A new interview, delving into the background and music of this fascinating composer.I was delighted to talk to Presto Classical's Katherine Cooper about Carl Reinecke!

It was an honour to be included in Andrew McGregor's round-up of new releases!I've been so pleased with the reception of my new Hyperion album since its release on 6 Jan. You can hear the beautiful slow movement from Reinecke's first piano concerto on this broadcast, as well as some lovely comments from Andrew McGregor.

Conway Hall's bi-annual prize for composersConway Hall Sunday Concerts is pleased to invite young composers to submit a work for piano trio to The Clements Prize 2023. Up to 8 submissions will be selected, and will be performed by the Fidelio Trio at the final round in Conway Hall’s Main Hall at 6.30pm on 5 November 2023.

A chance to revisit Coke's Preludes on his 110th birthdayIt was very kind of the BBC Philharmonic and BBC Radio3 to broadcast my recording of Roger Sacheverell Coke's Preludes during the interval of their wonderful concert in Nottingham last night!

The return of Cervo Chamber Music after a long break!I'm so pleased to share the news that the programme for Cervo Chamber Music 2022 has been announced! Please visit my schedule page for more information.

Now available!A new recording, born as a natural 'lockdown project' for me and my dear friend Adrian Farmer, in whose home I lived for quite some time during covid-19! I feel very lucky to have made several new albums during this time and the opportunity to record these two masterpieces was very special indeed!

A new playlist for your delectation!Thanks so much to Nimbus Records for creating this new playlist, featuring some of my tracks from albums on their label as well as on Lyrita and SOMM.

Released on Lyrita this month!The music on this album dates from the composer’s later years, and are largely based on themes from his earlier successes. The inspiration for Holbrooke’s music was almost always literary; hence, the large number of symphonic poems and pieces with literary titles or subtitles in his work list.

With Martyn Brabbins and the BBC National Orchestra of WalesI'm so excited to have spent the last two days at BBC Hoddinott Hall in Cardiff, making an eclectic new recording for Lyrita. The programme includes pieces for piano and small orchestra by Elizabeth Maconchy, Edmund Rubbra, Arthur Benjamin, Geoffrey Bush, Humphrey Searle and John Addison - and I was joined by the 'dream team' - Martyn Brabbins and the BBC National Orchestra of Wales.

A lovely catch-up to start the Bank Holiday weekendI had a lovely time on Saturday morning, chatting with violinist Fenella Humphreys about recording, performing, coronavirus and lots more! It’s such a pleasure to be able to share these insights with my Patreon supporters - you can find out more here >

A special concert in a beautiful hallThank you so much to everyone who tuned in to watch my live-streamed concert from Conway Hall yesterday! It was certainly sad to be in that beautiful hall without the audience, but I really enjoyed playing and it was so nice to receive lots of lovely messages afterwards! Hopefully it won't be long before we are able to welcome an audience again - in fact if all goes well, we'll be able to do just that for the final concert of our season, given by the Oculi Ensemble on 30 May. There are three more live-streamed concerts between now and then though, so please continue to support Conway Hall. It really helps!

The re-launch of an historic competitionNext year at Conway Hall, we are proud to announce the re-launch of The Clements Prize for Composers, which will appeal to young composers to write a new work for string trio and which will coincide with a special exhibition of scores from the Conway Hall Archive.

Talking about our new releaseTalking a little about 'Babar', the book that inspired it and what it was like to record it

Presenting a limited series of concerts via YouTube Live and - subject to government guidance - a physical audienceSimon's introduction to the season:

A new piece by Richard BlackfordIt was lovely to spend the day a few weeks ago with wonderful composer Richard Blackford, recording a beautiful new piece he wrote for Christmas.

Catching up on all the latest news!It was so fun to chat with David Taylor last week, about two recent recordings and lots of other news! David and I first met at the Ingenium Summer Academy some 8 years ago, and we also worked together on his Yorkshire Youth Sinfonia project. He has a really exciting career now as a music marketing entrepreneur, and I really enjoyed being part of his podcast.

Myaskovsky, Lyadov & Rimsky-KorsakovI spent two glorious days with cellist Raphael Wallfisch last week, recording Myaskovsky’s two cello sonatas along with shorter pieces by Lyadov and Rimsky-Korsakov for the German label, CPO. The disc will be released next year along with Raphael’s recording of Myaskovsky’s cello concerto.

A view on Dyson's piano musicIt is always a pleasure to approach a well-known composer from a new angle. I think it is reasonable to observe that the piano music of Sir George Dyson (1883-1964) has been overshadowed by his choral and orchestral works in concert and on recordings. Many of my musical colleagues were surprised to hear of the existence of any works for piano, let alone more than enough to occupy a full disc! The moment for a complete survey of Dyson’s piano works is long overdue and my own discovery of his music has been an exciting journey...

