An evening with Callum McLachlan

Callum McLachlan, finalist of the 18th Schumann Competition Zwickau and semi-finalist at both the Leeds and Santander International Piano Competitions, has been described as “a born Schumann player” with “a magical sense of colour and extraordinary technical prowess.” His performances at the Leeds were broadcast live on BBC Radio 3 and Medici.tv, reaching audiences of thousands worldwide. The Leeds described him as “continuing to captivate audiences with his profound musicality and virtuosic performances.”

Following this success, he was the only British pianist selected for the 17th Van Cliburn International Piano Competition. Gramophone magazine praised him for “the warmth and body of his gorgeous sonority,” describing his first-round performance as “luminescent, clear, virtuoso, and balanced.”

The 2025/26 season marks his debut appearances at the Konzerthaus Berlin, Vienna’s Musikverein, the Liederhalle Stuttgart, and Wigmore Hall. He currently studies with Kirill Gerstein at the Hochschule für Musik Hanns Eisler Berlin.

The 2026/27 season sees him return to Japan for a recital tour, alongside further appearances including recitals at Bridgewater Hall and performances in St Andrews, among other engagements.

He has recently given recitals at Yamaha Hall (Tokyo), the Klavier-Festival Ruhr, the Menton International Music Festival, the Mallorca Piano Festival, Lake District Summer Music, the Wasserburg International Festival, and London’s Bechstein Hall. He also gave the Swiss premiere of Eric Tanguy’s Piano Quartet for Classeek in Aubonne. In 2024, he made his debut with the Staatsphilharmonie Nürnberg at the Meistersingerhalle under conductor John Fiore, performing Hans Werner Henze’s Piano Concerto; the Nürnberger Nachrichten praised his “phenomenal sense of tonal nuance, artistry and refinement.”

A finalist of the Royal Over-Seas League Piano Competition in London and a nominee for the International Classical Music Classeek Award, Callum has performed extensively across the UK, Europe, and the USA. His appearances include venues such as the Meistersingerhalle Nürnberg, Laeiszhalle Hamburg, Wiener Konzerthaus, Pereda Hall (Santander), Leeds Great Hall, Bridgewater Hall, and Stoller Hall.

An active chamber musician, he has collaborated with renowned ensembles including the Casals Quartet and Kaleidoscope Ensemble, and regularly performs with Queen Elisabeth Competition laureate cellist Jeremias Fliedl.

In previous seasons, he made concerto debuts at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival and with the Sheffield Chamber Orchestra, and performed Liszt’s Second Piano Concerto with Paul Mann at the RNCM Concert Hall and Turner Sims Concert Hall in Southampton. He has also performed chamber arrangements of concertos with students from the Royal College of Music in London and receives frequent re-engagements at leading UK venues and festivals.

Born into a family of musicians, Callum began piano lessons with his father at the age of seven. He entered Chetham’s School of Music at eleven, studying with Dina Parakhina, and was later awarded the highest diploma (FTCL) from Trinity College London. He completed his Bachelor’s degree with Professor Claudius Tanski at the Universität Mozarteum Salzburg, before continuing his studies in Salzburg and Cologne with Jacques Rouvier and Claudio Martínez Mehner.

He has worked in masterclasses with distinguished artists including Stephen Kovacevich, Leif Ove Andsnes, Christopher Elton, Grigory Gruzman, Andrei Gavrilov, Stephen Hough, and Boris Berman. A prizewinner of numerous competitions, he has received First Prize at the Welsh International Piano Competition and the RNCM Chopin Prize. In 2019, he made his New York recital debut to critical acclaim and recorded Beethoven’s Pathétique Sonata at the Universität Mozarteum Salzburg in collaboration with G. Henle Verlag as part of the Beethoven 250 celebrations.

This recital takes place at St James's Club as part of its new music series, presenting leading artists in an intimate setting in the heart of Manchester. Previous highlights include guitarist Alexandra Whittingham’s sold-out recital.

The bar is open from 6:30 pm, with the concert beginning at 8:00 pm.

This event is generously supported by Yamaha Pianos.

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