Minerva Piano Trio
Biography Minerva Piano Trio
The Minerva Piano Trio
have established themselves as one of the UK’s most exciting trios whose playing has been described as “wonderfully rich, thunderous, and lyrical” (Classic FM). Acclaimed for their performances of the richly varied traditional repertoire, the Trio are equally passionate about reviving important but rarely performed works, championing leading young composers by commissioning new works and arrangements, and collaborating with other art forms such as dance. They were chosen as Making Music UK Selected Artists 2018 and St John’s Smith Square Young Artists in residence 2016/17. The Trio was formed in 2013, and made their debut soon after at the Southbank Centre’s Purcell Room in 2014 as Park Lane Group Young Artists. The Trio have broadcast live frequently on BBC Radio 3 and Classic FM and have worked closely with contemporary composers including Roxanna Panufnik, Cheryl Frances-Hoad, Gavin Higgins, and David Knotts. They are grateful for the support of Help Musicians UK, ChamberStudio and the Richard Carne Trust, and have worked with eminent musicians as Gordon Back, members of the former Florestan Trio, and Gabor Takacs-Nagy. The Trio’s debut album with be released on SOMM Recordings in autumn 2022.
Annie Yim
was born in Hong Kong and grew up in Vancouver, Canada. Passionate about collaborations and commissioning new works across art forms, Annie founded MusicArt in 2015 in London, an initiative to create original artist-led performance projects in the UK, Europe and North America. Annie holds a Doctor of Musical Arts degree and has completed her performance-based research on Robert Schumann and Johannes Brahms at the Guildhall School of Music and City, University of London. She is a recipient of Arts Council England’s Developing Your Creative Practice award.
Michał Ćwiżewicz
has given concerts across Europe, in the Middle East and the USA, and on BBC television and radio and Polish national television. He is the concertmaster of the Górecki Chamber Orchestra and performs in the violin duo Ćwiżewicz Brothers, for which he has arranged, composed and commissioned new works. As violin professor at the Royal College of Music in London, he has taught since 2012. He has attended chamber music masterclasses with members of the Ysaÿe and Alban Berg quartets and holds postgraduate degrees in Music (RCM) and Aeronautics (Imperial College).
Richard Birchall
has been a member of the Philharmonia since 2011, and has played as guest Principal Cello with The Royal Opera House, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, English Chamber Orchestra, Northern Sinfonia and others; his chamber and solo work has ranged from Wigmore Hall to the catwalk at London Fashion Week. Richard's original works include a Clarinet Concerto for Michael Collins, Labyrinth for cello and orchestra, Perhaps for soprano & orchestra, Alice in Wonderland & The Wind in the Willows for cello octet with narrator, recorded by Cellophony and Simon Callow.
