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Lark Piano Trio
“It was immediately evident that not only do these three young musicians relish a mission to bring unjustly neglected repertoire into the limelight, awarding it the utmost advocacy through the pursuit of performing excellence, but they exemplify while doing so the joy of chamber music making”
“In what would have been bold programming from Perth Festival, they preceeded Astor Piazolla’s Four Seasons of Buenos Aires with the heavier fare of Rebecca Clarke’s Piano Trio… and it was a joy to hear”
Trio - Piano Trio
Instrumentation
- Emma Baird - Violin
- Helen LaGrand - Cello
- Anna Michels - Piano
Repertoire
Rebecca Clarke: Piano Trio
Haydn: Piano Trio in E major Hob.28 No.44
Piazolla: Four Seasons of Buenos Aires (arranged for Piano Trio by Jose Bragato)
Ravel: Piano Trio
Schumann: Piano Trio No.1 in D minor
Paul Schoenfield: Cafe Music
Peteris Vasks: Episodi e Canto Perpetuo
Beethoven: Triple Concerto
Biography
The Lark Piano Trio formed during their postgraduate studies at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, where they are mentored by Alison Wells and given additional coaching by Aaron Shorr and Jeffrey Starkey. Since their formation, the trio has taken part in masterclasses with the Fidelio Trio, Joseph Swensen, David Dolan, David Watkin, and Anto Pett. The trio won the prestigious Governor’s Chamber Prize which resulted in engagements in venues across Scotland. They were selected to participate in the Wye Valley Chamber Music Festival 2023, and have been accepted as an ensemble of the Hans Keller Forum 2023/24. They won the Mary D Adams Prize for Chamber Music, and were awarded 2nd prize at the Dunbar Gerber Chamber Music Competition at the RCS.
They have a passion for unearthing the hidden treasures of the piano trio repertoire, with a focus on living composers and female composers. They have found immense joy in the practice of both free and classical improvisation, and thoroughly enjoy connecting with audiences in this unique way. Their improvised performances include a Lecture Recital with David Doland in March ‘23 and a collaboration with dancers as part of the Piano Festival at RCS, March ‘23.
The trio are advocates for educational programmes internationally. Anna Michels is a Assistant Faculty of Keyboard at St. Mary’s Music School in Edinburgh, Helen is an organiser and teacher for a non-profit educational program for Nigerian musicians, and Emma is an Ambassador for the Benedetti foundation through which she has led multiple workshops.
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