Details of Forsyth events that have been happening in-store and beyond...
Saturday 11th January 2025 Ardentia Trio
Our first recital of 2025 was a 'sell-out' concert with glorious music by Cameron Biles-Liddell (who was also at the concert!), Jennifer Higdon and Felix Mendelssohn.
You can view the full live stream of the recital on the Forsyth Facebook page here:- https://fb.watch/x7MO05Tv5B/
Friday 18th October 2024: Andrzej Baranek Jazz Piano Recital
Friday 4th October 2024: Let's Play the Piano! Annual Charity Fundraising Concert
A fabulous sold-out event in support of Manchester Music Charity Olympias Music Foundation.
Further donations can be made here
You can watch the full live stream via the Forsyth Facebook page here
20 September 2024 - The Robson Piano Duo
Twin brothers John and Kevin performed Schubert Fatasie in F minor and Rachmaninoff - Six Morceaux to an attentive capacity crowd.
5 July 2024 - An Evening of Chamber Music with Mezzo-Soprano, Piano, and Viola - performed by Imogen Garner, John Gough, and Benedict Holland
29 June 2024 - The Music of Australian Composer Wendy Hiscocks -performed by pianists and choir from Chetham's School of Music
26 June 2024 - An Evening of Song and Piano - performed by Priscilla Fong (Mezzo-Soprano) and Matthew Lau (Piano)
21 June 2024 - Evening of Jazz Favourites with The Edward Harris-Brown Trio
07 June 2024 - Benjamin Frith and Heidi Rolfe, Four Hands Piano Recital
24 May 2024 - Legendary Jazz Pianist Julian Joseph performs at Forsyths as part of Manchester Jazz Festival
Julian Joseph at Forsyths photographed by Alice Philips
10 May 2024 - Piano Recitals by Tristan MacWhirter & Pam Kijoran, Students of Alexandra Dariescu
25 April 2024 - Exploring Bulgarian music by Pipkov and Vladigerov performed by Dobromir Tsenov
Biography
Born in 1996, Dobromir Tsenov is a Bulgarian pianist who graduated with distinction from the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester under the tutelage of Dina Parakhina and Graham Scott. He was generously supported by the Anderson Powell Prize at the College. Following a year of teaching in China, he commenced his studies as a PhD candidate at the RNCM in September 2023, exploring the complete piano music by Lyubomir Pipkov. His project is supervised by Dr Adam Swayne and Dr Annika Forkert and is kindly supported by the RNCM Studentship, a full stipend for undertaking a full-time PhD research. Dobromir is also generously supported by the Bulgarian Culture Fund.
He completed his postgraduate diploma with Distinction in 2021, as well as his bachelor’s degree with first-class honours at the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire in 2019, where he studied with Julian Jacobson and Daniel Browell.
During his studies he developed a strong interest in the early- and mid-twentieth-century Bulgarian classical repertoire by the composers Pancho Vladigerov and his son Alexander. His debut album, Bulgarian Classics, received high acclaim in Bulgaria, where it was broadcast several times on national radio, as well as in the United Kingdom, receiving a five-star review and being described as ‘first class in every respect’ by Robert Matthew-Walker, the editor of Musical Opinion. Dobromir Tsenov also received the Marjorie Hazlehurst Project Award given by the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire for graduating with the highest result.
His latest album, released in 2022 with works by the lesser-known Bulgarian composer Lyubomir Pipkov, received excellent reviews by the Gramophone magazine as well as the Music Web International and Classics Today, and it was described as ‘a truly great set of interpretations which fully comply with the huge demands on the pianist to accurately reflect all the nuances within this brilliant music.’ A prizewinner of many national and international competitions, he has also taken part in master-classes with such musicians as Nelly Akopian-Tamarina, Ludmil Angelov, Jean-Efflam Bavouzet, Peter Donohoe, Matthew Schellhorn and Rostislav Yovchev.
12 April 2024 - John Sabar and Jonathan Hayward - Recital for Piano and Violin
Programme
22 March 2024 - Through Sickness and Health - A Charity Concert for Manchester Mind
Forsyths welcomed an incredible group of artists lead by the wonderful Gema Lu Cai all in aid of the fantastic charity, Manchester Mind.
The evening featured the emotive piano artistry of María Linares, alongside the creative talents of painter Sophie Iliaifair, who created a live painting inspired by the concert's themes. Adding to the multisensory experience, dancer Lucy Wilson-Knight interpreted the music and visual art through her expressive dance.
