-international.com/classrev/2021/Jun/Boussier-PCs-TOCC0569.htm

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Amongst other places this is where I work
The Faculty of Arts and Humanities at Southampton University.
Stand by :-
The Faculty of Arts and Humanities brings together the specialisms of Archaeology, English, Film Studies, History, Modern Languages and Linguistics, Music, Philosophy and the Academic Centre for International Students.
Guardian University Guide 2021 = Ranked 2nd for Music.
Complete University Guide 2021 = Ranked 5th for Music.
Times Good University Guide 2021 = Ranked 4th for Music.
Research Excellence Framework 2014 = Music department is ranked number one for quality of research in the UK.
You're doing 'A' level music contemplating which Uni . - take a long hard look at Southampton

https://www.southampton.ac.uk/about/departments/faculties/arts-and-humanities.page

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For those interested - you can see a clip of the making/recording of Corentin Boissier's 'Philip Marlowe Concerto'

Here.

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Released for worldwide distribution - today 7th May

Available in multi formats (CD, MP3, FLAC, HD WAV) on the ToccataClassics label here.

Listen to sample(s) below :-

Glamour Concerto (2012; orch. 2016) :

Piano Sonata No. 2, Appassionata (2015) :

Philip Marlowe Concerto (2013; rev. 2018) :

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https://toccataclassics.com/product/corentin-boissier-two-piano-concertos-and-a-sonata

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Breaking News

Just announced !

I've been invited, and have agreed, to be Guest Soloist with The Petersfield Orchestra next March

as part of The Returning Petersfield Music Festival - March 2022

in a performance of

Saint-Saëns - Piano Concerto No 2 in G minor, Op 22

Musical and Entertainment Life Returns to Normal !! (YAY !)

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1st of March - Spring just around the corner ; we hope !

https://youtu.be/adB507B-oDY

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Much regret - but Covid-19 issues push the release date of my latest CD "Corentin Boissier - Two Concertos and a Sonata", on the Toccata Classics label, recorded in Lviv, Ukraine 2 years ago, back to May.

The final sound quality of the recordings has caught everybody's attention - with the original Ukrainian sound engineer enthusiasically describing the sound as "..vinyl like".

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Well done everybody

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My wonderful student George, who recorded Rachmaninov's 2nd piano concerto over the summer (unfortunately his concert in London's Cadogan Hall was cancelled) has received the prestigious Margaret Irene Seymour Music Award at Oxford University, where he started studying Engineering in September

Very proud teacher

Моят талантлив ученик George, който записа втория концерт за пиано на Рахманинов през лятото (за съжаление концертът му в лондонският „Cadogan Hall“ бе канселиран заради ковид19), получи престижната музикална награда „Маргарет Ирен Сеймур“ в Оксфордския университет, където започна да учи инженерство през септември

Горд учител съм

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Well done to everyone!

So happy teacher

(Two grade 8s, grade 7, grade 5, grade 3 )

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Flattered to receive this YouTube comment for one of my Debussy performances :-

"Beautiful, Artistic, Expressive and Musical! Deserves more views and likes. Strange to see other mediocre performance of 'Clair de Lune' are more popular than this video. Performances from Classically trained musicians and teachers like Valentina deserves more appreciation and popularity. Thank you for posting this video."

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Just learned that the number of students assigned to me at Southampton University has jumped from 1 last year to 10 this !!!

A mixture of Under Graduates - and Post Graduates !!

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From the Archives !! : Sergei Vasilyevich Rachmaninoff - (either 20th March or 1st April 1873 – 28th March 1943) was a most famous Russian composer, virtuoso pianist, and conductor of the late Romantic period. Many of his works have long been regarded as classics.
My Masters degree thesis was entitled ‘Nature of intonation and texture of the piano works of S V Rachmaninov’ - and I've always enjoyed performing his piano pieces.
In 2015 at a solo performance of mine in London, 2 of his Great Grand Children were present in the audience - namely Peter and Natalie Wanamaker; who had both flown in from the USA for the event.
To perform for such a celebrated audience was an absolute honour.
It was made even more special when they both - together with the rest of the audience, rose to a person in a standing ovation - given the number of performances they must have heard over their lifetime was a indeed extra special.
From my personal archive - here are 2 photographs taken at the reception afterwards.
Oh - the little 4 year old boy - my now 19 year old son Mark ; who still, to this day, is unaware of whose presence he was in !!

