Will Hay

Category: News

  • Charity Piano Concert – 15th March 2009

    Charity Concert PosterThis term’s piano concert will take place in just over two weeks time. As mentioned already in the newsletter, the concerts this year will be supporting the Kampala Music School in Uganda with the aim of providing a piano lesson bursary.

    Our piano concert this term will feature the seven movements of Bach’s Fifth French Suite played by myself with performances from my students in between movements. Technology permitting, the concert will be streamed live below on Sunday 15th March, 2009 at 13:15 GMT!

    The date has been chosen to align with the music school’s annual anniversary concert.

    KMS 6th Anniversary ConcertLast year, the concert featured singers from numerous choirs in Kamapala performing a popular programme of choral ‘gems’, including Feel the Spirit, an arrangement of well-known Spirituals  by John Rutter, Cantique de Jean Racine by Faure and David Fanshawe’s setting of the Lord’s Prayer from African Sanctus.

    A suggested donation of £3 per audience member will be requested upon entry to the concert with proceeds providing a piano bursary for a student at the music school.

  • Piano Points Leaderboard – February Half Term

    Piano PointsHalf way through the first term of running piano points,
    Total points leaders on February 19th are as follows:

    1. Sophia from St. Werburgh’s,  Alice from Tattenhall Park, Rebecca and Huw from CCHS are all on 20 points
    2. Katherine from Upton Heath and Lucie from CCHS are both on 18 points.
    3. Alison from Upton Heath and Emily from Tattenall Park are both on 17 points.

    Average points leaders (all on 4 points) are Mollie from St. Oswald’s, Sophia and Bella from St. Werburgh’s and Alice from Tattenhall Park.

    42% of the 62 students are on 14 or more points which is half of the target number of points for the term.

  • Chester Competitive Festival of Performing Arts 2009

    With 2009 now well under way, it is time to look at other local competitions and festivals taking place for pianists.  Chester Competitive Festival of Performing Arts has a number of open choice classes that may be of interest to my students.

    The festival will take place at the King’s School, Chester on Saturday 25th April, 2009.

    There is an own choice piano class for each year group up to under 16 with a time limit of 3 minutes for under 10s, 4 minutes for under 13s and 5 minutes for under 16s.  The entry fee is £4.90 per class and the closing date is Satuday 28th February, 2009.

    Download the syllabus, or the entry form

  • Piano Points League – January 2009

    Piano PointsAfter the first month of operating my piano points system for all school age students I have decided to publish the top 9 points scorers on a leader board.

    Remember that points are awarded for practising, attending your lessons and putting lots of effort into achieving your targets rather than on skill level!

    Points leaders as of 30/01/09:

    1. Alice from Tattenhall Park with 16 points.
    2. Huw from CCHS and Sophie from Queen’s, joint second with 14 points
    3. Rebecca from CCHS with 13 points
    4. Bella and Sophia from St. Werburgh’s, Louisa from Queen’s, Jacob from EPCHS; are all joint fourth place on 12 points.

    There are currently 62 students on the league table. 55% have 9 points or more which is comfortably on target at this stage in the term.

  • Two Rivers Festival – Celebrity Recitals at Birkenhead School

    This year sees the launch of the Two Rivers Festival, an initiative to create a new festival of music and the arts using many of the beautiful buildings and locations on Wirral.

    • ENTENTE CORDIALE – Jonathan Small, oboe and Ian Buckle, piano
      perform a programme of English and French music of the 20th and 21st Centuries on Friday 6th February at 7.30pm
    • MEDITATIVE MOMENTS – Natalie Clein, cello performs music by Bach and Kodaly on Tuesday 17th March at 7.30pm
    • SOUNDPICTURES – Noriko Ogawa, piano performs music by Mozart, Debussy, Takemitsu, Grieg and Chopin on Friday 24th April at 7.30pm

    Tickets priced at £15 or £40 for subscription to all three. Under 21s get in for half price.

    Download the brochure for more information or to complete a booking form