The Piano: A Love Production for Channel 4 - Q&As with the Finalists
Category: News Release
14 March 2023
Claudia Winkleman presents a unique talent search with a twist - unearthing some of the UK’s most exciting amateur piano performers. In this unforgettable celebration of the nation’s favourite instrument, passionate amateur musicians took to public pianos in train stations across the UK. What our pianists didn’t know was that they were being secretly watched by two of the world’s most respected performers, Lang Lang and Mika. Their search began in London at King’s Cross St Pancras station, and then onto stations in Leeds, Glasgow and ending in Birmingham.
At the final concert at The Royal Festival Hall can Claudia Winkleman, Mika and Lang Lang get our four amateur pianists ready for the biggest performance of their lives? The finalists rehearse and prepare before making the walk out onto one of the world’s greatest stages in front of a packed house. Who will win the performance of the night? Mika and Lang Lang have got one last surprise up their sleeves…
The following four pianists were chosen to play in the final episode: Jay, Lucy, Sean and Danny. And here they talk about their experience:
JAY age 25 from the Isle of Wight won in the first week at London’s King’s Cross St Pancras station and said ‘I still can’t quite believe it. I put all my energy into playing, performing is a natural high for me - and the only drug I need. I would like to thank the Judges for complimenting my music and getting me to the Final.’
Congratulations on being chosen to perform at the Royal Festival Hall, how did it feel finding out that Lang Lang and Mika had been watching and that they had chosen you to perform at their special concert?
Well it all just felt like a dream and it was very overwhelming at the time but in a good way. It took a while to process it all as it was slowly sinking in.
Tell us about your connection to the piano.
Music has always been a massive part of my life, and we used to have a piano downstairs in the family home. I was given a keyboard at about 13 and I never stopped playing it. The piano has been a constant in my life, I play all the time, and as much as I can.
When did you first start playing, are you self taught? When did you start composing your own music?
I have always been self taught and at about age 11, my brother and I would rap together. I have always been writing music and songs from that time. I left school fairly young and went to a music school at 16. I chose piano as my main instrument and I must admit I missed a few lessons at college, but never piano lessons!
How did you feel meeting Claudia for the first time at St Pancras Station, were you nervous? Were you aware of how the crowd were responding to your performance? How did it feel when you heard the applause?
Yeah I was a little bit nervous and a bit unsure at first who everyone was to be honest, I am not going to lie. Claudia put me at ease straight away and it felt really good to hear the applause and know that people were listening to my music and appreciating it.
Have you ever played the piano at a train station before? Is it the most unusual place you have played the piano?
Probably the most unusual place for me was at a station as I hadn’t played at one before. We were told we were going to be part of a documentary and I just went along with it, seeing how the day would go. I never imagined what we would be told at the end of that day!
Why did you apply to take part in The Piano?
I heard about it on social media and I was interested to take part and see what happened, little did I know ….
How did you feel about being mentored by Mika ahead of your performance at The Royal Festival Hall?
Obviously Mika has got such a good background and acclaimed history in the music industry. He also taught me some really good breathing exercises, and just to close my eyes sometimes and feel the music and not focus on what is going on around you. And most importantly, to play the piano gently!
Were you nervous ahead of performing at The Royal Festival Hall or did the adrenaline take over?
Yes! We were all sat there pretending that we weren’t nervous. But I was the first one on, and I just thought boom, get out there. The nerves and adrenaline drive was incredible and I couldn’t focus on the audience as I stepped onto the stage, as I was just so blown away by the moment.
How were your fellow pianists ahead of performing, and were you all able to support each other?
By that point we were all mates, and we kept encouraging each other to go out there and smash it, saying don’t be nervous just go for it. I do bring a little bit of rap to the Royal Festival Hall, but that’s all I am saying.
Who of your family and friends were there to see you play on such a special night? And how proud of you were they?
My mum, brother and some friends came up from the Isle of Wight and it was lovely to have their support on the night. My mum and brother were really proud and later that night I got loads of texts from my mates which was really nice.
Can you share a special moment that stands out for you from the evening?
A special moment for me was walking out onto the stage, taking in all the surroundings knowing that I would be playing at the Royal Festival Hall and its amazing acoustics. Another spesh was connecting with people on the night, some singing my song, and some even crying. I hope they were happy tears!
