In the 29th of a series of articles, David Bird discusses the work of Redbridge Music Society and introduces pianist David Silkoff, who will be performing at Wanstead Library this month
Two essential aims of Redbridge Music Society, now in its 74th season, are to bring high-quality, live recitals to Redbridge and to champion musicians who live and work within the borough. This month, at Wanstead Library, local pianist David Silkoff will give a Valentine’s Day recital, featuring popular works by Beethoven, Chopin, Schumann and others.
David Silkoff studied piano with Lina Collins, a pupil of Mathilde Verne, who was a pupil of Clara Schumann. He won a Junior Exhibition to the Guildhall School of Music where he studied with Ieuan Roberts and later became a full-time student at the Royal College of Music, studying under concert pianists Kendall Taylor and Cyril Smith. During this time, he won a Martin Scholarship – awarded to those with exceptional musical talent – for further study. David also studied at the Royal Academy of Music for two years, where he won the Lloyd Hartley prize.
In 1971, David performed Beethoven’s 3rd piano concerto at Snape Maltings with the Redbridge Musici Orchestra in the presence of Benjamin Britten, who described his playing as “electrifying”. And David’s Wigmore Hall debut in 1975 was highly praised in the Review of London Recitals in which particular mention was made of his “glowing technique” and “sensitive playing”.
David has performed at the Purcell Room, Royal Festival Hall and other London concert venues and has also performed as a soloist and accompanist in France, Holland, Luxembourg, Vienna and Budapest. His repertoire ranges from Bach and Beethoven to Schoenberg and Ligeti, and in 2015, he gave the premiere performance of Schoenberg’s Verklärte Nacht, transcribed for solo piano.
David is highly sought after as an accompanist in duos, chamber music and for auditions and piano examinations. Over recent years, he has given performances of many piano concertos, including the complete Beethoven concertos, the Mendelssohn G minor and the Schumann, Grieg, Brahms 1st and Rachmaninov 2nd concertos.
As a performer of popular music, David entertains for corporate events and has played at many top London venues, such as the Ritz and Dorchester hotels, Whitehall and the Guildhall. David also has a busy teaching career in schools and at his studio; many of his students are now following successful careers as musicians themselves.
This month’s recital is the ideal way to celebrate Valentine’s Day! So, please do come along and join us.
David Silkhoff will perform at Wanstead Library on 14 February from 8pm (tickets on the door; visitors: £12; members: £8). Call 07380 606 767. Redbridge Music Society is supported by Vision RCL and affiliated to Making Music.
