International Men’s Day, November 19th, celebrates worldwide the positive value men bring to the world, their families and communities. We of course have lots of those kind of chaps in our Choir but this year we are delighted to flag up one in particular: our marvellous LPC accompanist, Jonny (Jonathan) Beatty.
Jonny has enjoyed a wide-ranging career as a collaborative pianist, playing alongside many of the leading musicians of his generation, including flautist Adam Walker, the Sacconi Quartet, soprano Katherine Broderick and mezzo-soprano Anna Stéphany, in venues including the Wigmore Hall, Bridgewater Hall and the Royal Opera House. He has appeared many times on Radio 3’s “In Tune” programme, as well as with the BBC Singers in “The Choir” and on “Composer of the Week”. As a song accompanist he has won several prizes, including at the Kathleen Ferrier, Maggie Teyte and English Singers’ and Speakers’ competitions, and made a world premiere recording to critical acclaim of the songs and solo piano music of Balfour Gardiner with baritone Martin Oxenham. He has a keen interest in contemporary music, and has performed world premieres of many chamber works, as well as performing for many years with Kokoro, the contemporary wing of the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra.
But most importantly of all – we think – he is an absolutely brilliant accompanist for our choir. Dedicated and super talented, we’re lucky to have him and we think he feels the same about us.
“In terms of my music career, I started playing by ear with my mum, so that I could audition as a chorister aged six. I played the first Bach Prelude from the 48, without having a clue what any of the hieroglyphics on the page meant! I spent six years at Westminster Cathedral, so have always loved choral repertoire, and I started playing for singers as a teenager, sometimes ‘depping’ as an accompanist for my dad’s choral society in Saffron Walden. I love the challenges of repetiteuring, trying to pick out the important bits and help singers when they go wrong, but it’s nice not having the pressure of having to be completely faithful to what’s on the page in front of you, and so rewarding of course to be part of the learning process. That’s why it’s so great to work with a choir of the calibre of the LPC.”
If all of that already sounds like a busy career, Jonny actually works full time as Head of Performance at Alleyn’s School, has worked as a vocal coach at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, is an examiner for ABRSM and sings tenor in the Choir of the Royal Hospital, Chelsea. And he’s a dad of thirteen year old Juliet who is following in his footsteps in playing the cello and has recently joined a band – but seems more keen on hockey and running!
Perhaps she is following in her dad’s footsteps in that respect too as Jonny is a very keen runner. “I run every day actually,” he told us, “about 50 miles a week in fact. I’ve done eight marathons, the first two for Maggie’s and Chelsea Pensioners. I got my English Masters vest a few years back for 10km although I had some mixed feelings about that as I’m actually Irish! (my passport is my most treasured possession). These days I’m doing slightly shorter distances, getting gradually older and slower, but I still love it most of the time…”
But never too old or too slow to play the piano for us – and for others – we hope! Thanks for all you do for us, and for others in their music performance and education communities – you’re a great role model for International Men’s Day.
International Men’s Day is an opportunity for people everywhere to appreciate and celebrate the men in their lives and the contribution they make to society for the greater good of all.
If you’d like to be part of a friendly, world class choir (and listen to Jonny’s wonderful accompaniment!) then why not come along to one of our discovery evenings and/or audition for us? You can find out more here – we’d love to meet you!
