Belfast-born Michael McHale has established himself as one of Ireland’s leading pianists, with a busy international career as a recitalist, concerto soloist and chamber musician. Last year, he treated Triskel audiences to a four-concert series of the most beautiful music for piano. The final concert in the series was Flights of Fantasy, which featured piano duet performances from members of the MTU Cork School of Music faculty. This year, Michael will perform as part of the 2024 Cork PianoFest, a series of special lunchtime performances from some of the Keyboard Department’s most talented young student pianists as well another staff showcase concert. Beginning with an enticing programme inspired by all things Parisian, we then explore the world of Variations, from Classical to Romantic to Jazz, before concluding the series with a celebration of the greatest ever pianist-composers: Chopin, Liszt and Rachmaninov.
- Friday 24 May at 1pm: Afternoon in Paris – Music by Chaminade, Debussy, Boulanger, Lewis and Porter, performed by Anna Xaubet Piferrer, Laura McLaughlin, Maryia Vasiljeva and Aaron Russ
- Friday 31 May at 1pm: Variations and Rhapsodies – Music by Beethoven, Brahms, Liszt, Van Heusen, Rosolino, Churchill, Strayhorn, performed by Tomás O’Hea, Jonathan Murray and Declan Murphy
- Friday 7 June at 1pm: The Great Romantics – Music by Chopin, Liszt, Ignace and Rachmaninov, performed by Michael McHale, Nicholas O’Halloran and Santa Ignace
