Toad Lane Concerts: Tim Kennedy piano

Tim Kennedy

Tim Kennedy is no stranger to the Toad Lane Concerts, having accompanied several singers and performed as a gifted tenor soloist himself.

He was organ scholar at Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge, and has now been based in Manchester as a freelance professional musician for more than fifteen years. He is a staff accompanist at the RNCM and an official accompanist for festivals, regional events and competitions.

With friendly and informative introductions throughout, he began his concert on 11 January with that delightful Classical gem, Mozart’s 12 Variations on the tune we know as Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star. The theme is treated in interesting ways and with increasing technical difficulty. Tim rose to the challenge and produced a clear and delightful treat for the ears.

Then followed reflective works with passionate moments such as Amy Beach’s Barcarolle, and Debussy’s Clair de Lune, and those of lesser-known composers such as Sergei Bortkiewicz and Vaja Azarashvili.

The excitement of the popular foot-tapper, Joplin’s Maple Leaf Rag was tempered by a contemplative piece by Yiruma before a superb finale with Grieg’s Wedding Day at Troldhaugen.

Tim conjured up a sublime solo recital.

The Queen’s Award-winning Toad Lane Concerts are every Wednesday at 12.30pm at the Grade 1 listed church of St Mary in the Baum, Rochdale, OL16 1DZ. Entrance fee is £6. No refreshments available now, but the venue is Covid-19 compliant. Contact 01706 648872 for further information.

To see details of forthcoming Toad Lane Concerts, click here.

Dr Joe Dawson