When you turned up at St Pancras Station you didn’t know that Lang Lang and Mika would be watching or that someone would be chosen to perform at The Royal Festival Hall…
It really did feel like one of those life changing moments, and something I have never experienced before. It will always be something that I will remember and cherish.
Do you find playing the piano therapeutic and how does it help you?
I would say the piano has taken me out of a lot of negative situations. Without music to turn to I don’t quite know what or who I would be.
How would you describe your style?
That’s a hard one, my style varies so much every day. One of my main styles of music would be a mix of classical piano, a bit of rapping and some singing.
Do you think this series will encourage people to learn to play the piano and what advice would you give to any budding pianists?
I think the series will definitely encourage people to play the piano as it glorifies it in such a good way. It depends what you are into, but it’s never too late to learn an instrument. Whatever time you put into it you get back so much more.
What do you hope is next for you? More music?
It was a bit hard getting back to the reality of labouring and bar jobs, but I feel my life has been transformed by music and songwriting now. I would like to make a career out of it and totally focus on music. I think the show has given me a new impetus to follow my dreams.
What does the piano mean to you?
Music in general is such a massive part of my life, and a few years ago I did once actually have a vivid dream of playing a piano at somewhere like the Royal Festival Hall in front of a big audience. When I play I put my heart and soul into it, and it’s just me and the piano.
Does playing the piano calm you and take you into another world?
It completely does, it takes me away from any pressures in my life, it’s kind of like a form of musical therapy and very healing.
Being involved with The Piano – has this made you a different person musically and emotionally?
Definitely. I feel I have learned so much and what I am now capable of. I feel I can cope with any pressures and could play anything thrown at me.
The Piano has been received really well do you think?
I have been amazed and gratified at the press reaction, the support from people who have been watching the show, and some lovely comments on social media. It’s all been so positive and encouraging.
LUCY age 13 from West Yorkshire won in the second week at Leeds City Station. Music is how she communicates and makes her way in the world. Her rendition of Chopin’s Nocturne in B# Minor literally left Lang Lang speechless and Mika flummoxed at her depth and understanding of music.
CANDICE Lucy’s mum
Congratulations on Lucy being chosen to perform at the Royal Festival Hall, how did it feel finding out that Lang Lang and Mika had been watching and that they had chosen Lucy to perform at their special concert?
It’s really hard to explain to be honest, she had gone out and played phenomenally and then you are in a room with the absolutely wonderful participants who I had the honour and pleasure to meet. Claudia comes in and you think she is just going to say a nice thank you and then she lands the bombshell that Mika and Lang Lang have been watching. They come into the room and tell us the most exciting news and announce that Lucy will be going through to the final. I never ever thought it would be Lucy so I was comforting her before this, stroking her arm because I thought they were going to announce another pianist. The reaction on screen says it all – shock, bewilderment and lost for words! It was such a proud moment for me, and I won’t ever forget it.
I always knew she would be on a big stage one night, and I said to the producers you have seen in my daughter what I have seen for years.
Tell us about Lucy’s connection to the piano
Lucy was really young when she started playing a keyboard, about 2 years old. We were at home and she had a lot of musical toys to play with, but Lucy wasn’t just pressing the buttons she was making rhythm and music, and I thought that was interesting. From a fairy tale book with a piano on it, she started playing Twinkle Twinkle Little Star but it was pitch perfect. It was such a moment to hear that. We upgraded the keyboard and she just absolutely loved playing music sitting on the couch, and in her head she was composing. Then an even bigger keyboard when she was about 4 or 5 and she was playing My Way by Frank Sinatra perfectly, I couldn’t believe
it. It only took one listen to the music and she could play it back on the keyboard. At primary school I was asked what was she interested in, and I said the piano. The teacher recommended the Amber Trust and that is where we found Daniel and the rest is history.
How did you feel meeting Claudia and then hearing Lucy play on the piano at Leeds Station? Were you aware of how the crowd were responding to her performance?
I was standing with Claudia by the piano when Lucy played and it was wonderful to share that moment with her. Claudia said to me look around the station you have brought it to a standstill. It was one of those moments when the whole world stops. There were people missing their trains just to listen to my daughter, some were in tears and I found that overwhelming and emotional. Claudia is pure genius and pure joy, I found her to be one of life’s most inspirational people. Absolutely.
