In the 55th of a series of articles, David Bird discusses the work of Redbridge Music Society and introduces pianist John Paul Ekins who will perform at Wanstead Library this month
One of the main aims of Redbridge Music Society’s new season is to demonstrate how powerful the medium of music is in improving our state of personal wellbeing. Also, this season, we will commemorate the bicentenary of the death of one of the world’s greatest composers, Ludwig van Beethoven, and this month, award-winning pianist John Paul Ekins makes a welcome return to Wanstead, honouring Beethoven’s legacy by playing his Pastoral and Tempest piano sonatas; the evening’s programme will also include well-known music by Chopin and Schumann.
John Paul is in great demand as a piano recitalist, concerto soloist and chamber musician. After graduating from the Royal College of Music, he went on to obtain a Master’s of Performance degree from the Guildhall School of Music and Drama. He has performed at many prestigious venues in the UK and abroad, including London’s Wigmore Hall, Queen Elizabeth Hall and Royal Albert Hall and the Zurich Tonhalle. He is also a headline pianist with a number of cruise lines.
He has won 19 prizes at international competitions, and a highlight of his career was being presented to Her late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II at a reception at Buckingham Palace.
Besides teaching piano, John Paul is a chamber music coach and accompanist, specialising in working with string players at London’s top conservatoires such as RCM, RAM and the Guildhall School of Music & Drama.
John Paul is also a qualified integrative therapist and counsellor, and along with his experience as a performer, listener and teacher, he has become increasingly fascinated by the depth and variety of the human condition, allying this fascination to his pianism to establish a highly personalised approach to communicating the power of music to audiences. His approach focuses on the possible stories suggested by each piece of music he plays, thereby allowing both performer and listener to explore the deeper psychological and symbolic threads that are woven into the fabric of the great musical compositions. By sharing these stories with his audiences, John Paul brings classical music to life in new ways and provides audiences with the opportunity to deepen their musical experience by imagining and feeling in ways that include both the uniquely individual and the universal.
This recital is the opening event of Redbridge Music Society’s 2026–2027 season and promises to be an interesting and educative musical evening.
The recital will take place at Wanstead Library on 13 October from 8pm (tickets on the door: £12; members: £9). Call 07380 606 767. Redbridge Music Society is affiliated to Making Music.
