Category Archives: News

The end of an era

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Sadly, the decision has been taken to end the Lark Reviews website. The site was founded in 2012 by Dr Brian Hick, one time deputy editor of Musical Opinion, editor Emeritus of The Organ, regular columnist for the Hastings & St Leonards Observer and educational consultant for many years. The aim of the site was to post well informed and succinct reviews within 24 hours of musical performances across the country, with an added focus on the Hastings area. Regular CD and DVD reviews were also included for major labels and distributors as well as smaller scale productions.

Before Brian’s death in 2021 we had already discussed the changing context in which we were operating. When the site was founded there were relatively few sites doing the same. Now that is no longer the case.

Since taking on responsibility for Lark I have been ably assisted by Susan Elkin and more recently further reviewers have been working with us. With limited time and resources, however, and wishing to concentrate more on my own performance and teaching work it seems that the best thing now is to end the website. I feel sure that Brian would support this decision, bringing the site to a proper end, rather than letting it gradually wind down.

The site will be archived with all content available for the forseeable future.

Thank you for visiting and supporting Lark Reviews

With best wishes
Stephen Page
Editor


Hastings International Piano Competition News

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2022 Hastings International Piano Concerto Competition Countdown

Continues With Announcement of International Jury Chaired by Professor Vanessa Latarche
Also Announced is Patron of The Newly Established Royal College of Music Prince Consort Orchestra His Serene Highness Dr Donatus, Prince Von Hohenzollern.

With competitors from more than 40 countries, a record number of entries and two
orchestras accompanying both semi-finalists and finalists, the sixteenth prestigious Has-tings International Piano Concerto Competition will take place for the first time in both Rye
and Hastings from 24th February to 5th March 2022.

For more details see https://www.facebook.com/HastingsConcertoCompetition/

 

2022 Hastings International Piano Concerto Competition

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The sixteenth prestigious Hastings International Piano Concerto Competition will take place for the first time in both Rye and in Hastings from 24th February to 5th March 2022.

Due to heating difficulties at St Mary in the Castle, which could not be sufficiently rectified and the lack of availability of The White Rock Theatre, Hastings International Piano have made the decision to move round one of the competition to Rye Creative Centre.

The second round, semi-final and finals of the competition will then return to Hastings and take place at The White Rock Theatre.

Hastings International Piano is delighted to announce that a unique partnership has been agreed with The Royal College of Music to create a graduate orchestra, administered in Hastings to offer Royal College of Music graduates orchestral training and paid
performance opportunities during the concerto competition semi-finals and throughout
the year. We are also thrilled that the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra will return to accompany our finalists during our two-night Final. Steinway and Sons, the most prestigious piano maker in the world was recently announced as the piano sponsor for the next concerto competition.

 

Tickets for all rounds of the competition at both venues in Rye and Hastings can be purchased from The White Rock Theatre Box Office from :

Monday 22 November: Presale for Friends & Patrons of Hastings International Piano

Wednesday 24 November: Public Booking Opens