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IMG_0705The Albany Piano Trio

In the 26th of a series of articles, David Bird discusses the work of Redbridge Music Society and introduces the Albany Piano Trio, who will be performing in Wanstead this month

Two of the main aims of Redbridge Music Society, now in its 73rd season, are to promote young, talented musicians and to bring high-quality live chamber recitals to the borough. This month, at Wanstead Library, the Albany Piano Trio – Judith Choi Castro (violin), Verity Evanson (cello) and Philippa Harrison (piano) – will perform Beethoven’s Piano Trio in E flat major Op.1 No.1, Dvorak’s Dumky Piano Trio in E minor and Judith Weir’s O Viridissima.

Founded in 2010, the Albany Piano Trio is a diverse and innovative ensemble with a particular interest in programming works by female composers – both current and historic – alongside the traditional canon of piano trio music. The trio regularly collaborates with women composers, commissioning and premiering new works. To date, they have premiered works by Judith Bingham (live on BBC Radio 3), Emma-Ruth Richard, Charlotte Bray, Josephine Stephenson and Judith Weir.

They have performed at major venues around the UK, including St Martin-in-the-Fields (where they were finalists in the International Chamber Music Competition) and the Stoller Hall, Manchester. Their appearances on BBC Radio 3 include a live lunchtime concert on International Women’s Day (2016), BBC Proms 2016 Proms Extra and, more recently, on In Tune (March 2020).

The Trio were selected as Park Lane Group Young Artists and are also members of the Concordia Foundation. Their many awards include the Richard Carne Junior Fellowship at the Royal College of Music (where they curated the hugely successful inaugural Women in Music Festival) and the Gwyneth George Award from the Piano Trio Society. They have received scholarships to attend the International Musicians Seminar at Prussia Cove, Pro Corda and the Dartington International Summer School, as well as for studying new works during a winter residency at the Banff Centre in Canada.

Versatile and wide-ranging in their work, the Albany Trio are passionate about educational and community music work. As alumni of Live Music Now, they are experienced workshop leaders and head up interactive workshops in senior residential homes, dementia care homes and in special educational needs schools, where they aim to bring live classical music close up to pupils in an informal and fun setting.

​This recital promises to be a very special evening of music-making. We do hope you can join us.


The Albany Piano Trio will perform at Wanstead Library on 7 June from 8pm (tickets on the door; visitors: £10: members: £7). Call 07380 606 767. Redbridge Music Society is supported by Vision RCL and affiliated to Making Music.

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