By Natalie Wilkie
Prize-winning Ukrainian concert pianist, Olga Paliy, showcased her melodic talents for three grade 8 piano students at Farlington School late April, as part of a masterclass for the music department’s enrichment programme.
Janet Yeung, Olivia Middleton and Bethany Dawson were specially selected to spend an afternoon with Olga, who gave the schoolgirls invaluable musical advice on how to practise and perform in front of an audience comprised of senior pupils and musical scholars.
In the evening, Olga gave an Interview Concert, sponsored by Worthing Symphony Society (WSS), with the theme ‘Poetry and Dance in Music’, as part of a cross-curricular opportunity for senior pupils, parents and friends to attend. Olga played piano pieces from Schumann to Glinka. Susannah Gordon recited poetry to complement Olga’s music and WSS’s development officer, Tim Chick, held an informal question and answer session.
Farlington’s director of music, Anne Stearns said: “Since December, I have been working together with Tim Chick and John Gibbons, principal conductor of Worthing Symphony Orchestra, to see how the WSS could support schools, such as Farlington, helping them to provide and enrich the musical experience for our students. We also wanted to find ways to encourage young people to go to classical concerts. The outcome of these conversations was this Piano Day. It was a great success and a wonderful opportunity for our pianists, music scholars and Farlington’s family and friends. We hope this is the first of many collaborations.”
