Rising Student Pianist Takes Centre Stage on Iconic Steinway
Becoming part of The People’s Orchestra(TPO) offers a variety of new experiences for members, but amateur student pianist Elliot Atkinson was left more staggered than most.
The 21-year-old journalism and media student at Worcester University joined TPO in February as he enjoys playing the piano and drums in his spare time. Yet he never dreamed it would lead to him playing one of the most revered and famous piano brands in the world.
As a member of the community orchestra, Elliot signed up to take part in a special TPO event where musicians experience a recording session in The Ruddock Performing Arts Centre in Birmingham.
Elliot from Kidderminster has played his electric piano at home for the past 15 years, since he was six-years-old, but never had the chance to do a recording before, let alone play a renowned Steinway grand piano.
Steinway & Sons are acclaimed for crafting the finest pianos in the world for over 180 years and each of their grand pianos takes almost a year to create. Artists famous for playing on a Steinway range from classical pianist Lang Lang to musician Rufus Wainwright and jazz artist Diana Krall.
Yet Elliot got to follow in their footsteps with a grand piano waiting for him when he arrived at the concert hall in King Edward VI High School For Girls In Edgbaston. It’s another unforgettable memory for Elliot during his fascinating TPO journey, which has included making new friends and performing live.
“Doing a recording was all new to me, so I was looking forward to that, and then I heard I’d get the chance to play on a Steinway too, which was amazing,” said Elliot, who graduates this summer.
Read more: The year ahead for The People’s Orchestra and Show Choir
“The piano belongs to The Ruddock and they told TPO that they could use it for the recording. I only found out a few days before what piano it would be and I was so excited.
“Steinway is one of the top brands of piano and it was quite the experience to play a proper grand piano for once, especially as I play an electric piano at home.
“My grandad knows all about music, so he was pleased for me when I told him. Playing the Steinway for a pianist like me is gold dust. It’s something I will never forget.”
Amateur musicians who play in TPO rehearse every Sunday in Birmingham city centre during term time, but this session on April 12 provided a unique experience, normally reserved for professionals.
It came about as TPO had performed a concert in The Ruddock Performing Arts Centre in the summer of 2023 and realised then how well the acoustics and studio equipment there could be put to good use for a recording.
Always keen to offer its members extraordinary experiences, West Bromwich-based TPO organised the live recording. It adds to other out of the ordinary events from performing at London’s Royal Academy Of Music to a musical cruise tour in Europe next year.
What it’s like to do a live orchestra recording
“I was nervous at first as hadn’t done a recording before, but TPO conductor Saphran Ali made it feel like a normal rehearsal and put everyone at ease” added Elliot.
“There was a ‘voice of god’ coming from the recording gallery with instructions and a lot of stopping and starting on the details, so we could address the sound. It was interesting how it involves a lot of takes to get the sound exactly right.
“I’ve done tech runs at theatre and it wasn’t too different from those, doing snippets of each piece and stopping a lot.
“It was a long day but nice with plenty of breaks and once I relaxed, I enjoyed it more as I got into it. I think both I and the orchestra performed better as the day progressed as we got used to the environment.
“The auditorium at The Ruddock is lovely and although it’s not necessarily as big as I thought it was, the stage fit the whole orchestra and a grand piano. I understand the industry better now and how a recording works.”
Music recorded on the day, including Elliot tinkling the Steinway ivories, will be shared across TPO’s digital channels.
For Elliot it is a timeless moment for him to treasure: “Music is my hobby and my background is musical theatre, so I really like going to TPO. I enjoy the music they play – pop songs, TV themes and hits from the musicals.
“Now TPO has given me the chance to do something even more memorable – to play on a Steinway. I can’t wait to listen to it back and know that’s me on the piano.”
How to get involved with TPO community orchestra
Anyone interested in joining The People’s Orchestra can find out more here. Everyone can get a free taster session for two weeks before deciding whether to become a member.
TPO is aimed at confident players who want to be part of a bigger community orchestra.
The orchestra rehearses every Sunday in term time at Trefoil House at 2 Ellis Street in Birmingham city centre from 4pm to 7pm. TPO offers musicians the chance to rekindle their love of music and perform at iconic venues as part of its concert schedule.
