Schubert Institute UK:
Afternoon Recital with Wenchun Fan and Simon Callaghan
16th July 2022 · 2:30pm - 3:30pm
In person
Wenchun Fan (violin)
Simon Callaghan (piano)
Schubert Violin Sonata No. 1 in D, D 384
Schubert Piano Sonata in A, D 664
Schubert Violin Sonata No. 3 in G minor, D 408
Wenchun Fan was born in China, where she began to play the violin at the age of five. In 2013, she entered the Central Conservatory of Music in Beijing for her undergraduate study, where she studied with Jia Zhang, Liwei Tan and Wei Xue. During her undergraduate period, she was a member of the China Youth Symphony Orchestra, which paved her way to various famous Chinese music halls encompassing the National Center for the Performing Arts, the Beijing Concert Hall, the Tianjin Concert Hall, etc. Wenchun has participated in many prestigious concerts and festivals, such as the Beijing Youth Art Festival, and the International Youth Art Festival. In 2016 she was invited to the China 33rd Harbin Summer Music Festival and worked with world-famous conductor Zubin Mehta, the Israel Philarmonic Orchestra and the Harbin Symphony Orchestra. In 2017, she was awarded a full entrance scholarship and the George Henry Peters Scholarship for her postgraduate study at the Royal Northern College of Music, where she studied with the respected and distinguished violinist Leland Chen. Wenchun Fan was selected for the Youth Artists project and was generously sponsored by the China Scholarship Council and supported by the Thoms Jellis Bequest at the RNCM. As a chamber musician, she has given recitals in Beijing, Qingdao, Nanning, Guangzhou, Manchester, and she is now the 1st violin of the Ink Quartet. In 2020, she started her PhD journey at the University of Leeds under the supervision of Dr Clive McClelland and Dr Steve Muir.
Steinway Artist Simon Callaghan performs internationally as a soloist and chamber musician, in parallel with his highly successful career as a recording artist. In response to his regular performances in the UK’s major concert halls, his international tours to Asia, North America and Europe, and his extensive, acclaimed discography, Callaghan has developed a wide following. A favourite artist at the internationally-renowned Husum Festival of Piano Rarities in Germany, Callaghan’s recent sell-out recital drew praise from audience and critics, with the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung describing his “cleverly curated recital full of discoveries” (VAN Magazine) as “technically brilliant”. His reputation and experience in chamber music led to his accepting the role of Director of Music at London’s celebrated Conway Hall, curating the longest-running series of its kind in Europe.
Further Info
Entry to the concert will be free of charge, with a retiring collection (recommended donation: £10).
If you have any accessibility enquiries, please contact us at info@conwayhall.org.uk / 020 7405 1818.