“Pianist Annie Yim made the most beautiful sounds, radiantly coloured, thoughtfully articulated” – The Times

Inspired by author and psychiatrist Dr Sue Stuart-Smith's 'The Well-Gardened Mind', Annie Yim presents a programme that explores the cycle of life in both humankind and nature, in parallel to the microcosm of the garden. The concert will feature nature sounds as part of her field recording project supported by Arts Council England in 2021, as well as pre-recorded readings by Sue Stuart-Smith from her book.

Part I - Green Nature: Human Nature*

J. S. Bach – French Suite in G major (featuring nature sound recordings)

I. Allemande

II. Courante

III. Sarabande

IV. Gavotte

V. Bourrée

VI. Loure

VII. Gigue

Part II - The Last Season of Life*

J. S. Bach (arr. Brahms) – Chaconne in D minor for piano left hand

J. S. Bach (arr. Yim) – Actus Tragicus

Part III - Garden Time*

Debussy – Les sons et les parfums tournent dans l'air du soir

Debussy – Estampes

*Titles are drawn from Dr Sue Stuart-Smith's book 'The Well-Gardened Mind'.

Doors open at 7:15pm for general seating.

Ticket holders will enjoy a post-concert reception in the adjoining GrowingSpace organic garden (with covered areas).

Please see bottom of the page for covid safety guidelines.

Annie Yim, piano

Annie Yim is a Hong Kong-born Canadian concert pianist, creative collaborator, and founder of MusicArt based in London. Her performance has been described by The Times as "the most beautiful sounds, radiantly coloured, thoughtfully articulated”. Known for her wide-ranging solo and chamber music repertoire that encompasses canonic works and new music, Annie has broadcast live on BBC Radio 3, Classic FM, and national radios in Canada and Portugal, and made her UK concerto debut at LSO St Luke’s, London.

Passionate about collaborations and commissioning new works across art forms, Annie founded MusicArt in 2015 in London, an initiative to create original artist-led performance projects. From London to Berlin and Salzburg, her performances with artists and art spaces were featured in New York T Magazine, Artnet, and Gramophone.

Annie has worked closely with contemporary artists including painter Sir Christopher Le Brun PRA, composers Cheryl Frances-Hoad and Raymond Yiu, and poets Zaffar Kunial and Kayo Chingonyi; and with leading art galleries and national organisations including The Poetry Society (UK) and the Mathematical Sciences Research Institute (US). Her most recent collaboration has brought together the piano etudes of Philip Glass and the drawings of artist Richard Serra. Her book chapter 'MusicArt: Creating Dialogue Across the Arts' was published by Palgrave Macmillan in the edited volume ‘Researching and Writing on Contemporary Art and Artists’ in 2020.

Annie is founding member of the Minerva Piano Trio, who made their London debut at the Southbank Centre in 2014 as Park Lane Group artists. She was St John’s Smith Square Young Artist in Residence in 2016/17 and has received an award from Help Musicians UK. Her first album will be recorded alongside her trio on SOMM Recordings in 2022, which includes her arrangement of a work by Pulitzer Prize-winning American composer Caroline Shaw. Raised in Vancouver, Annie studied piano at the University of British Columbia with Robert Silverman. She holds a Doctor of Musical Arts degree and completed her performance-based research on Robert Schumann and Johannes Brahms at the Guildhall School of Music, studying piano with Joan Havill and musicology with Christopher Wiley at City, University of London. She enjoys teaching and mentoring fellow young musicians, and has given lectures, educational workshops and masterclasses at universities. She has taught undergraduate and postgraduate piano students at the Guildhall School of Music.

She is grateful to be a recipient of Arts Council England's Developing Your Creative Practice award in 2021 for her current work in making connections between music and nature.

Sue Stuart-Smith

Sue Stuart-Smith is a psychiatrist and psychotherapist who graduated in English literature at Cambridge University before going on to train as a doctor. She worked in the NHS for many years, becoming the lead clinician for psychotherapy in Hertfordshire. She currently teaches at The Tavistock Clinic in London and works for the DocHealth service which helps doctors suffering from stress and burnout. She is married to Tom Stuart-Smith, the celebrated garden designer, and, over thirty years together, they have created the Barn Garden in Hertfordshire. Her bestselling book, The Well Gardened Mind, has been published in 15 languages and explores the influence of nature connection and creativity on mental health.

About Christ Church Koncerts

Music. Garden. Community.

Concerts at Christ Church Kensington is a new concert series which brings together stunning acoustics, diverse musical talents and an enchanting organic garden in a charming neighbourhood in London.

Co-directed by Sam Barber, Director of Music at Christ Church, and pianist Annie Yim, the inaugural concert series 2021/22 includes music ranging from the 12th century to contemporary composers. The bi-monthly lunchtime and evening concerts will feature award-winning soloists and ensembles, as well as student showcases from London music conservatoires.

As a non-profit community project, the concert series aims to pioneer a holistic approach to the concert experience. In partnership with Growing Space, a community organic garden at Christ Church, artists and audiences are invited to the enclosed garden for a post-concert reception.

In association with Markson Pianos.

More about Christ Church Kensington: www.christchurchkensington.com

More about Growing Space: www. growingspace.london

More about Markson Pianos: www.marksonpianos.com

COVID-19 GUIDELINES

A socially-distanced seating area is available on the balcony. We will be providing refreshments outdoors. There will be a hand sanitizing station at the entrance.

We thank you for your cooperation and look forward to sharing our safe event with you.