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1st of September - new academic year - and new Performance season!

Am happy to announce that I've agreed to be Guest Soloist (again !!) with the Petersfield Orchestra

next March (Thursday March 18th to be exact - subject to Corona virus of course) in a performance of

Saint-Saëns' - Piano Concerto No. 2 in G minor Op. 22 - (probably Saint-Saëns' most popular piano concerto).

Also in the program will be

Schuman - Overture Scherzo & Finale

Brahms - Symphony No. 4.

Hope you feel able - even at this early stage, to make a note and put it in your diary .

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BREAKING NEWS!
Just published ; an on-line interview I took part in; conducted by Simon O'Hea of 'Music in Portsmouth' whose website is the area's leading source of the latest classical music listings in and around Portsmouth, Fareham, Petersfield, Chichester, Havant & Hayling Island.

Well worth bookmarking and signing up for their Newsletter!.

Also worth doing is signing up to their Twitter feed.
The article is interspersed with YouTube video links from my personal archive - some not seen before!
I hope you enjoy.

https://musicinportsmouth.co.uk/noticeboard/profile-valentina-seferinova-pianist/

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The consequences of CoronaVirus lockdown continue - and probably for the immediate foreseeable future!

Since Easter quite a few more parents have signed up for on-line 1-2-1 sessions for their children ; it's now well over 30!!
During the week we changed our internet provider and upgraded our broadband connection to cope!
Apologies for any hiccups whilst we tweak and fine-tune it as it settles down ; please bear with me. .

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Although suspected for some time since the greater outbreak of coronavirus - have just had it confirmed that my scheduled visit to be in a recording studio in France in late May/early June - with others, has now, unsurprisingly, been officially postponed by the sponsor until a later date ; possibly 'sometime in the autumn'. 

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With all teaching establishments closed until further notice - probably for all of the summer term!

With my husband's help - have turned my music room into an on-line teaching facility - with more than 30 of my students from various colleges and university wanting to participate in one-to-one sessions.

But - oh - the days are long !!!

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Rehearsing with Noah Chiari (Alto Sax) for last night's Hampshire Music Service show case concert in Winchfield.

Some comments were - that 'we stole the show'!!

Saturday 7th March - 7:30pm - St. Thomas' Anglican Cathedral, Old Portsmouth, Portsmouth PO1 2HA

I will be a member of the Solent Symphony Orchestra on the piano for the soloists participation.

Programme

Beethoven - Overture Leonora No 3

Canteloube - Songs from the Auvergne - Soloist: Lucy Cronin (soprano)

Brahms - Symphony No 3

Tickets: £15, £5 (students), Kids for a Quid and group concessions

On the door, online from Ticketsource or from 01730 601074

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For the astute observers amongst you (ha ha ! ), you may have noticed from my website that I've just added Saint-Saëns' "Piano Concerto No. 2 in G minor, Op. 22" - probably his most popular piano concerto, to my Concertante repertoire.
Have taught this in the past - but never played it with an orchestra in public before.
Why have I just added it to my list?
""Can't say at the moment" - she said mysteriously !!??" :)
But in the meantime here is maestro Arthur Rubenstein with the London Symphony Orchestra being conducted by Andre Previn.
https://youtu.be/tVCvJZtzkqQ

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Plans for the year beginning to take on more shape.

High degree of probability that I'll be back in France - again in a recording studio; in the late May/early June timeframe.

CD number 15 is on the cards - subject to agreements.

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Monday 27th January - Awards ceremony at Kings Theatre, Southsea.

..... and the Best Classical act award tonight went to Portsmouth Baroque Choir - well done, worthy winners ❤🎶👍
As my husband Mike observed - going up against orchestras and choirs - each with perhaps 50 or 60 members (and family and friends who would vote for them) was always, as a soloist, going to be a tough one !

