PROFILE Ultimately, my dream is to become an international


soloist. I do however have a strong desire to incorporate chamber music into my performing (and hopefully recording) activities. Chamber music provides one with the advantage of being inspired by others, exploring some of the greatest music ever written, and it has a social quality as well.


I also am attracted to teaching students at a high standard; it can be very rewarding to work with talented young musicians. In terms of performance, I feel happiest on stage in the concerto setting. There's something about the command required and the sense of danger that excites me so much! It also helps push my playing to higher levels to work alongside such a broad sound- colour palette as an orchestra.


Next steps My recent success in the Royal Over-Seas League Competition has been a big step forward. I have already had a number of promising project and engagement proposals from industry members who heard my performance at the Queen Elizabeth Hall earlier this year. However, it is probably impossible in the music profession to be able to guarantee a career outcome from any action. I will need to obtain some form of international management in the future but, at this stage in my life, I feel the best thing I can to is to keep performing and continue to be listened to as often as possible. I am now embarking on a two-year masters


programme at the GSMD. During that time I want to continue to refine my playing and fill some of the holes I feel there are in my repertoire, whilst building an increasingly busy external performing schedule. I will be recording both of the Chopin piano concertos in 2012, which I am hoping can be used as a valuable means of promoting myself overseas. I also intend to enter a number of competitions and hope that I fare well! More immediate upcoming plans feature recitals at


Kings Place and the Barbican Hall in London, concerts in Germany, the Netherlands and the Isle of Man. In January I will also be playing at Carnegie Hall's Weill Recital Hall, in New York, USA.


Advice for talented pianists Pianists need to be the most versatile of all instrumentalists and must be prepared to work extremely long hours, to teach, to accompany, to be involved in chamber music, to be a repetiteur for conducting classes, learn new and contemporary music and discover repertoire that's not played often enough. One has to carve a niche in this profession but also has to be good at just about everything, for you never know who might be listening!


If you feel passionately that you want to make


playing the piano your way of life then it should be pursued. The next step is finding the right teacher, someone who can help you maximise your potential, and you'll need to study at a place which can act as a good springboard to professional life. Any young pianist should also go to many concerts, listen to recordings of the great pianists, conductors, instrumentalists and singers, read a great deal about music and generally push their imagination. Above all I would wish them much luck and happiness for a life in the arts!


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