I didn’t get around to writing a blog post last week. I’d just received the very sad news that Philip Weller, one of the most important musical influences on my life and career, and a dear friend, had died. Philip was a long-serving member of staff at the University of
At the beginning of this week, I had the very sad news that Professor Robert Pascall, internationally-renowned Brahms scholar, wonderful teacher, and dear friend, had died. Robert was the most amazingly generous, inspirational man and had friends and grateful students all over the world. I wanted to take a moment
Before March is entirely overtaken by talks, concerts, and various other exciting things (some of which you’ll find listed over here on the Events page), I’ve been enjoying a quiet weekend at home – the last in while – of trying to get ahead with prep and having a bit
When I was a student at Nottingham University, back in the dim and distant past, I was invited to join a group of friends at a performance of Opera North’s Der Rosenkavalier in town. I’d never seen the show before, and as far as I knew, I didn’t really know
This week, it was my birthday. I’m not going to tell you which birthday – but suffice it to say that, if were attempting to follow in the footsteps of a certain bearded composer I much admire, I should have published a Horn Trio and be well into the planning
In 2005, when I was finishing my Masters at Nottingham University, I had a job one afternoon a week at a primary school. The school’s excellent music teacher was not a pianist, so I was recruited to sit in the hall at the tinny but serviceable upright, and accompany each
