Pan continues Wolfson piano excellence amidst feast of music

Wolfson pianist Patrick Pan
18/11/2022

This weekend (Sat 19 Nov, 19:30), third year Wolfson Philosophy undergraduate Patrick Pan will play with the Cambridge University Orchestra, performing Prokofiev’s blazing third piano concerto.

Wolfson pianist Patrick Pan

Patrick – who gave up a career in software engineering to study at Wolfson – was a finalist and a prizewinner in the CUMS Concerto Competition this year, and his performance of Prokofiev’s concerto at Cambridge's West Road Concert Hall will be highly anticipated.

“Prokofiev’s 3rd is a monumental masterpiece of the piano concerto repertoire,” says Patrick, “and I’m thrilled to be performing its entirety for the first time with CUO. I’m deeply grateful to Wolfson for nurturing both my academic and musical endeavours, especially with the Brian Moore accompanist scholarship, which has funded lessons in preparation for the concert.”

Patrick – who has has an MM in classical piano performance from New England Conservatory, as part of the Harvard-NEC dual degree programme – will play with an orchestra under the direction of Josh Weilerstein, new Chief Conductor of Denmark’s Aalborg Symphony Orchestra. 

Wolfson has a rich tradition of pianists. Prior to Patrick, the College had two first prize winners in the CUMS Concerto Competition – Andrew Goldman in 2012 and Churen Li in 2019, both pianists, while Akihito Okuda was a finalist and prize-winner in 2020.

You can find out more and get tickets on the West Road Concert Hall website.

More music at Wolfson

Patrick’s performance this weekend is the continuation of a feast of musical events from Wolfson. Here’s a selection of some of the highlights to look out for over the coming weeks.

Saturday Lunchtime Concert Series: Wolfson Student Musician Showcase (Sat 19 Nov, 1.30 - 2.30pm, Lee Hall)

Come along to support our student singers and instrumentalists performing a mix of classical and music theatre pieces. With piano solos by Debussy and Liszt/Schumann and arias from Mozart operas, as well as songs from shows including Frozen, Aladdin, She Loves Me, Dogfight & Little Women. Introducing Wolfson PhD music student and marimba player Eden Mikula playing Piazzolla and Glass.  

Advent Carol Service (Sun 27 Nov, 7pm, St Mark’s Church, Newnham)

Join us for an Advent Carol Service led by the College's Honorary Chaplaincy Team with music from the College Choir conducted by the Director of Music, as well as congregational carols.

Thinking against Babylon, one beat at a time: Black music as radical, de-colonial epistemology (Tue 29 Nov, 5.30 - 7pm, Gatsby Room)

Join Dr Lambros Fatsis, a Senior Lecturer in Criminology at the University of Brighton, to discuss what’s radical and de-colonial about Black music as an instrument for radical thought.

Festive Music & Madeira (Tue 29 Nov, Formal Hall followed by 9pm recital, Lee Hall)
Join us after dinner for a festive performance by the Cambridge University Brass Band.

Michaelmas Term Concert  (Sun 4 Dec, 7.30pm, Lee Hall)
On the Breath of Song – beautiful choral works by living composers, including Rosephanye Powell, Ola Gjeilo, Eric Whitacre, Reena Esmail, and Christmas treats.  

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