On 30th October 2008 the Robson Piano Duo performed a lunchtime recital at the New Walk Museum and Art Gallery as part of the Leicester International Music Festival. The Duo performed a programme including Liszt, Ravel and Schubert to a sell-out audience.
Read the Review from the Leicester Mercury
See More Details on the Leicester Music Festival
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The Robson Duo have announced the first dates of their 2009 lunchtime recital series. Dates include:
4th February - Birmingham Cathedral
7th April - Cheltenham Town Hall
4th May - Lichfield Cathedral
17th August - Lichfield Cathedral
11th September - Birmingham Cathedral
More dates to be announced soon.
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On 24th October the Robson Duo performed a charity recital at St. Bedes Church in Chorley, Lancashire. The recital was well supported and put the total raised by the Duo for Breast Cancer Care in the last few years to over £1000.
The Duo will be arranging further chairty recitals in 2009.
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Kevin performed "Five pieces for piano and strings" by local composer Andrew Downes with the Old Swinford chamber orchestra in 2 concerts in the Midlands.
Andrew Downes was present at both events, which were directed by his daughter, Anna and took place in St Mary's church, Stourbridge and St. Johns, Hagley. The composer was pleased to be able to attend and enjoyed both performances immensely.
The concerts were the culmination of a weeks intensive rehearsal and workshops with local schools.
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During December 2008 the Robson Duo will take up one of their biggest challenges yet: recording their first disc of all 9 of Beethoven's symphonies.
The symphonies have been recorded many hundreds of times in their original orchestral version, and even several times in the form of transcriptions by the composer Liszt but the duet arrangements of these works arranged by Hugo Ulrich have never been set to disc.
This year, John and Kevin will record Beethoven's 1st and 5th symphony which will be the first of five recordings.
The recording will be commercially available in early 2009.
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From September 2008, for one year John will take up the prestigious position of Pianist in residence at Old Swinford Hospital School in Stourbridge. The position has previously been held by his brother, who is leaving the post to take up a Masters' performance degree.
Old Swinford Hospital is one of few state boarding schools in the country educating students from the ages of 11 to 18. OFSTED, the government regulatory body for schools has described Old Swinford as 'an outstanding school in all areas' and it is renowned in its reputation for musical excellence in the West Midlands. Director of Music, Tony Bridgewater said: "We're delighted that John will be able to follow in Kevin's footsteps."
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As part of his undergraduate degree, Kevin has worked closely with Faber music and Australian composer Peter Sculthorpe.
Kevin has a particular interest in championing contemporary piano works which are often overlooked in favour of more standard repertoire, and very much enjoyed the process of working with the composer on this project.
The work culminated in a performance of 'the piano concerto'. The performance was described by Prof. Malcolm Wilson as "a performance of sensitivity and power...".
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To mark the end of his 5 years at the Royal Northern College of Music, John performed a hour long recital.
The recital was brave and unconventional as all pieces performed were written in the 20th Century including works by Philip Martin, Prokofiev, Lennox Berkerly and Sculthorpe. The performance was a tremendous success and rounded off brilliantly by the virtuoso finalé of the Gorecki sonata, op.1.
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During the autumn of 2006, the Robson Duo performed a charity recital of piano duet music by French and Russian composers in St Bedes Church in Chorley, Lancashire.
The recital was well attended and the brothers managed to raise over £600 for local charity St Katherine's Hospice, which does great work in the local area looking after terminally ill cancer patients.
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Several students taught by Kevin and John Robson have received offers to study composition and performance at a number of top UK conservatoires.
Kevin and John are both enthusiastic about passing on their skills and teach many students of mixed ages and abilities. The brothers are always proud when their students achieve success with music.
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