Audiences were treated to Shostakovich, Chopin, Sheeran (Ed) and more last Sunday afternoon and evening, as the Wharton Piano Prize saw the College’s finest solo pianists take to the Blue Room in Mansion.
The competition, adjudicated by acclaimed concert pianist Luis Parés, was finally won by Kyle [6.2, K], who performed a stunning rendition of La Cathedrale Engloutie by Debussy. Parés, who named James [6.2,J] and Adam [6.2,E] as second and third place respectively, later commented that there had been “incredible playing from everyone… what an enjoyable afternoon it’s been! So much talent and so much dedication to the craft!”
Sam Gladstone, Radley’s Music Precentor, stated, “Last Sunday’s Wharton Piano Prize will live long in the memory as a very special day. It would be easy to focus on the numbers: over 50 pianists, following on from over 50 singers in the Milligan Musical Theatre cup the previous week, points to how much music pervades life at Radley, and how supported the boys feel in coming forward to perform. However, the Wharton Piano Prize was much more about the individuals. What was so striking was that each boy played with musical communication, commitment and personality. There were moments of pervasive musical shape, orchestration at the piano, exploration of stunning colours – but, in each, a real sense of the individual person having something musical to say.
“Huge thanks are due to all in the piano teaching team who have nurtured that in the boys so brilliantly. There were wonderful choices of repertoire and expert teaching, giving the boys the skills and understanding to thrive, but also the space and permission to develop their own musical personalities. The boys were outstanding and they were matched by the quality of adjudication given by international concert pianist Luis Parés, which was personal, kind, and gave each boy really clear help in finding the next level in their playing.”