Why did you and Lucy want to take part in the series?
I had a really lovely phone chat with the team and they explained the concept of the show, and I thought you know what let’s give Lucy a chance to show how amazing she is. It’s nice for me to listen to her playing but I wanted to give her an opportunity to show how amazing she is and the incredible skill she has when playing the piano. And Lucy and I wanted to share love and positivity.
How did you feel about Lang Lang mentoring Lucy ahead of her performance at The Royal Festival Hall?
Lang Lang was truly amazing, he is such a genuine lovely human being. He worked with Lucy but in the sense that he was going into her world, he didn’t expect her to come into his. It was incredible to watch them and an honour for me to meet him. She took the direction very well and even got Lang Lang to sing which was unusual as he doesn’t sing.
Spending time with the final four during rehearsals the day before what was that like, and getting to know them and their music ahead of the big night?
We did all spend time together and each and every single one of them were so good with Lucy, they were so inspiring and they touched my heart they really did. We all got on really well and I think it was important that they all met before the big night. Lucy definitely calmed them down as she didn’t have any nerves, and they were in awe of that. I said to the three boys I take on her nerves, so let me have your nerves and you will be fine. They were all laughing by now, but I said come on bring it on.
How did it feel standing in the wings of the stage watching Lucy perform to thousands of people?
Well that was such a different experience for me because I usually watch from the audience. So it was very nerve wracking and I was looking up at a monitor in the wings, so it felt like I was watching her on TV. I was absolutely in awe of her.
When you turned up at Leeds Station with Lucy, you didn’t know that Lang Lang and Mika would be watching or that someone would be chosen to perform at The Royal Festival Hall, how was that for you both?
It’s a once in a lifetime experience that neither of us will ever forget. It was literally life changing, these kind of events don’t usually happen in our lives. I was so impressed how Lang Lang and Mika were so good with Lucy, they were totally respectful of her needs. And to see that these two maestros were in awe of her made my heart burst with emotion, 100%. They just got her spot on and understood her completely.
Does Lucy have favourite pieces to play?
Her range is extensive and she’s quite jazzy at home, there’s a lot of Miles Davis in our house! And of course a bit of James Taylor, and a bit of Michael Buble, she loves him – nothing to do with her mum of course! Even Jason Manford! She has different feelings to different kinds of music. She associates different people with different tracks which I think is amazing.
Lucy’s involvement in the show with you will have given light and hope to so many who may be in a similar situation, how do you feel about that?
Another part of the reason we did the show was to raise awareness and help people out there who might be in a similar situation and diagnosis. We wanted to shine a light on the charities that have supported us over the years Macmillan Cancer Support; Candlelighters [Hospital based in Leeds]; Chect [Childhood Eye Cancer Trust]; and of course The Amber Trust who have given us so much and gave us the lovely Daniel who is such a big part of our lives. He really is like part of the family!
DANIEL – Lucy’s piano teacher
How did it feel finding out that Lang Lang and Mika had been secretly watching Lucy at the station, and that they had chosen her to perform at their special concert?
It was a really great feeling and an affirmation of the work that we have been doing getting Lucy to where she is now, and to know that Mika and Lang Lang were listening and could appreciate her potential. Everyone around her has put in so much work over the years, and to get that recognition was amazing.
Tell us about Lucy’s connection to the piano
So I have been teaching Lucy for about 10 years and she was very little when we first met. From our first lesson, I could see the amount of potential in her, even as a tiny toddler. Her school got in touch with me through The Amber Trust. I was really busy at the time and fully booked with other students so I couldn’t immediately take her on, but they kept asking and as soon as I saw her I was overwhelmed with her talents.
I needed to work out how to teach Lucy. In my teaching it is foremost to know what the pupil needs, and I always approach it from that point. It is awesome the amount of responsibility you have as a teacher to nurture someone so little but with a massive potential.
I wanted to challenge her as a music teacher and stretch her musical understanding so she could of course progress in the right way but in her way.
Lucy has a great depth of musical understanding and a really good memory for pieces of music. So when she learns a piece she will play it in a vague and rough way. It is my job then as a sculptor with a block of marble to chip away and to make it an actual piece, and then the musical detail slowly emerges. Lucy, like a lot of other blind and neurodivergent children has perfect pitch which makes it easier for her to memorise pieces of music and musical detail.
