Pre-CBSO Piano Showcase: Ravel

Pre-CBSO Piano Showcase

Ravel Jeux d'eau
Archie Maclennan piano

Ravel Gaspard de la Nuit
Joachim Lim (pictured) piano

Ravel's most virtuoso piano cycle, Gaspard, precedes his Mother Goose and Rapsodie Espagnole in the CBSO programme at 2.15pm. Liszt's Piano Concerto No.1 is apposite since Liszt's Les jeux d'eau a la Villa d'Este was the direct model for Ravel's Jeux d'eau.

Archie Maclennan is a pianist currently completing his master’s degree at Royal Birmingham Conservatoire, where he studies with Katharine Lam and John Thwaites. He began playing the piano at the age of ten under the guidance of his grandmother, Margret Maclennan, and was regularly inspired by the wisdom and kindness of her partner and soulmate, Vladimir Rodzianko. Each performance Archie gives is dedicated to their memory.

During his master’s degree, Archie has taken advantage of the performance opportunities on offer, including solo performances and a collaboration with the Conservatoire’s orchestra, in a performance of Respighi’s Pines of Rome. He also co-founded a student-run morning and evening performance class, providing himself and his peers with further platform experience. 

Joachim Lim is currently pursuing an Advanced Postgraduate Diploma at Royal Birmingham Conservatoire with a full scholarship with Pascal Nemirovski and John Thwaites. Participating regularly in competitions, his recent successes include being the winner of the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire Piano Prize and the Beryl Chempin Beethoven Prize.

Prior to joining RBC, Joachim began his musical education at the Purcell School in 2012, studying under the Head of Keyboard William Fong, and in 2016, becoming the Dunard Scholar. Ever since then, his studies have been supported by the Dunard Fund. During his time, he performed most notably with his colleagues at the Fazioli Concert Hall, Sacile, and at the Purcell Room, Southbank. His successes externally, include winning Third Prize at the 9th Young Pianist of the North competition held in Newcastle.