Nicholas McCarthy - A Piano Recital in aid of the Towersey Found

7.30pm
All Tickets £15.00

Born without a right hand, Nicholas was determined to fulfil his dream of becoming a concert pianist, but as a teenager seeking a place at a school for young pianists, he was refused an audition and informed that he'd never succeed..."The told me that having one hand would always hold me back...and it was better not to waste my and other people's time."
McCarthy's graduation from London's Royal College of Music in 2012 made the headlines - he is the only left-handed pianist to graduate from the RCM in its 130 year history. As well as enjoying a burgeoning international career, he is patron and ambassador for several charities.

The Towersey Foundation was established in 1996 (in Newton Abbot) by Dr Colin Lee, and although he now lives and works in Canada, we hope he will be with us at Dartington on the 12th June to celebrate our 20th birthday.

The Towersey Foundation aims to:

Set up music therapy posts in hospices (eg. Rowcroft) and special schools (eg. Mayfield School in Torquay) through financial, administrative and clinical support.
Provide the services of music therapists for palliative care in the community.
Raise awareness of the benefits of music therapy for children, adults and carers living with the threat of life threatening illnesses and in bereavement.

Much of the left hand alone repertoire was composed as a result of pianist Paul Wittgenstein losing his right hand in the First World War. Ravel, Prokofiev and Benjamin Britten were among those who wrote music for him.
Nicholas has revived and championed this repertoire, and for his debut album "Solo" - released as FM's album of the week in September 2015 - he ranges from Wittgenstien's own arrangement of Bach/Guonod's "Ave Maria", to Gershwin's "Summertime."

For more information visit https://www.dartington.org/whats-on/event/?id=164797