How good a musician is Lucy in your opinion?
Lucy is a very good musician, and there are two reasons why. The first is that she loves music and because of that she has the enthusiasm to understand it and communicate through it. The second reason is that she really works hard at practice, and that gets great results. For Lucy music is vital and it’s her primary way of communicating.
How did you feel about Lang Lang mentoring Lucy ahead of her performance at The Royal Festival Hall?
I felt really excited at the prospect. I was so pleased because it was such a good opportunity for Lucy to make music with someone who has that great depth of understanding. Lang Lang really is a brilliant pianist and it was really nice for me to witness someone of that stature show such dedication in helping her play, and more importantly to understand how she worked.
For Lucy’s performance at The Royal Festival Hall, who was more nervous - Lucy, you, or her mum? How did it feel walking out on that stage with her in front of thousands of people?
Lucy doesn’t have any nerves at that kind of event, but I did. Lucy just likes playing the piano. A couple of times when I was younger I performed at The Royal Festival Hall as a singer and I found it overwhelming. Lucy doesn’t have the understanding of what could go wrong, and it’s great that she can express herself out there without fear of the unknown.
Does Lucy have favourite pieces to play?
Lucy loves to play jazz piano and listening to it, she has been playing Bach and Chopin since she was about 4, because it has complex textures to the piece and it satisfies her. And then by contrast she will like playing a Stevie Wonder tune. She plays in a very expressive way as a means of communication, and she likes a lot of the music that I like!
Tell us about your charity Music For The Many.
Most of what I do these days is running this charity and the purpose is to look at the barriers which stop young people accessing music education. We do this by giving young people free instrumental lessons in our local area, and it’s all funded by donations.
It was set up as a response to the crisis in music education which was a result of government spending cuts and the consequence of a lack of music education in economically deprived and culturally diverse areas. We are trying to bring equal opportunities to everyone, and that every child should be allowed to develop their music potential. Someone like Lucy is an amazing example of a young person who doesn’t fall into the usual bracket of musical privilege.
And finally are you looking forward to The Final?
On the recording night at the Royal Festival Hall, I was just hoping that everything would go so well for Lucy at such a big performance, so it will be good to see the programme on TV.
SEAN age 27 from Edinburgh. Sean won in the third week at Glasgow Station. He said ‘It is wonderful to have my unique and original music be appreciated and held in high esteem by fellow musicians’.
Congratulations on being chosen to perform at the Royal Festival Hall, how did it feel finding out that Lang Lang and Mika had been watching and that they had chosen you to perform at their special concert?
I thought I was just going to present some of my work on a piano at a train station on a normal day, so it was a shock to find out that Lang Lang and Mika had been watching my performance, but a good shock.
When did you first start playing, are you self taught? When did you start composing your own music?
I am self taught, and I started playing at 6 years old, and I started composing my own music about the same time to understand how music works. It was educational for me.
How did you feel meeting Claudia for the first time at Glasgow Central Station, were you nervous?
No I didn’t really know who Claudia was so no nerves there, and she was so lovely when I met her I felt like I knew her already!
Were you aware of how the crowd were responding to your performance? How did it feel when you heard the applause?
My whole life has revolved around being a good performer, and when I perform I watch the audience out of the corner of my eye. I process the feedback to see what they are feeling, and I will change a piece on the spot to ensure the audience is captivated. It is a good feeling when people appreciate my music as then I know I am doing something right.
Have you ever played the piano at a train station before?
As you can imagine I am always pleased to be heading to pianos at train stations across the country from London to Edinburgh. If I see one, if it’s free and I have time I’m jumping on it!
Why did you want to take part in The Piano?
I am not the kind of person to turn down any kind of collaboration, so when I met the producers, I found they were brilliant and really good at expressing the same sentiment and love I have for the instrument. I was more than happy to be involved with like-minded people to show what the piano can do for everyone.
How did you feel about being mentored by Mika ahead of your performance at The Royal Festival Hall?
To work with someone like Mika was unique, I was so thankful to learn from him as he is brilliant at conveying his emotions through his music.
The time I had was a real masterclass. I usually play in really loud bands, so I rarely have the opportunity to play in the way we did in that session.
