Angels for Peace

We do hope you'll be able to join us on Tuesday evening, 25th October, to celebrate the finissage of The Shadow of Angels. Our musical programme for the evening features Syrian concert pianist Riyad Nicolas and up-and-coming singer/songwriter Katya DJ. For those who couldn't make it along to the opening you'll find a link below to a short film of what was a memorable evening of art, music and dance! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=raRin_Kt40I&feature=youtu.be The finissage will open at 6pm with the concert at 7.45. The concert is in support of those in crisis in Syria - see Christian Aid's Syria Crisis Appeal. CONCERT PROGRAMME St. Stephen Walbrook 25th October 2016 KATYA DJ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ RIYAD NICOLAS – Piano Sonata K466 in F Minor Domenico Scarlatti Sonata K455 in G Major Domenico Scarlatti Sonata No 31 Opus 110 in A Flat Major - Moderato Cantabile Molto Espressivo - Allegro Molto - Adagio Ma Non Troppo / Fuga; Allegro Ma Non Troppo Ludwig von Beethoven Polonaise Fantasie Opus 61 in A Flat Frédéric Chopin ‘Scarbo’ from Gaspard de la Nuit Maurice Ravel Katya DJ is a 22 year-old London based singer/songwriter. Influenced by artists such as Amy Winehouse and Beth Hart, her sound incorporates elements of jazz/ blues influenced pop and she has been described as "... the best new artist I've heard since Adele." She has performed at various venues around London including The Troubadour, Chelsea Arts Club, The Pheasantry and Ronnie Scott's and also at Somerset Series at Somerset House and other festivals this summer. Katya graduated from the University of Oxford in 2015 with a BA in Music and has recently completed a Masters (MMus) in Popular Music Performance at BIMM (British and Irish Modern Music Institute) in conjunction with the University of West London. Riyad Nicolas is one of the most exciting young artists to emerge from the Middle East. “Syria’s leading young pianist” (International Piano Magazine 2012), was born in Aleppo, Syria, in 1989, and has already established himself as a leading figure of his generation on the international performing circuit. He has won numerous international prizes and awards including First Prize at the Norah Sande Award in the UK, the Christopher Duke Recital Prize in the UK, the Ciutat de Carlet International Piano Competition in Spain, and First Prize, with a recording contract, at The Francaix International Piano Competition in Paris, Top Prize at the 1st Syria National Piano Competition and was selected to be a Tillett Trust Young Artist in 2012 and an artist at the Countess of Munster Trust Concert Scheme in 2014. Riyad graduated with a distinction in a Master of Performance course at the Royal College of Music, studying with Dmitri Alexeev and Vanessa Latarche, as a Steinway Scholar supported by a Frederick Johnston Award. He first came to London in 2005 when he was awarded a two-year scholarship to study at the Purcell School of Music with Sulamita Aronovsky, continuing to work with her at the Royal Academy of Music, where he graduated in 2011. He has participated in masterclasses and was complimented by such musicians as Daniel Barenboim, Vladimir Ashkenazy and John Lill. His first appearance as a soloist with an orchestra was made at age ten in Aleppo. Since then he has performed with many orchestras, including the London Chamber Orchestra at the Cadogan Hall, Emirate Symphony Orchestra in Dubai, Young Musician Symphony Orchestra at St. John's Smith Square, the Syrian National Symphony Orchestra at the opening of the new Damascus Opera House, as well as with the Gomidas Chamber Orchestra of Aleppo. Riyad has given solo recitals in many prestigious venues in London, including The Royal Albert Hall, Cadogan Hall, Wigmore Hall, St. Martin-in-the-Fields, St. James’s Piccadilly, and Leighton House. He is regularly invited to give recitals hosted by the Beethoven Piano Society of Europe and the Chopin Society UK and has also been invited to perform in numerous UK musical festivals such as Harrogate, Norfolk-Norwich, King’s Lynn, Brighton, Devon, Darlington, Stratford-upon-Avon, Lincoln, Crediton, and Eastbourne. Concert performances have also taken him to France, Spain, Switzerland, USA (including a debut at Kennedy Centre in Washington) and some Arab States. He has been invited to play for many fundraising concerts especially for Syria from various prestigious organizations such as The International Rescue Commitee, The UN refugee Agency,The Arab British Centre amongst many others. “... this paragon of pianistic prestidigitation ... setting a new gold standard", “… he had given a prodigious recital which rose head and shoulders above everything else we have heard this year”, “... every aspect of his performance ... melding all together into an indissoluble unity of conception.” Beethoven Piano Society of Europe. *Riyad gratefully acknowledges the support of Said Foundation, Asfari Foundation, Countess of Munster Trust, Talent unlimited and Help Musicians UK Fleming Award. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Riyad Nicolas - Emperor Concerto 1st movement.