An exciting collaboration to kick off a big project6 November will see the release of this new CD, of which I'm really proud. Miriam was our first choice of narrator for 'Babar', and to say that I'm delighted to have worked with her is truly an understatement. Of course she needs no introduction, and it is unsurprising that her rendition of Babar is exquisite! In 2021 I will record a lot more Poulenc for Nimbus Records and I cannot think of a better way to begin this wonderful project!

Music by Arnold Rosner and Carson CoomanI was very pleased to be invited as the guest of the London Piano Trio last week, to SJE Arts in Oxford to record chamber music by Carson Cooman and Arnold Rosner for Convivium Records. In spite of the inevitable restrictions due to the coranavirus (particularly distancing), we managed to produce something we are all very happy with and it was such a pleasure to make music with other people again.

For release in October 2020 on SOMMSOMM Recordings announces the first complete survey on disc of George Dyson’s music for solo piano including five premiere recordings performed by Simon Callaghan in a specially priced two-CD set.

Trying to keep our doors open!Please help if you can. Message from Dr Jim Walsh, our CEO, below the video.

Our first online event for Conway Hall Sunday ConcertsThank you so much to everyone who attended our first online music event for Conway Hall Sunday Concerts last night! Over 140 people booked tickets, and many people gave so generously to our appeal.

Please follow my Spotify channel!Many of my albums are available to listen to on Spotify! Please follow me there and I would very happy to follow you back.

Sunday 10th May at 6.30pm BSTIn the first Conway Hall Sunday Concerts live, online event, in place of the usual talks and performances postponed because of our venue’s temporary closure, we present an evening with Robert Hugill and Maria Canyigueral, hosted by our Director of Music Simon Callaghan.

A summary of reviews coming in for my CD with Clare HowickWe've been really happy for the reviews that have come in so far for our CD featuring works by Walton, Alywn, Leighton, Berkeley, Rawsthorne and Gordon Jacob!

A flattering accolade for our British Violin Sonatas disc.British Violin Sonatas was new release pick of the day on 26th April, on Chicago's largest classical radio station, WFMT!

Our last concert before coronavirus!We didn't know it at the time, but our concert at Eton on 12 March was to the be the last performance for quite a while!

The climax of a rewarding project!Earlier this week I took my PhD viva examination at the Royal Northern College of Music, and I'm pleased to let you know that - subject to minor revisions - I was successful! I'm really happy that my journey discovering the music of Roger Sacheverell Coke has not only led to much greater exposure for his music, but has also helped me develop in so many ways. The picture shows me with my supervisor and the two examiners (Kenneth Hamilton and David Horne) after a really exciting hour of discussion.

A great chat with Katherine Cooper about Roger Sacheverell CokeTo celebrate the completion of my PhD on Roger Sacheverell Coke and the recent release of the latest recording (cello sonatas), I had a good chat with Katherine Cooper at Presto Classical about my project so far. Please enjoy reading the interview if you have a spare few minutes, and scroll down to the bottom to see all the products currently available

The Start of a Year-Long ProjectOne of my projects in 2020 is a complete performance of the Beethoven piano trios with wonderful colleagues, Ben Gilmore and Ashok Klouda. We’ve spread the trios over three concerts and are lucky to be playing each programme three times in venues around the country. We kicked off our series with a bang last weekend with a lovely house concert, followed swiftly by Conway Hall Sunday Concerts and Luton Music on Mondays.

Favourable reviews coming in for this special recordingI have really enjoyed reading the reviews for this disc, my first with violinist Janet Sung and a return to SOMM Recordings after several years.

A new recording, for release on SOMM in November 2020I spent two wonderful days at the Menuhin Hall earlier in January, recording the complete piano music by George Dyson for SOMM. I was so happy to be joined by my dear friend Clíodna Shanahan to record (for the first time) Dyson's Concerto Leggiero in the version for two pianos. The disc includes a number of world premieres and I'm really looking forward to being able to share this lovely music with you later in 2020.

Some lovely photos from a very memorable concert!I'm very happy to be able to share these photos from last week's concerts at Battersea Arts Centre. What a fanastic venue! Always a pleasure to work with my friends Jessie Ann Richard, Tetsuumi Nagata and Michael Trainor too. Look forward to the continuation of The Little Orchestra's Beethoven exploration in 2020!

Interview about Coke with Robert HugillThe first time that someone has written something major on composer Roger Sacheverell Coke since the 1990s: Robert Hugill chats to pianist Simon Callaghan about his forthcoming disc with Raphael Wallfisch on Lyrita Recorded Edition and his academic research at the Royal Northern College of Music into the neglected composer.

