Spring is in the air here in Manchester, and we have a packed couple of months of free music events for you to enjoy! Launched in March but continuing until 31st May is the piano trail with manchester jazz festival. This is our 4th year of partnering with mjf to bring street pianos to the streets in an around Manchester. This year it's bigger and better than ever with 16 pianos in place! This years locations are: The Arndale Centre, The Corn Exchange, Forsyth Music Shop, Aviva Studios: Factory International, Grand Arcade (Wigan), Great Northern, Harvey Nichols, Manchester Central Library, Manchester Piccadilly Station, Quayside MediaCityUK (Lowry outlet), Royal Exchange Arcade, Spindles Town Square Shopping Centre (Oldham), Spinningfields, HOME, Trafford Palazzo, and Manchester Victoria Station! --- This month we're welcoming back Forsyth regular performer Duncan Honeybourne for a Thomas Pitfield: Piano Music Album Launch on the 11th April. Duncan Honeybourne, acclaimed internationally for his insightful interpretations of 20th and...
Events
Our free recital continued in February with two wonderful performances! For up to date information on our upcoming performances, see our main event page here We started with a performance by Cristo Harijan of music by Liszt and Mompou. All our free recitals are livestreamed to Facebook, you can see Harijan's performance here --- Our second recital in February was with Robert Wheatley and our very own Winnie Su, for an evening of Impressionist Music. The livestream can be found here --- We had some exciting bits of filming happen in store in February, one of which became a feature video across Secret Manchester's social media --- Our social media channels have been busy, with all our departments sharing their favourite items. Our Piano Department shared this adorable pre-owned Ibach 'Baby' Grand Piano, which has been stealing the hearts of everyone who walks by. At not quite 4.8 feet long it's our smallest little 'Baby' Grand. --- Our Instrument Department has been feeling the spring spirit and sharing some lovely guitars...
Thurs 22 May - James Pearson Trio plays Oscar Peterson part of mjf day seven After two sold out shows in 2022 and 2023, James Pearson returns to our historic Piano Showroom as part of day 7 of the Manchester Jazz Festival. The highly anticipated return of the James Pearson Trio will feature a spellbinding tribute to the legendary Oscar Peterson. Tickets are £25 which includes a glass of prosecco or soft drink equivalent. It's set to be a fantastic event, so book now to avoid disappointment! Oscar Peterson's journey from modest beginnings to international acclaim is a testament to his extraordinary talent. His masterful command of the piano, characterized by lightning-fast octave runs and intricate chord progressions, created a sound so rich and full it rivaled that of an entire big band. This special performance celebrates Peterson's legacy through carefully selected compositions and jazz standards, interwoven with fascinating historical insights and personal stories, including James's entertaining first encounter with the maestro....
Friday 7 February, 6:30PM - Cristo Harijan: Mompou and Liszt Join us for an intimate evening of piano music featuring Cristo Harijan, a rising British-American pianist, performing selected works from Mompou's contemplative Música Callada and Liszt's Harmonies poétiques et religieuses. Harijan, praised for his "fiery virtuosity" and currently studying at the École normale de musique Alfred Cortot in Paris, presents a thoughtfully curated program of these remarkable piano works. Programme: Federico Mompou (1893-1986) ~ Música Callada (excerpts)- I. Angélico- VI. Lento- XI. Allegretto- XIV. Énérgique- XV. Lento, Plaintif- XXV. Lento- XXVII. Lento molto Franz Liszt (1811-1886) ~ Harmonies poétiques et religieuses III, S. 173 (excerpt)- No. 4, 'Pensée des morts' Friday 21 February, 6:30PM - Impressionist Portraits (Cello, Robert Wheatley & Piano, Winnie Su) We are delighted to welcome back Winnie Su to perform in our recital series alongside experienced cellist Robert Wheatley in an engaging programme of...