All proceeds went directly to Manchester Mind, supporting their invaluable work in mental health. This concert is not just an opportunity to enjoy a rich tapestry of arts but also a chance to contribute to a vital community cause.
24 February 2024 - Laiton Trumpet Quartet
It was a real joy to have the Laiton Trumpet Quartet play in our showroom in what was an unusually piano-free recital! Creating arrangements of well-known pieces for 4 trumpets is no small feat, made ever more impressive by how pleasing they were to listen to. A wholeheartedly refreshing programme and superb musicianship blew away the audience at Forsyth - another excellent free recital!
Laiton, formed of Grace Harman, Erin McLellan, Charlotte Nuta and Isabel Thompson, is a trumpet quartet from the Royal Northern College of Music. In their fourth year of study, the group has been formed for three years, and all hail from over the UK, from Suffolk to West Scotland, Cornwall to North Yorkshire.
The ensemble has enjoyed much success performing in several lunchtime concerts in and around Manchester and the North West, as well as taking part in masterclasses, coaching's and performances within the RNCM. Notably, in June 2023, the group made it to the finals of the RNCM Philip Jones Brass Prize, and were commended for their innovative and creative programme by Philip’s late wife Ursula Jones. Laiton also enjoyed performing a successful Spotlight concert in February 2023, titled ‘The Music Around Us’, where they explored the use of space and stage in performance.
7 February 2024 - Luke Jones Piano Recital
Programme
J. Brahms – Variations on a theme of Paganini, Op.35 Book 1
ABOUT LUKE JONES
Luke Jones is an international prize-winning Welsh pianist. Trained at Chetham’s School of Music and the RNCM with Murray McLachlan and Dina Parakhina. His playing has been described as possessing “...extraordinary clarity and a seemingly infallible touch that revealed colours and atmospheres of the most sensitive of stylists…” (Christopher Axworthy – Co-Artistic Director of the Keyboard Trust)
He is a prizewinner at several major international competitions including 2nd Prize Maria Canals International Piano Competition, 1st Prize Bromsgrove International Musicians Competition, 2nd Prize Dudley International Competition and was also the recipient of the RNCM Gold Medal the college’s highest award for performance.
He has performed to critical acclaim with orchestras such as the BBC National Orchestra of Wales, City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, Orchestra of the Swan and Manchester Camerata and has appeared on prestigious stages such as the Palau de la Musica Catalana – Barcelona, Bridgewater Hall – Manchester, St. David’s Hall – Cardiff, Salle Cortot – Paris, Symphony Hall – Birmingham and more.
Furthermore, he is passionate about education and currently teaches piano at the Scarisbrick Hall School. Alongside music, Luke also has a deep interest in many fields including world history, philosophy, religion, sport and personal development. Luke is also a Kawai Artist and honorary ambassador for the Bromsgrove International Musicians Competition.
12 January 2024 - Concert pianist Duncan Honeybourne performs a selection of glorious piano music by Jessy Reason
We were delighted to kickstart 2024 by welcoming back professional concert pianist Duncan Honeybourne to share the music of a little known English composer Jessy Reason whose works he will be releasing on a new recording in early 2024. This was yet another free recital hosted at Forsyth's!
Programme
(music suggested by an unfinished poem of Rupert Brooke)
1. Oh, lovers parted
Oh all you lonely over all the world
You that look out on morning empty hearted
Or you, all night, turning uncomforted….
2. Would God, would God you could be comforted…
3. Eyes that weep
And a long time for love; and after – sleep. Piano Sonata (1916) Five Landscapes for solo piano (1917)
1. The Road across the Hills;
2. Forest Shades;
3. Dewdrops;
4. The Solitary Place;
5. The Sunlit Stream
This recital of Jessy Reason’s solo piano music presents her complete output for the instrument, comprising a range of pieces demonstrating her distinctive impressionistic style: richly romantic; passionately lyrical; densely chromatic; intensely perfumed. They are the product of a sophisticated musical brain and a cultured intellect. Reason, clearly, was a highly gifted woman: long forgotten, whose mysterious tale presents us with more questions than answers but whose music speaks to us across the decades with an irresistible fervour and sincerity.
A disc of Reason’s solo piano and chamber music, is to be released by Prima Facie in the spring of 2024 with support from the Francis Routh Trust.
