Concerts Under the Spire - Saturday Coffee Concert 1st July 11.00a.m.

We are delighted to welcome pianist, Dominic Downs, to complete our sequence of Saturday Morning Monthly Coffee Recitals, and we are sure his programme will appeal to all who support both these relaxed events, and also our more formal Wednesday Lunchtime Concerts each month. The Saturday Recital on 1st July begins at 11a.m., alongside our regular Coffee Morning, and coffee can be taken inside the sanctuary if desired. There is no charge, but donations are welcome.

We are grateful to Dr.Murray McLachlan for arranging these opportunities for his students to come along to Alderley Edge Methodist Church and present an hour-long Recital - the calibre of the performances have each been a privilege to listen to and experience; ftr a short break in August, these will be restarting on Saturday 3rd September (when the Recital will be delivered by

However, let us absorb the musicianship of Dominc Downs this Saturday, 1st July - here is his biography and also his Programme:

Currently studying piano at the Royal Northern College of Music under Dr Murray McLachlan. Dominic is a prize-winning pianist and composer and experienced performer.

In the Beginning: As the youngest of seven children Dominic had to wait until almost 8 years old before piano lessons could be afforded. His first public performance took place eight weeks later, when he performed his own nine variations on the nursery rhyme ‘Twinkle Twinkle Little Star’.

After a year without a teacher, on moving to high school he had lessons with Gill Allen in Lancaster. He moved to Manchester in 2015, having gained a place at Chetham’s School of Music. Developing as a musician At Chetham’s he studied piano with Marie-Louise Taylor and Jonathan Middleton, jazz piano with Les Chisnell, and composition with Dr Jeremy Pike.

In September 2023 Dominic was awarded a scholarship to Royal College of Music in London for composition but took up a place to study piano at Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester.

Awards and Prizes    Chetham’s Carol Composition Competition, 2016, 2018, 2021. (1st) The Steele prize for composition 2022                                                                                       RNCM ‘Under-represented’ Performance Prize (1st) (2023)                                         Commissioned fanfare for the Duke of Edinburgh Awards, performed for the Royal Family in June 2022                                                                                                                 Public Performance   Dominic is a regular recitalist and launched the Lancaster Gaia Festival in summer 2022 where his programme included Beethoven’s Tempest Sonata and Chopin’s 2nd Ballade. He was the resident jazz pianist at the iconic art deco Midland Hotel in Morecambe from the age of 14 to 16, and is currently resident pianist at the Belsfield Hotel, Windermere.                                                                                             

Go to www.dominicdowns.co.uk to find his upcoming events.

 

PROGRAMME:

Gershwin, I got rhythm

Bach Well-Tempered Clavier Book 2 Prelude and Fugue no 16. G minor

Chaminade 2^nd concert etude, Automn op. 35

Liszt Nocturne Liebestraume no. 3

Schumann Fantasiestücke, op. 12 no. 2, Aufschwung

Paderewski nocturne op. 16 no. 4.

Beethoven Moonlight Sonata. op. 27 no. 2.