Amber Emson & Leah Nicholson

AMBER EMSON (violin)

LEAH NICHOLSON (piano)

BEETHOVEN

Sonata Op 12 #1 in D major

FRANCK

Sonata in A major

RAVEL

Tzigane

Beethoven’s early Sonata for Piano and Violin, Op 12 #1 in D major is a work on the cusp of the Classical to Romantic transition, but already shows the composer’s innovative approach. César Franck’s glorious Violin Sonata in A major is a favourite work for many, written as a wedding present for violinist Eugène Ysaÿe. It is cyclical, with shifting moods and gorgeous melodies that are exchanged between the players, and it has a challenging piano part. We finish with Ravel’s rousing Tzigane, a work he described as “a virtuoso piece in the style of a Hungarian rhapsody”.

Amber Emson started violin aged 5, as a pupil of Natasha Boyarsky, continuing at Chetham’s School, and Royal College of Music Junior Department, with Maciej Rakowski. She holds a scholarship at Royal Academy of Music with So-Ock Kim. She won 1st Prize at the International Music Competition Hohenpriesnitz & Germany’s national “Jugend Musiziert” competition, 2nd Prize at International Competition “Szymon Goldberg”. She has performed at major concert halls worldwide: Elbphilharmonie Hamburg, Berliner Philharmonie, Wigmore Hall, Cadogan Hall, Singapore Victoria Hall, ANAM Quartethaus in Melbourne & Rheingau Musikfestival. From 2019 to 2022, she was a member of LGT Young Soloists.

Leah Nicholson began studying with Galina Sandovskaya in St Petersburg, before continuing at Chetham's School and at Royal Academy of Music with Tessa Nicholson. Top prizes include: International Chopin Festival in Mazovia, Polyphonica International Competition in St. Petersburg, Scottish International Youth Piano Competition, Loretto James Waterhouse Piano Competition & Chetham's Bösendorfer Piano Competition. Leah is also the youngest-ever winner of the Keldwyth Young Musicians Award. Leah has performed at Wigmore Hall, Steinway Hall, Sage Gateshead, Bridgewater Hall, Petrikirche in St. Petersburg & Kadriorg Palace in Tallinn.