Mika and Lang Lang are performing and providing a service to the absolute best of their ability, aiming to achieve a standard that is world class. Should we all not hold those standards in our own goods and services for each other?
Were you nervous ahead of performing at The Royal Festival Hall or did the adrenaline take over? How were your fellow pianists ahead of performing, were you all able to support each other?
It is a skill within itself as a performer to control your nerves. You have two different chemicals in your body: adrenaline and cortisol, and when you are performing you need to have a good control of those. It’s like training a muscle in your body so it is used to performing in front of an audience.
I loved meeting Jay and Danny it was like putting me through a friend finder, and to meet guys who are into the same stuff as me was amazing. We have great plans to work and perform together, and already have a project on the way. Watch this space!
Can you share a special moment that stands out for you from the evening?
For me speaking to Lang Lang after the concert, not as a maestro but as a person was special as he is so down to earth. In that moment he told to me I was built for the stage and to hear that from him was incredibly affirming.
How would you describe your style?
It’s best to listen to it to find out and decide for yourself!
The Piano has told your story so far, anything else to add?
It’s not over yet … I am still hanging on the edge of my seat. I am so happy the audience gets a chance to hear more from the incredible Lucy, who has opened a door for the public into neuro diversity, which is wonderful.
What do you hope is next for you? More music?
Well now I have a taste for venues like The Royal Festival Hall, so I am working hard to make sure it’s not a one off! I’d advise people to keep an eye on my social medias, there will be news coming.
Is the piano your one constant in your life?
The Piano has been a constant, I try to explore a wide range of creative practices including film, comedy and public engagements also.
With the piano, it’s important for me to be conscious of the balance between hobby and career, it has been with me for most of my life so where do you draw the line…
What did you learn from your experience on The Piano?
I learned so many amazing things working on this project, and it’s been a really good experience. So thank you Mika and Lang Lang, and I hope to see you again. A special thank you to Love Productions, one of the best tv companies I have ever had the pleasure of working with.
Tell us about your connection to the piano?
The piano is a means to an end as it is an end to itself, it’s a discipline but an unsolvable puzzle and there will always be something new to explore and new to create.
DANNY age 26 from Manchester won in the fourth week at Birmingham New Street station. The Judges liked his harmonies and how he uses the piano to express himself transforming reality into something more joyful. The first person he called to say he had got through to the final was his mum, Bernadette.
Congratulations on being chosen to perform at the Royal Festival Hall, how did it feel finding out that Lang Lang and Mika had been watching and that they had chosen you to perform at their special concert?
For me it was genuinely mind blowing, and as a mental health public speaker, I always tell people at my talks to live as their authentic selves and to push their comfort zones. And this is exactly what I had to do at Birmingham New Station, and finding out that Lang Lang and Mika were watching was an immediate win for me. I hadn’t performed in 10 years and my ears perked up when they said my name and that I had won. I literally couldn’t speak for a couple of minutes. It was such a magical moment for me, it really was.
Tell us about your connection to music and the piano.
Since I was a child around the age of 8, I started to play around with the keys. Playing the piano has taken me through the thick and thin of life, and when I couldn’t talk about my emotions.
Music has had a huge impact on my life and throughout the show I have had the opportunity to turn it into something life changing. I have been able to turn some of the most difficult parts of my life into beautiful music. The ability to turn a negative into something positive that could help other people means a lot to me.
When did you first start playing, are you self taught? When did you start composing your own music?
My grandma had a piano when we were growing up and from the age of about 4 or 5 I would watch her play. I began to experiment when I was in primary school, and more actively at secondary school where we had a piano in the music room. I started writing my own music songs and lyrics on the guitar from about 8 years old.
How did you feel meeting Claudia for the first time at Birmingham New Station, were you nervous?
I was so nervous, and on the show you can probably see me shaking, my voice really wasn’t up to scratch. But Claudia was so warm and put me at ease immediately - she is genius at doing that! Without her I wouldn’t have done so well.
Seeing her put the whole thing into an exciting perspective and for the first time it hit home to me what was actually happening. There were about 60 or 70 people there watching which surprised me and one lady said I had a
lovely tone to my voice, so to have that comment was nice to hear and really settled me. It wasn’t my best performance because of the nerves, but I felt I had done my best in the circumstances, I was proud of myself for just turning up after so many years of not performing.
