Pianissami is a trio of solo pianists based in Gloucestershire who perform a range of works from the Classical solo piano repertoire.
News
17/09/2021
Rachmaninov Adagio from Symphony No.2 Op.27
Another Rachmaninov recording, this time from James with an arrangement of the Adagio from his Second Symphony, introduced with a fitting quote from the composer: "Music comes straight from the heart, and talks only to the heart: It is love" - Rachmaninov
09/05/2021
Rachmaninov Rhapsody on a theme of Paganini
John has just completed a two-piano recording of the Rhapsody on a theme of Paganini. An epic project and fantastic recording, he has uploaded the video to YouTube which includes photos taken by his father of Novgorod during a trip in the 1970s. Please do have a listen either on YouTube or on our Recordings page.
24/02/2021
Pianissami YouTube Channel
Pianissami now have a YouTube Channel. Please do check it out to see recordings and recitals from the group.
25/10/2020
James' recent recordings
Because of Covid-19 restrictions affecting public performances James has also been making and posting a range of recordings over the past months. We hope you enjoy his most recent two: a piano arrangment of Elgar's Salut d'amour and his own composition Con Grazia, dedicated to all NHS and key workers in the UK.
10/10/2020
John's recording of the Grieg Piano Concerto
John has been busy over the last few months publishing recordings on YouTube and Facebook. His most recent achievement is a performance of the Grieg Piano Concerto, recording and mixing both the solo and orchestral reduction. His records can be on YouTube can be found here.
1st Movement
2nd Movement
3rd Movement
12/04/2020
James to give a live stream recital on 17/04/2020
In similar vain to John's excellent Easter Saturday concert, James will be giving a live streamed recital via facebook on Friday 17th April, entitled Relaxing Piano Playlist. Why not unwind from the working week by tuning in to enjoy some top-quality, relaxing classical music, courtesy of James? Follow this link and see you there.
11/04/2020
John to give an online recital on Easter Saturday (11/04/2020)
Present Coronavirus lockdown restrictions have prevented Pianissami from delivering their upcoming recitals. However, as the next best thing, John will be giving an Easter Saturday (11/04/2020) recital live from his home via facebook at 3pm. Please tune for some excellent piano music, including Brahms Capriccio Op. 76 No. 1, Debussy's Clair de Lune and Chopin's Etude Op. 10 No. 12 in C minor "Revolutionary".
Please see John's facebook event for more details.
04/04/2020
Pianissami invited to perform at Gloucester's Summer Music Festival 2020
Following their successful debut performance, a free lunchtime recital at St Mary de Crypt Church Gloucester, Pianissami have been invited by Sebastian Field to give a subsequent recital at this beautiful church as part of Gloucester's Summer Music Festival. The group are very honoured by the invitation and look forward to this upcoming event.
04/04/2020
Upcoming concert at Dean Close School in 2020
Back in October 2020, Pianissami delievered their first evening recital as a group at Holy Trinity Church Stroud, to a full audience. Encouraged by their inital success the group are keen to arrange further evening recitals at other venues, exploring new and challenging piano repertoire. The plan to give their next recital at Dean Close School. This was initially programmed for April 2020, but due to limited from the Coronavirus lockdown, the group have been obliged to rearrange this concert.
About
James
James was self-taught from a young age before beginning formal piano tuition with Howard Williams when he attended St. Peter’s High School, Gloucester, where he was awarded the Governor’s Award for Services to Music. He read music at Bath Spa University, where he was heavily involved as a soloist, lieder and opera accompanist, chamber musician and conductor. James has taken masterclasses with Steven Osborne, Craig Sheppard, Leslie Howard and Peter Donohoe. His recent engagements have included collaborations with the newly formed Sabrenesis Choir, Violinist Joshua Crunden, Vicki & Sebastian Field, baritone Aidan Smith as well as accompanying in the 2018 Gloucester Music and History Festivals.
He made his debut in this year’s 3 Choirs Festival performing a programme centred around the life of the poet Will Harvey. He also made his debut at this year’s Cheltenham Music Festival performing a newly commissioned opera “Above The Skies” by Michael Betteridge, conducted by Glyn Oxley and an appearance with soprano, Thalie Knights. James was born in Halifax, West Yorkshire in 1983, and holds both a BA Music, MMUS Performance degrees and in 2017 received his diploma as an Associate of the Royal Schools of Music.
For more infomation about James, please visit his website.
John
John began learning the piano at the age of 7, having fallen in love with Beethoven’s “Moonlight” sonata. He had lessons for 11 years, completing the ABRSM performance diploma aged 18. As an engineering student at the University of Oxford, John had the privilege of performing in a number of concerts in the cathedral. These included a performance of Beethoven’s 2nd piano concerto and part of the Grieg piano concerto, both performed with the Christchurch college orchestra.
John has also had the joy of accompanying a number of different musicians and singers. He particularly enjoys the works of the late romantic era. Music remains an important part of John’s life, who also plays the clarinet and sings bass in the Philomusica of Gloucestershire and Worcestershire choir. He is married to Lisa, the proud father of two daughters and works as the pastor of Coopers Edge Baptist Church.
For more infomation about John, please visit his facebook page.
Joshua
Joshua is a freelance musician who works as a performer, accompanist, conductor and teacher. He was invited to take the appointment of accompanist for Philomusica in 2016 and is also currently organist at All Saints Anglican Church in Bisley. He began his musical education with the piano at age 7 before taking up the violin two years later. After moving to Gloucestershire in the summer of 2000 Joshua continued learning the piano with Jenny Lindop and the violin with Cathy Hill. He then studied music at the University of Birmingham, graduating with a BMus in 2012 and an MA in 2014. While at the university he studied piano with Joseph Middleton and the violin with Nic Fallowfield.
He also secured a place in the prestigious CBSO Youth Orchestra, performing at the Birmingham Symphony Hall under the baton of world famous conductors such as John Wilson. During his postgraduate studies, Joshua took up a position in the Birmingham Oratory choir and worked as organist and choirmaster at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Catholic Church in Redditch, being responsible for 25 singers in the parish choir and working with the local schools. He returned home to the Stroud area in 2015 where he has been establishing himself as a freelance musician and continuing his piano studies with Jenny Lindop. For Joshua, music provides great joy and fulfilment and he is excited about the opportunities that lie ahead.
For more infomation about Joshua, please visit his website.
Upcoming Concerts
Programme
Venue
Date
Tickets
Chopin Schubert Brahms
Dean Close School
TBC
Tickets not yet available
Chopin Schubert Brahms
St Mary de Crypt Church, Gloucester
TBC
Tickets not yet available
Gallery
Recordings
John - Rachmaninov: Rhapsody on a theme of Paganini
Joshua - Brahms: Capriccio in D minor Op. 116 No. 1
John - Grieg: Piano Concerto - 3rd Movement
John - Brahms: Rhapsody No 2 in G minor
Joshua - Chopin: Impromptu in A flat major
Joshua - Faure: Nocturne in E flat major
James - Bach: Prelude and Fugue No. 2 in C minor
James - Schubert: Impromptu No. 3 in G flat major
Contact
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