21st October

Ciara Thompson (piano)

Ciara Thompson is a pianist currently studying with the Head of Keyboard – Professor John Thwaites at the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire. In her first year she won the Miss Bowen Challenge cup (a prize awarded to a promising first year pianist) for her recital and went on to receive a ‘highly commended’ from Duncan Honeybourne for the performance of her own composition in the Dennis Matthews Piano Prize. She has also explored lesser-known works by British composers as part of festivals in the conservatoire and performed in the Albert Hall as a member of Hertfordshire County Youth Orchestra.

In addition to studying piano, undertaking violin lessons from renowned violinist – Kyra Humphreys. She also plays the saxophone and has just started her second tour with the Conservatoire Folk Ensemble. She has also worked collaboratively both in orchestras (as both pianist and violinist), small ensembles and duets with her colleagues in the woodwind and strings department at conservatoire.

Alongside her performance practice, she has developed a keen interest in composing and believes that over the last few months, she has turned a corner in her compositional style and is beginning to discover her own sound. Her compositions aim to reflect the freedom and joy she gets from music. She hopes that in sharing her music she may be able to pass on her passion for writing and performing to new audiences.

Ciara is currently in her third year of her undergraduate course at conservatoire and has received guidance from Michael Kazekevich, Julian Jacobs, and Danny Driver who in addition to her weekly one-to-one lessons have been instrumental in developing her pianism. In her third year, she is keen to continue developing her own contribution to music both through composition and providing personal interpretations to lesser explored works.