Annabelle Lawson – Piano
Peter Lawson – Piano
Artistic Director Annabelle Lawson is joined by her father, Peter Lawson, to launch the in:spire series with a piano recital of solos and duets, exploring the theme of ‘childhood’. The concert will also celebrate the 80th birthday of composer Gordon Crosse and include the world premiere of his first piano sonata.
Programme
- Gordon Crosse Ron’s Toyes
- Faure Dolly Suite, op.56
- Gordon Crosse Piano Sonata no.1 (world premiere)
- Pieces by Chick Corea, Debussy, Satie, Schumann and Ornstein) A Kaleidoscopic Ode to Childhood
Concert Details
Doors open: 6.30pm
Concert: 7.00-8.00pm. Followed by refreshments.
Tickets: Suggested donation of £7 on the door (cash only)
Venue: St Andrew’s URC, Upper Hanover Street, Sheffield S3 7RQ
Annabelle Lawson Biography
Annabelle Lawson has established herself as a pianist who exudes subtlety and vivacity in equal measure. She has performed in venues including Wigmore Hall, Southbank Centre, Royal Festival Hall, Bridgewater Hall and Kings Place, as well as broadcasting live for BBC Radio 3 and national Australian radio. She is a passionate advocate of both new and obscure repertoire, having commissioned a large number of works with the Lawson Trio and recently performing Stanford’s little-known 2nd piano concerto, as well as chamber music by Rebecca Clarke and Louis Vierne.
Having performed recently as concerto soloist with the Göttingen Symphony Orchestra in Germany, played trios in a French château, worked as a cabaret artist in the Far East, played ‘Carnival of the Animals’ with kangaroo impersonating dancers from Ballet Rambert and, last but not least, worn a Squid Hat on stage for Wigmore Learning – her career is notable for its variety and versatility.
She enjoys a distinguished career as a music educator, teaching at the Junior Department of the Royal Academy of Music and examining for the ABRSM. She is also Artistic Director of Chamber Music 2000, for whom she has organised and hosted numerous workshops and inter-school showcase concerts. Annabelle also ran a busy 2015/16 concert series for the West Essex branch of the hugely successful Bach to Baby enterprise.
Annabelle studied piano at Chetham’s School of Music, before reading music at King’s College, Cambridge. After completing her BA she undertook a one-year BMus, for which she gained a Distinction, during which time she researched the social role of the Argentine tango in Paris in the years preceding World War One. She then pursued postgraduate tuition in chamber music at the Royal Academy of Music, who went on to award her piano trio a Junior Leverhulme Chamber Music Fellowship. Annabelle’s teachers have included her father, Peter Lawson, Ronan O’Hora and Philip Fowke.
Peter Lawson Biography
Peter Lawson was born in Manchester and studied there with Derrick Wyndham and Sulamita Aronovsky. He has appeared as soloist with most British orchestras, frequently broadcasting for radio 3 as well as giving recitals throughout the UK and playing in Holland, France, Belgium, Italy, Denmark, Luxembourg, Japan and Russia.
With a repertoire stretching from the baroque to contemporary jazz, Peter’s many commercial recordings reflect a particular interest in more recent music and include Satie (EMI) which was awarded a Silver Disc, American Sonatas (Virgin Classics) and Michael Nyman’s concerto (with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra). He also works with the Equivox Trio, Tango5 (recreating the tango quintets of Piazzolla), the recorder player John Turner with whom he has collaborated on many recordings of British music and saxophonist Rob Buckland.
Peter recently retired from his role as senior tutor in piano and careers advisor at Chetham’s School of Music but continues as tutor in piano and tutor in contemporary piano at the RNCM and examiner for the ABRSM. In his spare time Peter enjoys hill-walking, photography and, as a beginner, the challenges of learning to play classical guitar!