Temple Church Temple, London EC4Y 7BB
Wednesday, 30 April 2025, 1.15-1.45pm
PROGRAMME:
Bach Prelude in E-flat major BWV 552
Čiurlionis Fugue in C minor ‘Kyrie eleison’ Vl 19
Surzyński Capriccio in F sharp minor Op. 36
Mendelssohn (arr. Schmeding) Prelude and Fugue in E minor
Piotr Maziarz studied the organ at the Krzysztof Penderecki Academy of Music in Krakow under Prof. Mirosław Semeniuk-Podraza. During his studies, he participated in numerous organ competitions taking First Prizes in international organ competitions in Russia (“Vox Polonica Petropolitana” 2019) and in Italy (“Don Vincenzo Vitti” 2021).
In 2021, he began his organ studies in Italy under Prof. Juan Paradell-Sole and Prof. Antonella Tigretti in Frosinone. During his time there he began researching the work of Marco Enrico Bossi, following in his footsteps by playing the instruments the composer performed on and analysing manuscripts. At the end of his Master’s studies in Kraków, he wrote a thesis entitled “Marco Enrico Bossi – in search of romantic patterns”, touching in depth on the problems of registering and interpreting his works.
In 2022, he secured an Erasmus+ internship at the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire to study the works of Byrd, Purcell, Elgar and Howells.
In 2023, he received a scholarship from the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire and The Nicolas Danby Trust and began his MMus studies at the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire under Daniel Moult and Nicholas Wearne.
Piotr has been invited to the most important organ festivals in Poland. He has given concerts in Slovakia, Hungary, Italy, Russia and the United Kingdom.
As a Harpsichordist, Thomas is active as a soloist and continuo player, frequently performing with several groups. He is a founding member of the award-winning Ensemble Hesperi, a group known for their inventive programming and for their pioneering approach to 18th century Scottish Baroque repertoire.
Having initially studied music at Oxford University, and then at the Royal College of Music, Thomas was later awarded a scholarship to complete his studies as a harpsichordist on the Artist Diploma programme at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, studying with James Johnstone and Carole Cerasi. His teachers have included Stephen Farr, William Whitehead, Margaret Phillips and Terence Charlston. In 2016, he was supported by the Eric Thompson Trust to study with Erwin Wiersinga at the Martinikirk in Groningen, and in 2019 he was a Britten Pears young artist, performing a programme of Bach cantatas as a continuo player with Phillipe Herreweghe. Thomas has held posts at Worcester and Magdalen Colleges in Oxford, and at St Marylebone Parish Church.
Thomas is organist of the church of St Mary-le-Bow, Cheapside, where he plays for ceremonies for several of the City of London’s ancient Livery companies. His repertoire interests on this instrument are eclectic, and he has recently made a film, available on You Tube, featuring unjustly forgotten 18th-century composers of City churches.
https://christopheraxworthymusiccommentary.com/2024/12/25/point-and-counterpoint-2024-a-personal-view-by-christopher-axworthy/
ChristopherAxworthy-MusicCommentary 