Pallant Proms: A Harmonious Revival

Sophia Lim is a classical pianist from Sabah, Malaysia. During her time studying at the Royal College of Music in London, she had been under the tutelage of British pianist Danny Driver. Sophia studied with her mentor, Krzysztof Slomiak, in her hometown of Sabah, before continuing her education in London. She also plays the erhu, which enriched her musical insight and versatility through the influence of various musical cultures.

Programme:

Cyril Scott
Summerland, Op.54
I. Playtime
III. Evening Idyll

William Baines
7 Preludes
No.5 (Moderate speed—dreamily)

Cyril Scott
Summerland, Op.54
II. A Song from the East

William Baines
7 Preludes
No.3 (Very slowly—with devotion)

Cyril Scott
Summerland, Op.54
IV. Fairy Folk

Franz Schubert
Piano Sonata in Bb Major, D.960
i. Molto moderato
ii. Andante sostenuto
iii. Scherzo. Allegro vivace con delicatezza
iv. Allegro ma non troppo

Zhao, born in 2000, began learning the piano at the age of five. She commenced her music studies at the prestigious Affiliated Music School of the China Conservatory of Music under the guidance of Professor Guo Yun at the age of twelve. Shortly thereafter, she performed her first solo piano recital at the Taiyuan Concert Hall in Shanxi.

After graduating from the China Conservatory of Music, Fangwei came to the UK to pursue her music career. She completed her bachelor’s degree at the Royal Northern College of Music from 2018 to 2022 under the guidance of Professor Bingbing Li, and then a master’s degree at the Royal College of Music with Nigel Clayton.

Programme:

Alexander Scriabin
Prelude and Nocturne for the Left Hand, Op.9
I. Prelude
II. Nocturne

Maurice Ravel
Miroirs
I. Noctuelles
II. Oiseaux tristes
III. Une barque sur l’océan
IV. Alborada del gracioso
V. La vallée des cloches

Lowell Libermann
Nocturne No.4, Op.38

Zhang Zhao
Pihuang

Brighton-born pianist Berniya Hamie has performed across the UK and abroad both as a soloist and chamber musician, including at Wigmore Hall, the Royal Albert Hall, Cadogan Hall, Royal Festival Hall and the Purcell Room. A recipient of the Yamaha Music Foundation of Europe Piano Scholarship in 2024, she has been awarded numerous other national and international prizes. Berniya is currently undertaking postgraduate studies at the Guildhall School with Katya Apekisheva, Ronan O’Hora and Charles Owen as the Frederic William Trevena Award Holder, supported by the Countess of Munster Musical Trust Derek Butler Award, a Help Musicians UK Postgraduate Award and a Wayne Sleep Foundation Award.

Programme:

Domenico Scarlatti 
Piano Sonata in A Major, K.24

Domenico Scarlatti 
Piano Sonata in B Minor, K.27

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart 
Piano Sonata No.12 in F Major, K.332
i. Allegro
ii. Adagio
iii. Allegro assai

Johannes Brahms 
4 Klavierstücke, Op.119
1. Intermezzo. Adagio
2. Intermezzo. Andantino un poco agitato
3. Intermezzo. Grazioso e giocoso
4. Rhapsody. Allegro risoluto

Franz Liszt 
Transcendental Étude No.5 in Bb Major, ‘Feux follets’