Free Afternoon Piano Recital: Dominic Downs

About

Our series of free Afternoon Recitals continues, we welcome Dominic Downs, Pianist, Composer and Conductor.

While entry to our concerts is complimentary, we encourage contributions during the collection at the end of each performance to support both the talented artists and the Cathedral. Your generosity will help us continue to bring such enriching events to the community. We look forward to seeing you there!

Currently studying piano at the Royal Northern College of Music under Dr Murray McLachlan, Dominic is a prize-winning pianist and composer and experienced performer, who featured on BBC1 in October 2023, where he was described as, 'an exceptional talent with a bright future ahead of him'.

In the Beginning As the youngest of seven children Dominic had to wait until almost 8 years old before his first piano lessons. His first public performance took place eight weeks later, when he performed his own nine variations on the nursery rhyme 'Twinkle Twinkle Little Star'. He moved to Manchester in 2015, having gained a place at Chetham's School of Music.

Developing as a musician At Chetham's Dominic studied piano with Marie-Louise Taylor and Jonathan Middleton, jazz piano with Les Chisnell, and composition with Dr Jeremy Pike. In September 2023 Dominic was awarded a scholarship to Royal College of Music in London for composition, but took up a place piano at Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester. Dominic has also studied with Kathron Sturrock (RCM), and has had lessons with Graham Scott, Joanna McGregor, Dina Parakhina and Alexandra Dariescou. As a pianist with ADHD Dominic works with the ADHD foundation to raise awareness of the condition through his performances. Dominic is preparing his first album with esteemed classical producer, Andrew Keener, anticipating a release date in Autumn 2025.

Awards and Prizes

EPTA 2024, Winner 18+ category Manchester
RNCM 'Under-represented composers' Performance Prize (1st) (2023)
Commissioned fanfare for the Duke of Edinburgh Awards, performed for the Royal Family in June 2022
The Steele prize for composition (2022)
Winner Chetham's Carol Composition Competition 2016, 2018 and 2021
Master Classes Dominic has been asked to take part in a master class with Paul Lewis (August 9th 2024) Dominic is delivering a master class at the Yamaha Music School in Blyth, Northumberland (4th January 2025)

Public Performance Dominic is a regular classical recitalist and is fully booked for 2024. Highlights of his career so far include being on the faculty at Chetham's International Piano Summer School (2024), being appointed MD at Lancaster Millennium Choir and launching the Lancaster Gaia Festival in summer 2022 where his programme included Beethoven's Tempest Sonata and Chopin's 2nd Ballade. He was the resident jazz pianist at the iconic art deco Midland Hotel in Morecambe from the age of 14 to 16, and has been resident pianist at the Bellsfield Hotel, Windermere.