Thursday 5 May, 6:00 pm to 7:00 pm, Pavilion Room
Enjoy an early evening recital, with Hughes Hall Director of Music, Nigel Yandell and Alumnus Naoki Toyomura performing two well-known sets of variations for piano duet – Schubert’s Variations on an Original Theme and a transcription of Elgar’s much-loved Enigma Variations.
All welcome, including non college members. No charge. Please sign up via Eventbrite. click here
Programme
Schubert – Variations on an Original Theme, D 813
Elgar – Enigma Variations, Op. 36
About the musicians
Dr Nigel Yandell
After studying music at the University of York, Nigel Yandell gained a postgraduate scholarship at Wadham College, Oxford, where his doctoral research focused on eighteenth and early nineteenth century keyboard music. Since then his interests have expanded into new areas, including aspects of music publishing and historical performance practice.
An experienced solo pianist and accompanist, Nigel Yandell has performed and lectured widely in the UK and Europe. He has lived in Cambridge since 2001 and is currently Director of Music, and Director of Studies in Music at Hughes Hall. Formerly a Director of the London Sinfonietta, Pro Corda and Palace Opera, he is a Trustee of the Cambridge University Music Society and represents the CUMS Fund on the newly established Centre for Musical Performance in the University. He is also a Director of the Stradivari Trust and teaches across a variety of practical musicianship and keyboard-related skills in the Faculty of Music.
Naoki Toyomura
Naoki is a Professional Diploma candidate at the Royal Academy of Music in London studying with Professors Michael Dussek and Joseph Middleton. Prior to that, he was an MPhil student at Hughes Hall, University of Cambridge, after graduating from the Eastman School of Music and University of Rochester with dual degrees in piano performance and economics.
While at Rochester, he became a Provost Circle Scholar as an exceptional student athlete and received a Take Five scholarship. At Cambridge, Naoki participated in the Pembroke College Lieder Scheme and the Instrumental Award Scheme. He co-directs the Hughes Hall College Choir, founded the Mill Rd Sinfonia and is a co-conductor of the Cambridge University Symphony Orchestra. With piano, he has won a string of first prizes from various competitions around New Zealand such as the North Shore, West Auckland, Tauranga and Te Awamutu Performing Art Competitions.
In America, he won a Gold Award at the Forte International Music Competition held at Carnegie Hall, New York and has concertized in Michigan, New Jersey, Maine and Alaska. He has participated in the Bowdoin International Music Festival, Brel Song Academy, and the Kirishima International Music Festival in Japan where his trio won the chamber music prize. Additionally, he has performed chamber music with members of the Tokyo Philharmonic, NHK Symphony, Auckland Philharmonic, Rochester Philharmonic and Syracuse Symphonia orchestras and with faculty from Cambridge University, Eastman School of Music, Oberlin Conservatory and Tokyo University of the Arts. He has also been involved in music outreach, most notably, Music Inspires Africa where he performed in Zimbabwe and South Africa.