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Sunday 26th January.

Just accompanied my student George, performing beautifully Rachmaninoff 2nd piano concerto, 3rd movement for the Winchester Symphony Orchestra Young Soloist Competition 2020.
Wonderful playing and superb feedback, very proud teacher 🙂🎶🎹❤
Keep fingers crossed he gets to the Finals in July!

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Recently received, for the 2nd year in succession, an invite to attend and appear at this years 'World Piano Conference', organised by the 'World Piano Teachers Association' at the end of June and beginning of July.!
Regrettably have had to turn the opportunity down (again!) because of existing pre-agreed commitments on 4th and 9th of July.
Otherwise it sounded interesting and 'cool' !!

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10th January 2020 - Today at Southampton University - the Turner Sims Concert Hall (seating 600+) was my teaching room. A Fazioli Grand Piano (The 'Rolls Royce', the 'Creme de la Creme' of instruments) was my instrument for teaching on and practicing myself !! Here's one of my students. It just does not get much better !

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10th January : Tonight is a notable full moon - the 'Wolf Moon' also with a penumbral eclipse.
Today I received this comment on one of my YouTube videos :- "So beautifully played! One of the most gorgeous renditions of Claire de lune I have ever heard. Bravo Valentina!"
So - to celebrate here is Claude Debussy's famous 'Clare de Lune' from his bigger work 'Suite Bergamesque'. I hope you enjoy. 

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< B R E A K I N G - N E W S >
I've just discovered that I've been included, (in alphabetic order and the only individual) in the short list of top 6 nominees in the 'Best Classical' section of the Portsmouth News 'Guide Awards' for 2019. ! 
I quote ''Now the top six in each category, from music, to theatre, art and film will go forward to our Guide Awards Night, a glittering gala ceremony at the Kings Theatre in Albert Road, Southsea, on Monday, January 27, from 7pm, where we will be announcing the winners.''
I take the opportunity to say a HUGE thank all those who cast their vote in my favour.  

Details HERE.

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I wish everybody a peaceful, healthy, and prosperous 2020.

Here's to good music in the coming year!!! :)

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Have been receiving lots of feedback from my latest Newsletter.
Just received this :- :)
"It is my pleasure to vote for you Valentina, your inspired performance has brought much pleasure to me and many others. And through your collaboration I've been introduced to the wonderful Solent Symphony Orchestra. ......."

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B R E A K I N G - N E W S!!

The Portsmouth News 'The Guide' has announced their annual nominations for various categories of the local Arts and Entertainment scene.
In the 'Best Classical' section I am lucky enough to have been nominated (again!!)
The citation reads :- "Valentina Seferinova: The pianist's performance of Ravel’s piano concerto with the Solent Symphony Orchestra and her control of the tranquil and serene solo brought about an atmosphere of celestial beauty."
If you scroll down the Newspaper's website page you will see the nominations - but before the lists is the link to where you can vote.
I would like to think that I could count on your vote - please. 

The article is here = Portsmouth News.

You can vote Here

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I know it's still a while yet 'til Christmas - but a date for your diary ?
In aid of a worthy Charity. Tickets start from £20.
One of my students will be performing ! 

And I also will be accompanying a saxophonist !

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It can be quite surprising sometimes how unexpectedly one's personal life and professional life can become entwined! Particularly when ones reputation goes before!
Today as part of a visit to the north-east of the country to visit my son, a student at Newcastle University - where I have performed professionally some time ago, and having been recognised - I have been approached to professionally assist in a Master Class event taking place this afternoon !!
Happy to oblige whilst my son is undertaking some project work that is currently engaging him for the afternoon !!

More News of possible performance engagement to follow.

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I know it's still a while yet 'til Christmas - but a date for your diary ?
In aid of a worthy Charity. Tickets start from £20.
One of my students will be performing ! 

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O M G !! ........... I've just seen this !!
Here's an extract :-

"The orchestra then provided the perfect accompaniment for Valentina Seferinova’s sensational performance of Ravel’s “Piano Concerto in G Major”. Her interpretation was in equal measures dramatic, energetic, serene and inspirational.