Join us this January for some free live music! Our free recital series continues this month with two concerts in our historic piano showroom. We will also be running a January Sale, details to follow soon! Saturday 11 January 2025, 6:30 - 7:30 PM - Ardentia Piano Trio Join the Ardentia Trio and guest violist Emma Farnsworth at Forsyth's for an eclectic program spanning two centuries. The evening features Mendelssohn's dramatic F minor Piano Quartet alongside contemporary works by Cameron Biles-Liddell and Jennifer Higdon's color-inspired Piano Trio. The Ardentia Trio comprises Max Jones-Lachman (violin), Rebekah Clarke (cello) and Nadia Dotsiak (piano). This hour-long performance brings together four RNCM postgraduates in the intimate setting of Manchester's historic music shop. Programme: Cameron Biles-Liddell (1994-)- Clockwork Dances Jennifer Higdon (1962-)- Piano Trio- Pale Yellow- Fiery Red Felix Mendelssohn (1809-1849)- Piano Quartet No. 2 in F minor- Allegro molto- Adagio- Intermezzo. Allegro moderato- Allegro molto vivace...
This year we're joining in by inviting customers to come and play a piano in our ground floor sheet music department to broadcast on their social media channels to help raise funds for Manchester's music charity - the Olympias Music Foundation. We'll also be providing some festive drinks and nibbles as well as enabling you to explore an unrivalled selection of musical things that you might like to purchase for friends and family in your festive shopping! To donate to the OMF 'Play it Forward' campaign please visit their website here:- https://olympiasmusicfoundation.beaconforms.com/form/36c6fcc0
Our publishing department proudly presents So Written To After-Times, a fascinating new book compiling the letters of acclaimed composer John McCabe. The book is available on our web shop here, and will also be introduced at our concert on 13th December when the composer's wife, Monica McCabe, who lovingly compiled the book, will be in attendance. You can book your free seat and see details of the concert and launch event (6.00-7.30pm) here .
Forsyths is delighted to welcome back Learn to Play Day, an event created by the charity Music For All, providing an opportunity for budding and former music makers to be able to try out a new instrument for free. Sign up for your free lesson here Across the weekend, our incredible team of teachers and staff will be providing free 15 minute taster lessons in a variety of instruments. So far, we will be teaching: piano, violin, cello, double bass, guitar, bass guitar, ukulele, saxophone, flute, clarinet and more to come! Lessons are available for everyone - complete beginners of any age, to lapsed players who might want to start playing again. All instruments will be provided - however you are welcome to bring your own instrument or indeed buy one! We ask that anyone under 16 signing up for a taster lesson is accompanied by an adult. Booking open now!
Friday 26 July 2024, 6:30PM - An Evening of Song and Piano Join us for anevening of exceptional song and piano music with performers Priscilla Fong and Matthew Lau. The recital features a diverse program including the songs of Korngold, piano pieces by Ravel, contemporary works by Jonathan Dove, and the beloved melodies of Stephen Sondheim. This event will be held at Forsyth Music Shop, providing a wonderful opportunity to experience live music in an intimate setting. Recital Programme: Erich Korngold (1897-1957)~ Send in the Clowns~ Losing My Mind Maurice Ravel (1875-1937)~ Gaspard de la Nuit Jonathan Dove (b. 1959)~ Cut My Shadow Stephen Sondheim (1930-2021)~ Send in the Clowns~ Losing My Mind --- 13 August 12.30 & 2.30pm ~ Chethams Piano Summer School Piano Workshop Tours We are looking forward to welcoming participants of this years Chethams International Piano Summer School to Forsyths fortours of our workshops and historic keyboard collection. We have been supporting the 'Chets' Piano Summer School since its inception...
May was a busy month for music, here at Forsyth and across Manchester! From the Manchester Jazz Festival to the North West Guitar Show, read on to see what we got up to in May We're always up to something, keep an eye on our Facebook and Instagram for the most up to date info! --- It wouldn't be May in Manchester without the Manchester Jazz Festival and the 17th-26th May saw the return of Manchester's longest running music festival. Once again we supplied pianos for the piano trail. Which this year saw 14 pianos placed around the city (including our usual street piano outside the shop!) It was amazing to see so many entries for the competition to find Manchester's best 'Street Pianist', all you had to do was post a video on social media of you playing one of the street pianos. The judges are still deciding on the winner so stay tuned... --- Alongside the piano trail we also hosted one of the performances as part of the festival. On the 24th May we were joined by legendary Jazz Pianist Julian Joseph for a fantastic evening of...