One of the best undiscovered secrets of Eastbourne is the Birley Centre, Carlisle Road, opposite Towner. Opened in 2011 this modern art-deco styled exhibition and concert centre is part of Eastbourne College, and each year hosts many art, theatrical and musical events. I say “undiscovered” because, unfortunately, asking the average person in the street about the Birley Centre is usually met with virginal innocence.
With a state of the art auditorium, one of the highlights of the varied programme is the internationally acclaimed Nora Sande Award, a piano competition for young (18 – 25 year old) classical pianists held over two days each July. Entrants are mainly from the music academies of London and south east England with the £2000 first prize attracting an international field. A preliminary round is decided by submission. On day one the long list of twelve is whittled down to three after each competitor plays a twenty minute recital before three professional adjudicators. The second day sees the shortlist of three each perform a forty-five minute recital. All the competitors are technically brilliant and performing music by different composers. Thus judging has to evaluate more than shear virtuosity, but include style, musicality, clarity and interpretation, no easy task.
I’ve attended the competition for several years and noticed there is usually a “wow” moment or piece by a little known composer. Last year the most unusual harmonies and rumbling base chords of American composer Rzeuski with his ‘Winnsboro Cotton Mill Blues’ (several performances on YouTube) left the audience in awe. This year it came from Hong Kong’s Yuk Yu Yang’s playing of Finnish composer Rautavaara’s Sonata No.2 ‘The Fire Sermon’. She ended this rousing piece in a stunning climax, collapsing on the keyboard with both arms as if she had fainted. Yang was a firm audience favourite with a pedigree of success in several prestigious piano competitions world-wide.
Finalists (L – R) Jamie Cochran, Yuk Yu Yang, Firoze Madon
However, the adjudicators thought otherwise and awarded her runner-up status to the youngest competitor, Jamie Cochrane from England, with an assured and entertaining programme that included commanding performances of Bach, Rachmaninoff and Granados. There are several videos of Jamie performing various pieces on YouTube.
Winner: Jamie Cochran
So, dear reader; put a reminder in your diary for next July and come along to witness the virtuosity of outstanding young musicians. The first day eliminating recitals are every half hour and, amazingly, entry is free.
Watch Jamie Cochran in action here