The opening iconic whip crack heralded an outstanding performance. The first movement fizzed along with stand out solos from the piccolo, trumpet, horn, harp, and a triumphant bassoon section but the breathtaking piano cadenza was the highlight. Many in the audience couldn’t help themselves in acknowledging the excitement of this movement with a spontaneous round of applause as it came to a ferocious full stop.

The sublime opening of the slow movement perfectly reflected the ethereal setting and Ms. Seferinova’s control of the tranquil and serene piano solo brought about an atmosphere of celestial beauty. The peace and calm were symbiotically supported by the sensitivity of the solo flute entry and the haunting cor anglais melody. With the exquisite final pianissimo piano trill, Valentina brought this movement to a poignant and emotionally-charged close.

The last movement once more gives the full orchestra the chance to shine and the atmospheric, jazz-like episodes, shared between piano and ensemble, promote the enjoyment for which this piece is so well known. Valentina’s perfectly presented virtuosic passages brought the first half to a vibrant and celebratory culmination."

Read the full review here :- Music in Portsmouth

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Last Saturday (28th Sept.) night's performance of Ravel's Piano Concerto in G major - very well received ! In fact the whole evening was.
Some of the comments and messages I've received - still being received this afternoon ; some from fellow musicians :-
"Amazing concert tonight xx."
" ... congratulations to the nights' spectacular soloist Valentina Seferinova. Dad and I sat in awe of your playing ..."
"Valentina Seferinova was amazing."
"I still want to know how Valentina can keep all of these works and piano concertos in her head from memory. Mind blown xx."
"wonderful playing last night by Valentina Seferinova 👏😁"
" ... xxxxxx and I and my husband are all stunned by your playing. "
" .. big congratulations to your last night’s wonderful and successful performance ! ! 💐💐💐"
" Huge congratulation for ur Ravel concerto!!!!!!! I enjoyed it very much."
"Brilliant playing, a fabulous concert."
"........, Valentina, you were fantastic!!! 😅"
"What a fantastic concert, Valentina you bring Ravel to life!"
".... fabulous performance from you and the SSO orchestra, it was a hurricane of joyful rhapsody, amazing !"
But it was not just me - the whole Solent Symphony Orchestra was simply superb - not just in the Ravel ; the Berlioz was wonderful; the Mussorgski-Ravel stunning !

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Just noticed this FaceBook post by somone who attended the Gala Concert I participated in last night !!

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Just received this publicity ...

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Having lost some close family and friends to Cancer I feel it's my duty to support a concert in aid of Rowan's Hospice Silver Jubilee Appeal. In addition to being asked to accompany Rachel Newberry in a Premier Performance of composer James Smith's new piece for Flute and Piano entitled 'Papilio' at St. Peter's Church, Petersfield on Saturday evening 14th September, I will be performing a solo piano piece of my own choice.

I've chosen Pancho Vladigueroff's 'песен/Pesen (Song/Chant) op. 21 No 2' - a rare outing for this greatly loved piece ! :)

There's a YouTube video of the time I played this as an encore to an Orchestral audience in 2015.

If you would like to donate to Rowans Silver Jubilee Appeal please click this link. Thankyou in adavnce :)

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GCSE Results Day !!
Results and reactions flooding in ! 
Have already been messaged by the mother ("We are incandescently proud ...") of one of my teenage students : her daughter has achieved her Music GCSE - 2 YEARS IN ADVANCE !!
Soooo happy for her 

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Returned from holiday to find this phone message from one of my junior students who'd just learned she'd achieved a Distinction in her Grade 6 results !  
Pleased for her beyond words. 

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Sneak preview of 2nd Movement (Adagio Assai - very slow) of last Saturday evening's Ravel 'Piano Concerto in G Major' with the Brunel Sinfonia. :

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The only tickets are likely to be returns or 'no-shows' : maybe worth trying on the door on the night ! Or contact them to be put on the reserve list for any returns. Boxoffice@luminosamusic.com

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Full orchestral program just announced for Solent Symphony Orchestra's Saturday 28th September concert - where I'll be soloist for Ravel's 'Piano Concerto in G major' at St. Thomas' Cathedral, Old Portsmouth.
Berlioz - Overture ‘Le Corsaire’
Ravel - Piano Concerto in G major
Mussorgsky/Ravel - Pictures at an Exhibition.

