Sunday 15 May 2022

An-Ting Chang Pianist and Composer New Album "Songs From My Room" Release 13 July 2022

Pianist, Composer & Theatre Director
An-Ting Chang

Pianist-Composer An-Ting Chang releases her first original piano album, "Songs From My Room" which documents, through her compositions, the complex feelings of the pandemic times from her room in London Old Street.

An-Ting is a concert pianist, composer, theatre director and currently the Artistic Director of Chinese Arts Now (CAN) which supports a wide variety of Chinese diasporic artists.

An-Ting's digital production, CAN X Two Temple Place Digital Exhibition and Immersive Performance, won Arts Council England's Digital Culture Award (Storytelling) in January 2022. An-Ting is the director and composer for the production.

During Lockdown, An-Ting put her feelings into her music in her room in London Old Street. The pieces she created on the piano were like a diary where she kept track of the pandemic time. Starting from 'London Night' in March 2020, where it was the first time An-Ting felt about a quiet and calm London. The feeling of bing in the 'Plague Time' became strong in April.

In May 2020, An-Ting starts to entertain herself by playing the piano with many ping pong balls inside and thus creating a fun rag-time piece 'Ping Pong Dance'. (youtube.com/watch?v=cecpC16RPq0)

'Last June' came out of An-Ting's fingers when the situation did not get any better after three-month lockdown, rising the feelings from BlackLivesMatter. The future of the world is like an enigma, not knowing where to go. In July, first released from the lockdown, An-Ting dances on 'Hoxton Street', followed by 'Past Time' when she broke up with her ex-boyfriend in August 2020.

An-Ting composed "Purple Dream" in September 2020, when the new lockdown was about to begin. The on/off isolation of the lockdowns was removing the certainties of our old lives and leaving us physically restricted. Yet the retreat from normality allowed space for new dreams and magic to flourish. A space in the quiet, away from the world and along with it, a new feeling of freedom.

About An-Ting Chang

An-Ting has performed regularly as a concert pianist at venues such as Southbank Centre, LSO St Luke's, King's Place, Newbury Spring Festival, Deal Festival, Cheltenham Town Hall, and the Akademie der Kuhste (Academy of Arts), Berlin .

She also has a broad background which includes a unique mix of science and art with a degree in Chemistry form National Taiwan University and MMus and PhD in performance from the Royal Academy of Music and is about to curate the next Chinese Arts Now (CAN) Festival in February 2023.

She released her classical piano albums"Water Image" in 2015 and "Carnival of the Animals" in 2021, which feature her transcription of Camille Saint-Saëns' "Carnival of the Animals" She is currently working on her digital production HomeX, originally commissioned by British Council Hong Kong and will be premiered in February 2023.

An-Ting, Songs From My Room, piano solo performed and composed by An-Ting 安婷

Track 1    London Night
Track 2    Plague Time
Track 3    Ping Pong Dance
Track 4    Last June
Track 5    Hoxton Street
Track 6    Past Tense
Track 7    Purple Dream
Track 8    The Jolly Frog
Track 9    Option 7
Track 10  Midnight Whisper

For any enquiries:
Antingchang1@gmail.com
+44 (0)7882 696146

Saturday 14 May 2022

Joe Levy Countertenor & Konstantinos Terzakis Piano: Exeter & Devon Tour Friday 27 May - Saturday 30 July 2022

Countertenor: Joe Levy
"CAST A SHEEP'S EYE"
16th & 17th Century Love Songs
Piano: Konstantinos Terzakis
'The Hall' Stepcote Hill - Friday 27 May
Cygnet Theatre Friars Gate - Wednesday 1 June
St Nicholas Priory The Mint - Thur/Fri 9/10 June
St Lawrence Chapel Ashburton - Sunday 24 July
St Mary Magdalene Taunton - Saturday 30 July



Cast A Sheep’s Eye’, meaning to give an amorous glance, brings to life love songs from 16th and 17th Century England. Join countertenor Joe Levy accompanied on the piano by conductor Konstantinos Terzakis, for an evening of music from across the Renaissance and Baroque periods. This includes works by Purcell, Dowland and Morley, as well as many that rarely get performed but are treasures nonetheless.

You will hear not only about the songs themselves and their composers, but also the world in which they were created. Music is a reflection of people’s hopes and fears and so through this concert you will learn more about life in 16th and 17th Century England. These are events not to be missed in some of the South West’s most beautiful and interesting buildings, from the ancient St NicholasPriory in Exeter, to the glorious St Lawrence Chapel in Ashburton.

You can find out more about the tour on my website here - joelevymusic.com/live/

About Joe Levy

Joe is a countertenor and baritone with a passion for both classical and contemporary music. He originally trained as a classical violinist, before focusing more on singing. He has a particular interest in Baroque music, as well as Soul and Folk at a more contemporary level. He has performed both in choirs and as a soloist.

Originally trained as a violinist, Joe began singing in choirs before becoming a classical countertenor. In particular, he has a passion for Baroque and early music, performing Purcell and Handel alongside Mediaeval hymns in Middle English, and 17th Century folk songs. This said, he has always preferred a diverse repertoire, singing both as a countertenor and a baritone across various musical genres. This extends beyond classical singing and encompasses styles as varied as soul, jazz and folk. Joe considers the likes of Aretha Franklin, Amy Winehouse and Dusty Springfield among his greatest influences in his contemporary singing, though his full range of influences is much greater than this.

After growing up in London Joe moved to Exeter in 2012 to study Archaeology and Anthropology and has lived here ever since. The historic setting of the city and the dramatic land and seascapes surrounding it have heavily influenced him creatively. He often interweaves history and storytelling into his performances, giving audiences an insight into the world in which each song was created. Outside of performing Joe teaches singing at the Cygnet Theatre, a venue he works with closely and hs sung in several concerts there.

About Konstantinos Terzakis

Recently appointed Assistant Conductor of the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra (2022/23) and selected conductor at the Klangspuren Festival 2021 (Austria) under the Internationale Ensemble Modern Akademie, Konstantinos Terzakis has been based in the United Kingdom since 2019 where he has bolstered his education in conducting and collaborated professionally with a diverse range of ensembles and orchestras.

He completed his Master’s of Music in orchestral conducting with Martyn Brabbins, Garry Walker and Alasdair Mitchell, having been awarded a full scholarship by the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland. He was awarded the Hugh S. Roberton Prize for Orchestral Conducting and the second prize of th 4th International Composer Award of Vienna. Alongside his studies, he has expanded his training in Ballet conducting with Richard Honner.

He has been awarded the first prize of the 9th National Conducting Competition of Michalis Economou and has been a finalist in the Lanyi Conducting Competition and the 1st Conducting Competition of the Athens State Orchestra.

Examples of other significant collaborations include the Ergon Ensemble, Red Note ensemble, Michalis Paraskakis' TETTTIX ensemble in Athens, the Greek Radio Symphony OrchestraGreek Radio Contemporary Orchestra and Athens Symphony Orchestra.