Don't worry if you missed it, you can watch the recording uploaded to Facebook here!
15 December 2023 - Will Waterhouse & Charlie Wells : Jazzy Christmas at Forsyth's
Will Waterhouse and Charlie Wells are two regularly performing musicians here in Manchester. At Forsyth's, Will and Charlie provided a good mix of their own arrangements of their favourite tunes alongside a healthy sprinkling of Christmas music. Here, Will is playing our outstanding Schimmel K230T Konzert grand piano.
PROGRAMME:
- All I Want For Christmas Is You - Mariah Carey
- Carol of the Bells - Mykola Leontovych
- O come O come Emmanuel - trad.
- Everything In Its Right Place - Radiohead
- Everybody wants to rule the world - Tears for Fears
- Baby it's cold outside - Frank Loesser
- Independence day - Elliot Smith
- Happy Xmas (War is Over) - John Lennon
- God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen - trad.
All pieces are arranged by Will Waterhouse and Charlie Wells
17 November 2023 - Mimi Chow & Aaron Le Maistre with Kathryn Stott perform French Piano Classics
Kathryn Stott's two incredible students Mimi and Aaron treated the audience at Forsyth's to an evening of beautiful French piano works. This was an excellent expedition through expression and drama. Both performers were outstanding in their interpretation of their chosen pieces resulting in an entirely enthralling and captivating recital.
Reverie
Soloist: Mimi Chow
Daphnis et Chloe, Suite No.2
(Arrangement for Solo Piano)
Soloist: Aaron Le Maistre
Prélude à l'après-midi d'un faune, L.86
(Arrangement for Two Pianos)
Soloist: Mimi Chow
With: Kathryn Stott on second piano
Trois Morceaux pour piano
Soloist: Mimi Chow
I. D'un Vieux Jardin
II. D'un Jardin Clair
III. Cortege
Piano Concerto in G major
Soloist: Aaron Le Maistre
With: Kathryn Stott on Second Piano
I. Allegramente
II. Adagio assai
III. Presto
About the performers:
Mimi Chow
Mimi is an 18-year-old pianist from Hong Kong. She started her piano journey at the age of 10. Her great curiosity of delving deeper into the world of music eventually led her to pursue music studies. Currently, she is in her second year of studying BMus
piano performance at the Royal Northern College of Music, studying with the
renowned international pianist, Kathryn Stott. From 2020, she has performed three times as a soloist at the prestigious Hong Kong
City Hall. Also, she has won several prizes in piano open competition such as the
sixth KAWAI Asia Piano Competition Asia Pacific Outstanding Youth Piano
Competition, Chopin Memorial Prizes Hong Kong International Open Competition
etc.She enjoys playing the French repertoire, as well as doing impressionistic painting
and dancing ballet, she found an intimate connection between the three. The
concept of tonal arts and visual music deeply inspires her.
Aaron Le Maistre
As a soloist Aaron has given recitals at Chapel Arts in Cheltenham, and a recital at the Gustav Holst Museum, as well as competing twice in the finals of the Gloucestershire Young Musician competition. He has also performed as a concerto soloist with both the Gloucestershire Youth Orchestra, and in November 2022 the Stroud Symphony Orchestra, with whom he performed Rachmaninov’s fiendish Piano Concerto No.2.
As an ensemble musician, Aaron has been a member of the National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain, principal viola of the CBSO Youth Orchestra, and has previously led both the Gloucestershire Youth Orchestra and Gloucestershire Youth Chamber Orchestra.
Aaron also enjoys accompanying and has over a decade of experience working with choirs and instrumentalists. He is always keen to accompany musicians within college, and particularly enjoys working with vocalists.
3 November 2023 - Alan Clark from Dire Straits
A charity fundraising piano solo gig in support of the Olympias Music Foundation.
An Outstanding performance, Alan Clark took us through the famous music that he has been part of during his long career as the keyboardist with Dire Straits and working with other legends such as Tina Turner and Eric Clapton. Alan's illustrious career continues today with piano solo gigs all over the world. He very kindly volunteered to fit in a charity fundraising gig here at Forsyth's in his hectic schedule.
This was in aid of the Olympias Music Foundation (OMF) an award-winning Manchester based music education charity that offers free, sustained, high-quality instrumental lessons to young people and other musical projects in Manchester. .
Alan played the superb Bösendorfer 230 Vienna Concert grand piano.
