William Hay » News

Wedding Pianist, Piano Entertainer, Corporate Events Pianist

Will — Sun, 03 May 2009 20:00:18 +0000

I have put a new page together this weekend on the gigging pianist side of my work as opposed to the teaching side which is now accessible from the main site as well as the blog and also through the domain weddingpianist.info

The sample playlist below is from a recent ‘cocktail piano’ performance just outside Chester.

SAMPLE PLAYLIST

Norah Jones – Turn me on
Bach – C major prelude
Sinatra -My Way
Miles Davis – So What
Aerosmth – I don’t want to miss a thing
Bach – Sarabande from 5th French
Misty
Bach – Gavotte from 5th French
Billy Taylor – I wish I knew how
Gershwin – I got rhythm
Sinatra – I’ve got you under
Debussy – Le petit Negre
Let there be love
Come fly with me
Bach – Invention in D minor
Monk – Off Minor
Billy Joel- Just the way you are
Handel – I know that my redeemer
Carmichael – Georgia on my mind
Billy Joel – She’s always a women
Debussy – Doctor Gradus
Billy Joel – She’s got a way
Monk – Round Midnight
Take Five – Brubeck
Nina Simone – My baby just cares for me
Mood Indigo
Einaudi – Una Mattina
Freddie Mercury – Crazy little thing called love
Blue Moon
Debussy – Golliwog’s CakeWalk
Bublé – Home
Sinatra – The Lady is a tramp
Black Coffee
Billy Joel – Baby Grand
Summertime
Bach – Courante from 5th Suite
Well you needn’t
Gershwin – They can’t take that away from me
Handel – Hallelujah Chorus
Norah Jones – The nearness of you
Ballade pour Adeline
Fauré – Pie Jesu from the Requiem
James Blunt – Beautiful
Katie Melua – Closest thing to crazy
Sinatra – New York, New York
Norah Jones – Come away with me
Einaudi – Le Onde
Van Morrison – Moondance
Schumann – Dreaming
Chopin – Raindrop Prelude
I get a kick out of you
Debussy – Clair de lune (During the lineup)

Britten – War Requiem

Will — Wed, 11 Mar 2009 08:08:48 +0000

Coinciding with the 70th anniversary of the start of World War Two, the University of Manchester Chorus and Symphony Orchestra will be performing this momentous work at the Bridgewater Hall in Manchester on Sunday 3rd May, 2009 at 7:30pm.

The performance will feature renowned soloists including Amanda Roocroft, Alan Clayton and Roderick Williams as well as choristers from Manchester and Chester Cathedrals. Having sung with the university chorus as a student a number of years ago I can guarantee that this will be a performance not to be missed.

Piano Points Leaderboard – February Half Term

Will — Thu, 19 Feb 2009 10:22:15 +0000

Half way through the first term of running piano points,
Total points leaders on February 19th are as follows:

Sophia from St. Werburgh’s, Alice from Tattenhall Park, Rebecca and Huw from CCHS are all on 20 points
Katherine from Upton Heath and Lucie from CCHS are both on 18 points.
Alison from Upton Heath and Emily from Tattenall Park are both on 17 points.

Average points leaders (all on 4 points) are Mollie from St. Oswald’s, Sophia and Bella from St. Werburgh’s and Alice from Tattenhall Park.

42% of the 62 students are on 14 or more points which is half of the target number of points for the term.

Chester Competitive Festival of Performing Arts 2009

Will — Sat, 31 Jan 2009 00:30:58 +0000

With 2009 now well under way, it is time to look at other local competitions and festivals taking place for pianists. Chester Competitive Festival of Performing Arts has a number of open choice classes that may be of interest to my students.

The festival will take place at the King’s School, Chester on Saturday 25th April, 2009.

There is an own choice piano class for each year group up to under 16 with a time limit of 3 minutes for under 10s, 4 minutes for under 13s and 5 minutes for under 16s. The entry fee is £4.90 per class and the closing date is Satuday 28th February, 2009.

Download the syllabus, or the entry form

Piano Points League – January 2009

Will — Fri, 30 Jan 2009 09:25:20 +0000

After the first month of operating my piano points system for all school age students I have decided to publish the top 9 points scorers on a leader board.

Remember that points are awarded for practising, attending your lessons and putting lots of effort into achieving your targets rather than on skill level!

Points leaders as of 30/01/09:

Alice from Tattenhall Park with 16 points.
Huw from CCHS and Sophie from Queen’s, joint second with 14 points
Rebecca from CCHS with 13 points
Bella and Sophia from St. Werburgh’s, Louisa from Queen’s, Jacob from EPCHS; are all joint fourth place on 12 points.

There are currently 62 students on the league table. 55% have 9 points or more which is comfortably on target at this stage in the term.

Two Rivers Festival – Celebrity Recitals at Birkenhead School

Will — Sun, 25 Jan 2009 17:12:50 +0000

This year sees the launch of the Two Rivers Festival, an initiative to create a new festival of music and the arts using many of the beautiful buildings and locations on Wirral.

ENTENTE CORDIALE – Jonathan Small, oboe and Ian Buckle, piano
perform a programme of English and French music of the 20th and 21st Centuries on Friday 6th February at 7.30pm
MEDITATIVE MOMENTS – Natalie Clein, cello performs music by Bach and Kodaly on Tuesday 17th March at 7.30pm
SOUNDPICTURES – Noriko Ogawa, piano performs music by Mozart, Debussy, Takemitsu, Grieg and Chopin on Friday 24th April at 7.30pm

Tickets priced at £15 or £40 for subscription to all three. Under 21s get in for half price.

Download the brochure for more information or to complete a booking form