Keys to success

Gavin Phelps, a thirteen-year-old from Ralph Allen School, has won the Royal High School Bath’s Rising Stars Young Pianist Competition.

Gavin wowed judges Tom Worley and George Fradley with his performance of Yoshinao Nakada’s Etude Allegro and was chosen to join Royal High School Bath Music Scholars and attend a masterclass with Martin Roscoe, one of the country’s most loved and respected pianists, at prominent piano makers Steinway and Sons’ UK headquarters. Gavin was also invited to perform his winning piece at an evening recital organised by Royal High School Bath at the Steinway Hall in London.

Gavin Phelps said “I was very excited to have the opportunity to go to Steinway Hall in London.  It was fun to play the different pianos there, especially the Steinway Spirio that plays itself, and also the piano that’s used for the BBC Proms at the Albert Hall. I enjoyed the masterclass and Martin Roscoe gave me some helpful and constructive tips on bringing out the melody line in my piece. It was also inspiring to hear the alumni play in the concert.”

The competition was organised as part of celebrations for Royal High School Bath’s partnership with prominent piano makers Steinway and Sons. With its commitment to excellence in musical education, Royal High School Bath has become one of only 250 schools worldwide to gain the prestigious Steinway title, and students will benefit by having access to world-class Steinway and Sons pianos, masterclasses by Steinway artists, and performance opportunities throughout the year.

As the winner of the Rising Stars Young Pianist competition, Gavin also received the opportunity to record his piece in the state-of-the-art recording studio in Royal High School Bath’s Steinway Music School, mastered by a professional engineer and produced by Royal High School Bath’s Director of Music, Mark Bradbury. Three other students, Lucy Armstrong, aged 10 from Colerne CofE Primary School, Estrella Rafael, aged 11 from St Mary’s Catholic Primary School and Indira Pandit, aged 14 from King Edward’s School were also invited to join the winner and record their pieces in the studio.

To find out more about opportunities to study Music at Royal High School Bath, contact Admissions@rhsb.gdst.net.   The All-Steinway Music School facilities are also available to hire  https://www.royalhighbath.gdst.net/venue-hire/music-facilities