Donate to Olympias Music Foundation
19 October 2023 - Ben Frith and Heidi Rolfe perform works for two pianos.
Benjamin Frith is a world-renowned concert pianist who has performed extensively in this country and abroad. More recently Ben has been performing two piano works with his partner Heidi including one at the Wigmore Hall. Forsyth's hosted this incredible evening of two piano works played by two absolute masters of the trade. You can watch it again via our Facebook page.
22 September 2023- Music for Oboe, Bassoon and Piano with Andrew Pettit, Sarah Nixon and Helen Fairer
A fantastic combination of instruments for a wonderful evening of chamber music. You can watch it again via our Facebook page.
Friday 8 September - The World Through French Song
An enthralling performance by mezzo-soprano Camilla Seale and pianist Craig White for a tour of the world through the eyes of 19th and 20th-century French poets and composers.
Unfortunately, there is no live stream available of this performance.
7 July 2023 - The Pleyel Ensemble -
Bruch Piano Trio Op. 5 / Pitfield Piano Trio No. 2
20 July 2023 - Khrystyna Mykhailichenko and Cristo Harijan, 2 piano recital
Cristo returned to Forsyth's alongside Khrystyna Mykhailichenko, an outstanding young pianist from Ukraine who is taking the piano world by storm. Together they provided an explosive and dramatically emotive performance in Forsyth's piano showroom. If you missed the concert, have no fear as it has been uploaded to Facebook, and will shortly be on our Youtube channel.
Khrystyna Mykhailichenko
Khrystyna Mykhailichenko is a 17 year old Ukrainian pianist who was born in Crimea. She began to play the piano when she was only four and her parents quickly realised that their little child was extraordinarily gifted. Within six years, she was winning international piano competitions and was performing in concerts throughout Europe and in the USA. Since then, Khrystyna has played more than 20 times with symphony orchestras worldwide and given recitals in prestigious concert halls as well as in National Philharmonics of Ukraine .In 2014 when the Russians occupied Crimea, Khrystyna moved to the capital of Ukraine – Kyiv, with her mother and father, her elder brother and younger sister. She studied at Kyiv State Music Lyceum until 2022. In March 2016, Khrystyna met the international concert pianist Professor Alexei Grynyuk who became her teacher and mentor. He said “Khrystyna’s gift is stronger and more powerful than anyone I have ever been able to work with before. This is a performer of the highest level.” At the outbreak of war in February 2022, she fled to Poland with her mother and sister before settling in Corbridge in June. As well as continuing to travel extensively for performances, she studied at the Junior RNCM under Graham Scott and has started her undergraduate at the Royal Academy of Music in London in September 2023.
Cristo Harijan
23 June 2023 - Cristo Harijan and Joseph Dawson, piano and cello recital
Joseph Dawson and Cristo Harijan provided a wonderful cello and piano recital in the Forsyths piano floor as part of our regular free recital series. Schubert: Arpeggione Sonata Kodály: Epigrams Brahms: Cello Sonata No.1 in E minor Fauré - Après un rêve. Cristo is playing a Schimmel K230 Grand Piano Kindly supported by the Ida Carroll Trust. If you missed the recital fear not, we have uploaded it to facebook and can also be watched on our Youtube channel:
9 June 2023 - Winnie Su, piano
We were treated to a fantastic performance by the piano department's very own Winnie Su, playing Chopin's piano music inspired by his muses. You can watch her performance again on our YouTube channel
Programme
Nocturne op 9 no 2 (inspired by his first fiance Maria Wodzinka)
Sonata no 3 in B minor (inspired by George Sand, his longest partner)
Nocturne op 55 no 2 (dedicated to Jane Stirling, an unrequited love)
and finishing with the Barcarolle op 60 (Chopin's Farewell to the World)
4 June 2023 - Susan Bettaney - Piano Workshop
26 May 2023 - Manchester Jazz Festival - James Pearson Trio
A Fantastic evening of Jazz with Ronnie Scott's house band taking us through the fascinating history of jazz piano. The sold out capacity audience were hugely appreciative.
