Rachel West

Raised as a multi-instrumentalist, Rachel is an engaging pianist, composer and ensemble musician with an extensive variety of repertoire. She has been praised for playing ‘confidently but with no hint of self-importance, displaying both considerable technical accomplishment and an innate sensitivity… seemingly discovering an extra dimension in her playing’, (John Forster, Conductor, Fellow of the Royal College of Music) and being ‘an outstanding musician with some exceptional qualities… an innately natural and thoughtful musician’. (Margaret Fingerhut, Concert Pianist, Fellow of Birmingham Conservatoire). She is classically trained with a perceptive interest in contemporary-classical music, impressionism, baroque, and British folk influences. After winning the West Sussex Young Musician Award at 17 at the Regis Recital Hall, she has performed as a soloist in exclusive concert venues across the UK including Champs Hill, the Regis Recital Hall, Goodwood House for Lord and Lady March, Chichester festival (Lily-Jane Foote Cup for ‘outstanding performance’ -Shoreham Herald), Brighton Dome, The Connaught Theatre (‘Remember the name… for she is destined for great things in the future’-Evening Argus), ‘The Spice of Life’ West End, Worthing Assembly Hall, as well as performing for the Rotary Organisation.  She also has much experience in ensemble work as collaborator or artistic director; recently performing in a contemporary woodwind duo, a Shostakovich Suite for two pianos, and a classical string duo. Larger ensembles include leadership and arrangement work with chamber strings, piano quintets, and with vocalists such as the BBC Welsh Young Chorister, with original repertoire and compositions featured at times. She has been fortunate to perform in orchestral works at the Royal Albert Hall and Birmingham Symphony Hall in the WSCYO and SAMC orchestras, and has performed as leader and concerto soloist with the WYSO in Sussex. Awarded a TCM scholarship at Trinity Laban Conservatoire in 2012, she continued to expand her eclectic musicianship under international concert pianist and Chandos recording artist Margaret Fingerhut, with additional studies in composition under composer of the 2012 Paralympic games Errolyn Wallen MBE, and harpsichord and clavichord with Steven Devine, graduating with Class I Honours and the highest recital mark in her department. Masterclasses from distinguished pianists include Peter Katin, Philip Fowke, John Henry (Harpsichord), and Douglas Finch (Improvisation). She aims to extend beyond the realms of standard repertoire, having composed a profound Piano Suite based on the events of Chernobyl using extended techniques and technology in her recital final, and exploring works from Rwewski, Liebermann and Moeran, as well as ranging from grand Liszt and Busoni to intimate Debussy and Fauré. She further undertook an advanced IVT teaching course, with a Licentiate distinction of 94, accredited ‘rare and exceptional’ by Trinity College London, with ‘outstanding judgements… insight and sophistication for this level’. Recent engagements include a performance of Moeran’s concerto ‘Rhapsody in F#’ described as ‘keen, intelligent and imaginative’ and Shostakovich Suite op.6 in Kent, Finzi’s Idyllic ‘Eclogue’ for Piano and Orchestra for ‘Macmillan’ and ‘Young Minds’ in Sussex (Steinway Model C supported by Steyning Music Society), and a Chamber Recital series with Violist Stephanie Pavia at the Ministry for Gozo Recital Hall in Malta and subsequently in London. Other ventures include taking part in a new work at Southbank’s Royal Festival Hall led by jazz composer Chris Sharkey (Serious Productions co.), Steve Reich’s ‘Music for Eighteen Musicians’, improvising and arranging for an immersive video installation performance for musicians and dancers at Laurie Grove, and participating in the London Conducting Academy. Rachel’s zeal for music is palpable, as is her passion for introducing audiences to repertoire from ‘the path less trodden’ to the iconic.