Have you ever played the piano at a train station before?
I have played at every train station where there is a piano, it’s my favourite place to play, and I add on extra hours to my journey just to play.
Why did you want to take part in The Piano?
My grandma who inspired me to start playing passed away two years ago, and one of the last things she said to me is don’t forget your music. I stopped playing when I dropped out of music college, but I had promised my grandma that I would take up music again and reconnect with that part of myself. And then this came up so it was really special for me, and I wanted to do it in memory of my grandma.
Throughout the series you are all seen as storytellers, do you feel The Piano told your story well?
I really believe that The Piano told my story. Learn to Live which I wrote and played was a message to my younger self, so it was in line with my own story and it was shown well on the show. Whenever I have any issues I play the piano and I don’t think of anything else apart from the keys, it’s like a kind of blissful meditation for me.
How did you feel about being mentored by Mika ahead of your performance at The Royal Festival Hall?
I mean what a genuine privilege! Before the show I didn’t class myself as a musician, so to be in a room with Mika who was enhancing my playing, and showing me how to focus on the music was incredible. His words of advice were so powerful to me, and so helpful to my performance - I was trying to convince the audience that I was a good musician by giving them too much volume and complexity in the playing - Mika said the way to master the performance is to be comfortable feeling it, but without showing everything. Genius notes, and Lang Lang gave such great advice too.
Were you nervous ahead of performing at The Royal Festival Hall or did the adrenaline take over? How were your fellow pianists ahead of performing, were you all able to support each other?
I will be honest I was more nervous at Birmingham than the RFH genuinely! So when I got to the final there were still nerves but I had done so much preparation and had help from the judges and production team, strangely it felt less scary.
Perhaps being on a larger stage at the final rather than the intimacy of playing at the station helped. I felt because I had worked on my song that I would be able to give a more powerful performance.
Who of your family and friends were there to see you play on such a special night? And how proud of you were they?
Oh my god, there were so many. I had people travelling from Newcastle, Manchester, Leeds, London, Leicester to name a few! A section of the lower tier at the Royal Festival Hall was filled with my family - my sisters, my mum, an uncle flew over from Switzerland, my girlfriend and her family, workmates and 20 of my close friends! The support was amazing but added to a nerve wracking night, as a lot of my friends hadn’t seen me perform before.
Can you share a special moment that stands out for you from the evening?
The most special moment of the evening was when I dedicated my performance to my mum who has looked after me through the years, supported and encouraged me in my music. The audience gave such a great round of applause for her, and that was really special for me. She has been waiting so long for the moment to see that performance, it was a special moment for her as much as it was for me.
When you turned up at Birmingham New Station you didn’t know that Lang Lang and Mika would be watching or that someone would be chosen to perform at The Royal Festival Hall?
100% - this was my childhood dream, I thought my whole life would be music and then it was sad that I left it. Genuinely this has been such a blessing for me in the way I see the world, it’s been quite powerful, and really has been a special lifetime experience.
Do you find playing the piano therapeutic and how does it help you?
Yes definitely the piano is meditation for me, and when I need clarity and making decisions in life or even just to vent a bit. The best way for me is to express that through the piano and it helps me make sense of the world.
How would you describe your style?
Well I would say deep contemporary/ quite emotional, I haven’t been asked that before to be honest. I think raw, honest and heartfelt would describe my style best, and the ability of telling stories through the music. I have always written just for me and there is a sense of vulnerability involved. I am now sharing that with the audience and that makes the piece more powerful for me.
Do you think this series will encourage people to learn to play the piano and what advice would you give to any budding pianists?
I am hoping that it will inspire people to start to play, it’s one of the instruments that most people want to learn. I am not the best technically and that should give people the idea that you can create a bit of magic whether you are Grade 8 or just starting.
What do you hope is next for you? More music?
I am going to be recording my music and hopefully release some of that this year as well as my mental health work and public speaking. I am raising money for mental health charities : 100 Talks for Change Project and that involves travelling from Newcastle to London, 100 talks over 20 academic days across 50 schools, impacting 10,000 lives and hoping to raise money for various mental health charities. Website: www.100talksforchange.com
The Piano has been quoted as a heartwarming patchwork of human stories, would you agree?
The talent that I saw in the room at Birmingham was amazing. To see so many ordinary people come from various walks of life with extraordinary skills and together through the ivories of the keys produce a little bit of magic was so good for me.
