Luke Welch – Sunday, June 11th at 2pm
Toronto-based pianist Luke Welch returns to our concert series, presenting an exciting collection of works by Chopin and Samuel Coleridge-Taylor. Since his first public performance at age 7, Luke has performed extensively on the international stage, and in addition is highly sought after as both interdisciplinary collaborative pianist and pedagogue. We are pleased to welcome him back to our stage.
Programme
Scenes From An Imaginary Ballet, Op. 74 — Samuel Coleridge-Taylor (1875 — 1912)
1. Molto vivace
2. Tempo di Minuetto
3. Andantino
4. Andantino
5. Vivacissimo
Three Humoresques, Op. 31 — Samuel Coleridge-Taylor (1875 — 1912)
1. Presto
2. Molto vivace
3. Allegro assai
Three-Fours Valse Suite, Op. 71 — Samuel Coleridge-Taylor (1875 — 1912)
1. Allegro molto
2. Andante
6. Allegro assai
Mazurkas Op. 24 — Frédéric Chopin (1810—1849)
1. Lento
2. Allegro non troppo
3. Moderato, con anima
4. Moderato
Nocturnes, Op. 27 — Frédéric Chopin (1810—1849)
1. Larghetto
2. Lento sostenuto
Bolero, Op. 19 — Frédéric Chopin (1810—1849)
Biography
Award-winning Canadian pianist Luke Welch was born in Toronto, Ontario, Canada and grew up nearby in Mississauga. He played his first public performance at age seven, and his early private piano teachers include Kyzysztof Jedrysik, Catherine Kuzeljevich, and John-Paul Bracey. He later graduated from Western University in Canada with Bachelor and Master of Music degrees and completed additional graduate studies in Rotterdam, the Netherlands.
Welch has also participated in the classes of Jean-Bernard Pommier, Cecile Ousset, Dang Thai Son, Stephane Lemelin, André Laplante. He has performed extensively on the international stage including appearances in Canada, United States of America, the Netherlands, Germany, Belgium, France, Italy, England, Ireland, Scotland, Wales, and New Zealand.
Highlight performances include recitals at St. Giles’ Cathedral in Edinburgh, St. Martin-in-the-Fields in London, and Castletown House in Ireland. He has also appeared at Music Mondays in Toronto, Beethoven Haus in Bonn, Germany, St. Andrew’s-on-the-Terrace in Wellington (New Zealand), the American Cathedral in Paris, and Waalse Kerk in Breda (Netherlands).
Welch made his debut as soloist with Durham Chamber Orchestra in Toronto and has since collaborated with a number of orchestras including the Windsor Symphony Orchestra, Mumbles Symphony Orchestra, Winchmore String Orchestra, Greenway Strings, York Chamber Ensemble, and Oakville Symphony Youth Orchestra.
In addition to his performance commitments, he has also been highly sought after as an interdisciplinary collaborative pianist. He has worked closely with a number of renowned international academies and companies including Nederlands Dans Theater (NDT), Scapino Ballet Rotterdam, Dans Ateliers, Holland Dance Festival, Codarts Rotterdam Conservatory, Royal Conservatory of the Hague, Dutch National Ballet, and National Ballet of Canada.
Welch’s recordings have received critical acclaim, and his performances have been broadcast on WQXR-FM in New York, KING-FM in Seattle, CBC Radio in Montreal, and Radio Classique. In addition to his published writing in the Globe and Mail (including ‘Life as Black Classical Pianist’, and ‘Black sopranos Othalie Graham, Audrey Dubois Harris and Measha Brueggergosman on inclusion and Black Lives Matter‘), La Scena Musicale Magazine, and WholeNote Magazine, he was named the 2018 recipient of the Harry Jerome Arts Award – distinguished with national recognition by the Black Business and Professional Association.
Welch has taught in both Canada and Europe, and was appointed to the Faculty of Piano at the Royal Conservatory of Music Oscar Peterson Program in 2022.
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