25 May 2023 - Manchester Jazz Festival - Nischla Smith
19-21 May 2023 - Manchester Guitar Festival 2023 at the Stoller Hall
11 May 2023 - Juanjo Blázquez, piano recital
Schubert/Liszt - Erlkonig
Schubert/Liszt - Gretchen am SpinnradeDukas - L'apprenti Sorcier
Rachmaninoff - Sonata No. 1 for PianoBorn in Lorca (Spain) in 1998, he began his piano studies at the “Narciso Yepes” Professional Conservatory of Lorca in 2006. He completed his piano studies at the Real Conservatorio Superior de Música de Madrid in 2020, under the guidance of Ana Guijarro, having previously studied with Pilar Bilbao Iturburu; and then in the RNCM with Graham Scott and Kathryn Stott. He continues studying for his Postgraduate Diploma at the RNCM in Manchester with Kathryn Stott.
18 April 2023 - Billy Watman, Guitar
Billy is an award-winning 21-year-old Anglo-Brazilian classical / fingerstyle instrumental guitarist. Billy will entertain us with an hour of virtuosity exploring a range of popular classics - not normally heard on classical guitar! Refusing to be ‘pigeon-holed’ into a specific style, Billy’s live show offers a mesmerizing, genre-defying journey through music, with repertoire spanning Classical, Flamenco, and Pop, through to Electronic Trance and Classic Rock – all on 1 guitar.
6 April 2023 - The Birchwood Quintet Play Elgar and Vierne
Having enjoyed a successful first performance in collaboration with Jeremy Young at Forsyths last summer, as part of the Connect Chamber Music Festival: Leda Mileto, Jocelyn Lau, Beth Willett and Stefan Rogers are collaborating with Holly Calder to perform two incredible works for piano quintet.
The Piano Quintets of Louis Vierne and Edward Elgar, are two incredibly moving late romantic works which, reveal a deeply personal reaction to the First World War. Whilst both pieces were completed within a year of each other, they represent two vastly different accounts of the war, with Vierne’s being written in response to the heartbreak of losing his son to the war, and Elgar’s being written in the relative peace of southern England at a point in history where the restoration of peace in Europe was on the horizon.
31 March 2023 - Canyi Zhuang and Justine Gormley, piano recital
We are delighted to host a recital by two of concert pianist Kathy Stott's students currently studying at the RNCM. Their program culminates in a beautiful Debussy duet.
Pauline Viardot - Gavotte 4’
Debussy - Petite Suite: I En Bateau, II Cortège, III Menuet, IV Ballet 13’
23rd March - Christopher Karwacinski, violin
(Piano: Harvey Davies)
Christopher Karwacinski is currently studying Violin at the RNCM, on the MMus course with Professor Benedict Holland.
10 March 2023 - Adam Davies - Piano Recital
Forsyths welcomed Adam Davies to perform an exciting and diverse programme
Sonata in A major, D. 664; Op.posth. 120
8 Études-Tableaux, Op. 33
About Adam
Adam Davies is a British pianist and piano teacher. He has been first-prize winner in the East Coast Young Musician and EPTA UK Piano Competitions, semi-finalist in the Royal Over-Seas League Competition, and finalist in the Wales International Competition and the Krystian Tkaczewski International Competition in Poland. Adam is currently a piano tutor at Chetham's School of Music and Yorkshire Young Musicians, and is an examiner for ABRSM
23 February 2023 - Piano Recital by Douglas Holligan
We were thrilled to have Douglas perform an interesting and varied programme.
Programme
Rakhmaninov: Nunc Dimitis from ‘All Night Vigil’, Op.37 No.
Benjamin Mellefont - Discover Yamaha Clarinets & FREE Recital - 8th February 2023
We were delighted to be partnering with Yamaha to present Ben Mellefont for an evening recital preceded by a 'Meet the Artist and Discover Yamaha Clarinets' event where he was able to give a deeper insight into his wonderful instruments as well as hints and tips on technique.
Murray McLachlan and students Concerto Extravaganza - 27th January 2023
Well-known pianist and educator - Murray McLachlan gave seven of his talented students the opportunity to perform a movement from a concerto with himself being the 'resident orchestra' on an accompanying piano. This was a wonderful musical extravaganza ranging through a diverse selection of music from Mozart to contemporary Manchester composer Edward Gregson.
Cameron Liu:
Riccardo Santoleri:
Paula Lopez-Atanet
Xavier Taschini
Evi Wang
Hyeonwoo Jeon
Cirsto Harijan
Esther Abrami and Rose McLachlan Violin and Piano Recital - 13th January 2023
We were delighted to welcome rising stars Esther Abrami and Rose McLachlan to perform to a capacity audience.