All the Finalists were so supportive and when we first met we really hit it off and it was interesting to see and hear everyone’s different styles. They are all magnificent and the boys had such a great connection with Lucy. There were so many lovely moments especially when Lucy said my name after I played. Her family said if she remembers your name and applauds your piece that is one of the best compliments you can get.
We all just wanted everyone to do so well, and the support and encouragement we got and gave each other was really really nice.
MIKA ON THE FINAL FOUR
JAY
‘I found Jay really touching. There’s a certain kind of freshness to what he was trying to do. He’s a really, really, really good piano player, a really good storyteller and crazily able to write a catchy melody. And then, when you put it all together: his background, his job working on construction sites… his life is not easy. His life is not simple. Even to write music and to practice is a challenge with the amount of hours he works, how early he starts and how late he finishes. He doesn't even have a piano at his house. So, there was something really amazing about him. You felt: ’Well, if he's doing this against all odds, there must be a reason. He must need it. It must make him feel better.’ I love that. I love the idea it made him feel more powerful. It made him feel like he could express himself better. To hear that urgency when he's rapping, when he's playing his really well composed pieces. Music has been his saviour. It gave an urgency, a realness, to his playing and composition. I felt this amazing sense of gratitude towards the piano.’
LUCY
‘Magical things happen with music that are against all odds and all limitations. It's astonishing when it happens. When it happened in Leeds, when Lucy performed, it was jaw-dropping. It was the most humbling thing you could possibly see. We didn't expect any of this. She's not playing to be a superstar. She's not playing to sell millions of records or get millions of streams. This is an intimate, wonderful, magical thing that's happening. A thing you have no idea is happening in some living room somewhere with a bunch of people that love her. There's actual magic happening at a piano with this person and now you have the privilege of being able to witness it yourself. It's as grand and as humble as that.
‘She’s doing it for the joy, but she’s also doing it for love. She’s doing it to express emotion. She’s doing it to communicate.
‘For a lot of people, the piano is their voice. It comes back to this really important thing. We make music to express what we cannot express with words. Whether we don't have the words or we don't know how to use them, it doesn't matter. We still make music because we need to express certain things and we listen to music to express what we dare not say and feel a little bit less alone.’
SEAN
‘Sean is a good example of that as well. When you listen to Sean play, it goes at 150 miles an hour. It's virtuosic, it’s complex and it's extremely nuanced. There's a huge, dynamic, emotional range and it's so intense. He has so much to say, and he's so good at saying it musically, that what you get is quite thrilling. It’s definitely not music to put you to sleep. It’s more like 45 shots of espresso. He’s emulating programming. He's emulating synthesisers. He's emulating clouds. He's talking about how the music represents concrete and different textures and, all of a sudden, he's like, “And this is a typewriter.” You're talking about not just landscape, not just mood, but objects represented in the way he's playing. Why not? By doing this, he says: “It's just nice to be able to talk about the world around me.”’
DANNY
‘Danny is a remarkably talented and very nuanced piano player and songwriter. You have this perfect mix of the words, the melodies he sings and the music he's playing. They’re perfectly in harmony. And so, when he starts to play, you feel really secure. You feel you're in the hands of a great storyteller. That’s amazing – especially when he explains it’s the complete opposite of what he feels like sometimes. When he tells a story, he transcends all his insecurities and he’s a very reassuring presence. You go from this kaleidoscopic, frenetic and intense landscape that Sean is performing to this giant, reassuring, beautiful hug that Danny’s offering. Again, we go back to the idea the music you're listening to in the show is music that is urgent. It’s music these people need to be making. And it happens to be really good music.’
‘I don't know if any of them will pursue playing as a career. That's not for me to say. What I can absolutely say, without a doubt, is they have this thing they were doing completely for themselves, thinking that maybe it was useful and magical to bring the piano into their life. Well, they certainly got confirmation of that. It's only cemented the idea of a piano as a magical transformative thing that can change your life. That music can change your life. I find that really, really, really important and inspiring – not just for the four people we selected to go to the Royal Festival Hall, but also every single person who took part. All the 80+ pianists who presented themselves at stations. I’m certain it will inspire other people, who’ve never played before, to try.’
~ ENDS ~
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