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Guernsey’s own Tom Hicks is back home from the USA to answer questions, teach students and perform nocturnes at St James next week.
Join him and Mervyn Grand in the Café on Tuesday to ask questions or watch him play in the Whittaker Hall on Wednesday and experience his incredible pianism up close in relaxed surroundings.
Internationally acclaimed pianist Tom Hicks is on home soil next week for three events as part of the Fanny Davies International Piano Series that he co-founded in 2019.
For the first time, the Wednesday student workshops and evening recital in the Whittaker Hall are preceded by an informal Meet the Artist interview in the Café on Tuesday night.
Mervyn Grand, renowned musician and former tutor of Hicks, will be hosting the event and giving audience members the chance to ask questions.
Pictured and top: Tom Hicks. Images by Chris Tostevin-Hall.
The relaxed interview will cover Hicks’ career, influences and inspiration – and almost certainly Hicks’ recent inclusion in the roster of Yamaha Artists.
On Wednesday 5 June, the student workshops organised by FDIPS co-founder Alan West will give young pianists the chance to join Hicks at the piano for personalised tuition and feedback from 16:00.
Then at 19:30, the hall will be alive with candlelight for Hicks’ recital of nocturnes.
This will be the final concert of the 2023/24 FDIPS programme.
Hicks will showcase some of his favourite nocturnes by Chopin, Scriabin, Debussy, Fanny Mendelssohn, and Clara Schumann.
Much of the evening’s music is dreamy and atmospheric, while some of his choices include themes of nightmares and fantasies.
Hicks’ selection of popular and lesser-known pieces promises some finger-twisting fireworks, culminating in the spectacular finale of Beethoven’s Moonlight Sonata.
A key aim of FDIPS concerts is to welcome regular concertgoers and interested newcomers to the inclusive and friendly atmosphere. By holding the informal Meet the Artist event the evening before, the series organisers hope to help break down any barriers that might put people off experiencing classical music for the first time.
Hicks and West conceived the series to bring international-standard musicians to the island for listeners of all ages and backgrounds to experience a variety of styles, genres and eras of classical music at an affordable price.
The afternoon workshops offer local piano students an unrivalled opportunity to gain professional advice on the island from experienced musicians performing internationally.
FDIPS is kindly sponsored by the Swallow (2018) Charitable Trust and the Guernsey Arts Commission.
Tom Hicks performs at St James as part of the Fanny Davies International Piano Series on Wednesday 5 June. Tickets are £10, free for under 18s, available from stjames.gg, via this link, boxoffice@stjames.gg, and 711361. Doors open at 7pm for a 7.30pm start. Workshops start at 4pm, entry is free. You can Meet the Artist with Mervyn Grand on Tuesday 4 June in the Café at St James. Doors open at 7pm, entry is free, visit here to reserve a spot.
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