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Just received publicity info. for my Saturday 13th July evening at St. Peter's Church, Petersfield ....

For more info see my website 'Engagements' page.

Just caught up with this Tweet doing the rounds ....

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Honoured to be involved.
I announce my participation in Portsmouth's continuing D-Day 75 commemorations on Thursday Evening 20th June.
'Dona Nobis Pacem' ('Grant Us Peace').
I, together with my student George, will take the piano part in a repeat of last autumn's stunning SSO performance of Saint-Saëns 'Organ Symphony'

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Am very happy to mention and promote 2 performance dates involving Jessica Gale, one of my former South Downs College students - who went on to graduate from Surrey University ; and also achieved her 'LRSM' !
I hope you're able to get to one of them :)

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Not yet received any notifications of any 'formal' reviews - but received this unsolicited message from a colleague who had an early copy of my recently released CD number 12:-
"Dear Valentina,
I just have to write and thank you for a lovely CD. I am compelled to write as your performance is so movingly and warmly executed that I had to stop what I was doing to listen to these miniatures. You are so gifted, Valentina, and I am so humbled to have you as a colleague and a friend. "
Me ? Speechless and overcome !

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It had been a long tiring intensive recording session (in Paris) to capture Corentin Boissier's "Sonata Appassionata".
After the 'official takes' were finished - Mike asked me for a complete run through - just for the video camera.
Sometimes Mike messes up !! - here's "Out Take #1" !!   

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My latest CD is out!!
It was a bit of a wait, as I recorded it last June in Warsaw, but soo sooo worth waiting for!!! Very pleased and happy with my CD No 12 (Mike reminded me earlier) 
🎶👍🎹🙂 
Big Thank You goes to everyone involved and supporting this fantastic project.

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Music Exam and Grade results coming in thick and fast at the moment !

It's a fantastically well done to my student Kendra on achieving a maximum 30 out of 30 for the Performance element of her GCSE Music exam. Brilliant !

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Some snippets of my recording Corentin Boissier's 'Glamour Concerto' with the Ukrainian Festival Orchestra, Conductor & Grammy Award winner John McLaughlin Williams, in Lviv, Ukraine at the end of February/beginning of March.

Not all 'takes' are successful ! ...

... but fortunately many are !! :) :)

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Whilst I was away in the Ukraine, Edward Chyczewski reminded me that 1st of March was the anniversary of the birth of Frederick Chopin (209 years ago) So here to commemorate is a public performance I gave in 2012 of one of his most famous pieces - Fantaisie in F minor op 49.

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BREAKING NEWS.
This afternoon (20th February), my student, Jimmy Alderson, achieved Honours (92 !) in taking The Recital Class of Portsmouth Music Festival.
He was also awarded The Clifford Benson Piano Prize for outstanding musicianship and communication.
Well done, Jimmy! Sooooooo proud of you!

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Congratulations to my piano student Liam on achieving his ATCL Diploma!
He is now officially an Associate of Trinity College, London !
Well done Liam !

I am the Piano lecturer/music performance teacher/instructor at Havant & South Downs College's award winning Music Department.
2 weeks ago I took part in a 'Show Case' Open Evening event for current and prospective students and their parents/carers in our unmatched purpose built Recital Hall facility.
Here's the link 
Havant & South Downs College Music Department

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Spent the afternoon in a 3-way Skype rehearsal with myself here in Hampshire, the French composer Corentin Boissier (on the right of the lap-top screen) in Paris, and the Grammy Award winning conductor John McLaughlin Williams (on the left) in the USA. !!
We're scheduled to meet in person in 7 weeks time in The Ukraine - but spent the time agreeing certain details of performing the 2 concertos before recording them for the very first time with Orchestra.

Heidi the dog took it all in her stride !!

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It's going to be a very busy year - but am very much looking forward to it !!

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