Join us for a free lunchtime concert on the 24th of May! Our free lunchtime concert series  hosts musicians studying at the Royal Academy of Music. The concerts showcase a variety of musical traditions and provide a space for up-and-coming musicians to perform in a relaxed lunchtime setting. 

Cellist Niccolò Citrani and Pianist Tom Scott will be performing in the church. 

Niccolò Citrani 

Niccolò’s musical odyssey commenced with a “love at first sound” for the cello, a passion that fueled his ascent into a flourishing career as a musician. From a young age, he graced the stage alongside esteemed artists, absorbing priceless knowledge that greatly contributed to his professional maturation. During his two-year tenure as the principal cellist with the Juniorchestra of the Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia in Rome, Niccolò honed his skills in orchestral performance and expanded his repertoire. 

As an orchestral musician, he performed on multiple occasions at the prestigious Santa Cecilia Hall, collaborative with celebrated figures such as Giovanni Sollima, Antonio Pappano, Salvatore Accardo, and Igudesman & Joo. In London, he performed at the Southbank Centre with the London Sinfonietta, at King’s Place, and in the Royal Academy of Music’s Duke’s Hall, and played under the direction of illustrious conductors like Semyon Bychkov, Mark Elder, Rachel Podger, and John Wilson. 

Niccolò’s artistic versatility is evident in his forays beyond the classical realm, most notably in his collaboration with jazz pianist Stefano Bollani on Rai TV’s “L’importante è avere un piano”. In 2017, he embraced the role of principal cellist at the star-studded charity event Celebrity Fight Night, held at the Colosseum. There, he shared the spotlight with artists such as Sir Elton John, Steven Tyler, Andrea Bocelli, 2Cellos, and Aida Garifullina, all united by the cause of philanthropy. 

His formative years were shaped under the guidance of Riccardo Martinini and Diego Romano in Rome. Further artistic refinement was achieved at the Royal Academy of Music under the tutelage of the esteemed Robert Cohen, where Niccolò was honored with the Derek Simpson Bursary for his interpretation of Shostakovich’s Cello Concerto No.1. His artistic development continued to be shaped by the wisdom of renowned mentors such as David Geringas, Claudio Bohórquez, Mario Brunello, and Adrian Brendel, each leaving an indelible mark on his musical expression. 

Tom Scott

Tom Scott has a BMus first class honours degree from the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama. He now studies a post-graduate degree at the Royal Academy of Music. Music has always featured in Tom’s life; in 2018 he performed Bach’s Brandenburg Concerto in Ely, in 2019 he was the musical director for Ugly Youth performing at the Edinburgh Fringe. He has since been involved with various musical shows, including Oh! What a Lovely War and Sunday in the Park with George with RWCMD. 

Since being at RWCMD and RAM, Tom has immersed himself in the music world, taking on numerous solo, ensemble and choral works. Collaborating with singers and instrumentalists, he has had the opportunity to work closely with renowned musicians such as Susan Manoff, James Baillieu, Natalie Clein, Simon Lepper, Jayson Gillham, Andrew West, Alice Neary, Ben Tarlton, Robert Plane and Jams Coleman. He is now taught by Michael Dussek and John Reid 

Tom has had the privilege to perform at many concert venues, including a charity concert to raise money for Ukraine in the University Church of St Mary the Virgin, Oxford. In 2021 and 2022 he performed at the Penarth Chamber Music Festival alongside other musicians such as Ben Goldsheider, winner of the 2016 BBC Young Musician Brass Category. In November 2022, Tom performed at Duke’s Hall, Royal Academy of Music, London. In 2023 and 2024 Tom performed at the Italian Cultural Institute and Austrian Cultural Forum, respectively. 

At RWCMD in 2020, Tom was awarded the Geoffrey Buckley Memorial Prize and in both 2021 and 2022 he won the Bryan Davies Memorial Prize for accompanists. He was also the winner of the 2023 John Ireland competition and has been nominated for the Musicians’ Company Carnwath Piano Scholarship. In 2023 Tom also won the Trevor Pugsley Prize. 

Programme: 

Dmitrij Borisovič Kabalevskij (1904-1987), Cello Sonata in B-Flat Major, Op.71: 

1. Andante molto sostenuto, II. Allegretto con moto, III. Allegro molto. (29 mins approx.)

Robert Schumann (1810-1856), 

Five Pieces in Folk Style, Op. 102: 

1. Vanitas vanitatum: Mit Humor, II. Langsam, III. Nicht schnell, mit viel Ton zu spielen, IV. Nicht zu rasch, V. Stark und markiert. (16 mins)