Press room

PIANO DAY 2025
WEDNESDAY 2 APRIL 2025, 5-7PM
FREESTAGE, LEVEL G
FREE AND UN-TICKETED

Next month, Nils Frahm’s Piano Day returns to the Barbican with a day of free performances to mark the 10-year anniversary of the global celebration of the piano. Founded by Nils Frahm, Piano Day traditionally takes place on the 88th day of the year – the same number of keys on a piano - with this year’s event hosting a varied line-up of acclaimed artists who have prepared special compositions to celebrate the milestone. For this special 10-year celebration, Level G at the Barbican will be given over to the piano, welcoming piano enthusiasts and contemporary music fans alike for an afternoon of music.

This year’s performers will include pioneering musician and producer Matthew Herbert, who has collaborated with the likes of Björk and John Cale and composed scores for cult films. Herbert returns to the Barbican after his headline performance of The Horse in the Hall in 2023. Other performers will include BAFTA-nominated composer Vince Pope, alt-soul trailblazer Tawiah, Maribou State co-writer Neil Cowley and many others. The performers will also be joined by a string quartet led by violinist Ellie Consta, founder of Her Ensemble. 

Demonstrating the piano’s versatility and ability to transcend genres, the performances will capture a spectrum of emotions and narratives, blending diverse musical styles and influences from classical and neo-classical to ambient, jazz and bold, avant-garde explorations. 

Founded in 2015, Piano Day is an annual worldwide event conceived by composer, producer and celebrated performer Nils Frahm, who is joined each year by a group of likeminded musicians. The event aims to raise the profile of the piano globally, inspiring more piano players of all ages and abilities, as well as promoting piano playing in public spaces.

Performances will include music from:
 

• Matthew Herbert – From his cinematic scoring and avant-garde composition to iconic, leftfield dance floor tracks and remixes, Herbert’s accomplishments in music and sound include films such as Human Traffic (1999) and A Fantastic Woman (2017), as well as collaborations with Björk, Mica Levi, Róisín Murphy and more.
• Vince Pope – Vince is an RTS winning and BAFTA-nominated composer (True Detective, Black Mirror, Mr Bates vs The Post Office) who blends neo-classical piano and sonics with synths, vocals, choir and chamber ensembles into ethereal combinations.
• Nick Foster – Known for his influential contributions to television, film and video, Nick Foster is a multiple BAFTA-winning composer who holds an aptitude for compelling storytelling and immersive sound-scaping, with scores including Misha & The Wolves, and Renegade Nell.  
• Sam Thompson – Sam is an Emmy-nominated film composer (Juice, JFK: One Day in American, Mr Malcolm’s List) specialising in vocal composition, contemporary orchestral and electronic scores.
• Neil Cowley – an accomplished pianist and composer who has collaborated with the likes of Maribou State and Jacana People, Neil is known for his ambient jazz, electronic, and classical-influenced music.
• Kate Simko – American composer, electronic music producer, and leader of her ensemble London Electronic Orchestra, Kate Simko blends distinctive influences from her hometown, Chicago, and training in classical piano, orchestration, and jazz.
• Natalia Tsupryk – defined by a distinctive use of strings and vocals, Natalia Tsupryk‘s music draws from her classical background to combine elements of folk, electronic, and classical.
• Madison Willing – Madison Willing is a London-based film & TV composer, music producer, pianist and DJ who combines her traditional music training with eclectic and cutting-edge electronic soundscapes.
• Tessa Rose Jackson – Tessa Rose Jackson is a Dutch / British composer, singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and producer whose sound ranges from dreamy folk to eerie synthesizer soundscapes, experimentations in processed vocals and noise to quirky, hypnotic instrumentals.
• AVAWAVES – Anna Phoebe and Aisling Brouwer of AVAWAVES are a contemporary virtuoso duo who create ambient soundscapes based on an intricate interplay between violin, piano and electronics. The duo scores for film & TV, with their recent credit for Apple, Buccaneers, currently gearing up for series 2.
• Tawiah – Tawiah, whose music sits between alternative and neo-soul genres is a singer, songwriter, producer and composer (Black Ops, The Lovers, Without Sin) who has worked in collaboration with artists including Blood Orange, Chaka Khan, Ghost Poet and Cinematic Orchestra.

Produced by the Barbican with Manners McDade & Faber Music
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