For release on 3 January 2020 on Lyrita!The next step in my exploration of Roger Sacheverell Coke's music.

A worthwhile discoveryI have always loved finding out about rarely-performed repertoire. Thanks to Chi-chi Nwanoku OBE and Ashok Klouda, I had the pleasure of performing Samuel Coleridge-Taylor's Nonet op. 2 (written when he was a student at the Royal College of Music in 1894) last night.

Some memories of this year's festivalIt was so lovely to be invited back to the Highgate International Chamber Music Festival this year! I played some amazing repertoire with wonderful colleagues, including Nicholas Daniel, Robert Cohen, Julian Bliss, Ashok Klouda, Gary Pomeroy, Amy Harman, Chi-chi Nwanoku OBE and more! Thank you so much to directors Ashok & Natalie Klouda and Irina Botan for having me :-)

A new CD, just in time for Christmas!Les Soirées de Nazelles and Carnaval are not only two of my favourite pieces to perform, but as some of the finest examples of sets of miniatures, they also make excellent companions on disc. It is such a pleasure to be able to present them both here, alongside another set of character pieces by Schumann, his much-loved Kinderszenen. Making this recording has been a true labour of love.

Published October 2019 in International Piano MagazineThanks so much to Jeremy Nicholas and all at International Piano Magazine, for including me in this exciting column. It was so hard to choose my favourite recordings, but these are definitely greats. Hope you enjoy reading!

The end of a long and exciting project.After just over three years working at the Royal Northern College of Music on the British composer Roger Sacheverell Coke, I am delighted to announce that I have submitted my PhD!

New concerts listed for 2019 and 2020My website schedule is now up-to-date, with lots of info about concerts for the remainder of 2019 and well into 2020! Please take a look when you have a moment. I'm particularly pleased this year to be returning to the Highgate International Chamber Music Festival playing some absolutely wonderful repertoire, including the very rarely-heard Nonet by Samuel Coleridge-Taylor.

Chetham's Summer School 2019After just over a week at home since the Ingenium Academy, I was on the road again, this time to Manchester for the Chetham's Summer School, where I had previously attended as a student all the way back in 2001 (the first year of the course which will celebrate its twentieth anniversary next year)! The unique thing about this course is that it welcomes everyone: from young to old, beginner to advanced. This variety certainly helps to keep us teachers on our toes! My time at Chetham's began with a short recital of works by Nicodé in their wonderful new hall, Stoller Hall, and ended with the honour of being invited to sit on the jury for the Manchester International Piano Concerto Competition for young pianists. What a triumphant way to end the course! We had the pleasure of hearing six amazing young pianists play a full concerto with the enthusiastic, world-class accompaniment of the Manchester Camerata and Steven Threlfall, topped off with some exquisite Mozart from Eric Lu.

Ingenium Summer Academy 2019This summer has been incredibly rewarding in terms of teaching. I spent four weeks at the Ingenium Academy in Winchester, following pretty quickly by a week at the Chetham's Summer School.

New reviews in for Nicodé disc on Hyperion!I have been absolutely delighted with the reception of my Nicodé disc so far. Earlier this month Patrick Rucker wrote in Gramophone that:

Coke Cello SonatasI have just returned return from Wyastone Concert Hall where I was delighted to make my first recording with world-renowned cellist, Raphael Wallfisch. Our disc will be the final component of my PhD submission on Roger Sacheverell Coke at the Royal Northern College of Music and will also be released in 2020 on the Lyrita label. It comprises the first recording of Coke’s Three Cello Sonatas which date from between 1936 and 1941, offering a glimpse into the musical world of a complex character and - in my humble opinion - representing three exciting new additions to the cello and piano repertoire. I will post more information here when it becomes available, but in the meantime, please enjoy this short video that Raphael and I made together back in 2016!

Hope you enjoy these new videosFilmed last month in the Netherlands, I'm delighted to finally be able to share these short works by Jean-Louis Nicodé, which form part of my new CD on Hyperion which will be released later this month.

A unique chance to delve into Mozart's musicI really enjoyed the all-Mozart concert given by Hiroaki Takenouchi at Conway Hall and my Mozart mood reminded me of this wonderful project!

Musica nel MendrisiottoEarlier this month, Karel Bredenhorst (cellist) and I gave a short tour of concerts in Switzerland and Italy, performing twice in this wonderful salon as part of the Musica nel Mendrisiotto series.

Researching the relationship between Nicodé as his more more well-known German colleagueDuring the course of my research into Prussian composer, Jean-Louis Nicodé for my article that will be published later this year, I have come across some very exciting and interesting correspondence between Nicodé and Richard Strauss!