St Mary’s Church, Hay-on-Wye HR3 5EB. Doors open at 6.30pm. Bar.

Tickets: tba

Programme

Iyad Sughayer (Palestine /Jordan) plays …

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart:  Twelve Variations on ‘Ah vous dirai-je, Maman’, K. 265

Jean Sibelius:  Impromptus Op. 5

Aram Khachaturian:  Ballet Scenes

Giulia Contaldo (Italy) plays …

Ottorino Respighi:  Notturno

Franz Liszt:  Two Legends

Karol Szymanowsky:  Calypso from Metopes Op. 29

Isaac Albeniz:  Iberia Book I

Nominated as a 2022 ‘Rising Star’ by Classic FM, Jordanian-Palestinian Iyad Sughayer was a prize-winner at the Young Classical Artists Trust international auditions in 2021, and has developed an exciting career as both a soloist and chamber musician. Iyad’s debut album ‘Khachaturian Piano Works’ for BIS Records was described by Gramophone as “exhilarating and delivered with perfect clarity” and “an outstanding debut” by BBC Music Magazine. His second recording for BIS with the BBC National Orchestra of Wales, conducted by Andrew Litton, was released to critical acclaim in autumn 2022. In October 2025, Iyad recorded a third disc, completing all the piano music of Khachaturian on BIS.

Iyad has also performed extensively in recitals throughout the UK and Europe, performing at important venues such as the Berlin Konzerthaus, Concertgebouw Amsterdam, Wigmore Hall in London and the Laeiszhalle in Hamburg. As a concerto soloist he has appeared with leading orchestras including the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra, Manchester Camerata, London Mozart Players, the Cairo and Amman Symphony Orchestras.

During the 2024/25 season Iyad undertook his first professional tour of North America, including debut recitals in Toronto, Middlebury College Vermont, University of South Florida, Northeastern College in California where he was chosen as the Dewing Artist at Mills College. In 2022 Iyad co-founded and launched a new specialist music school, the Mashrek Academy of Music, with the Mashrek International School in Amman. The Academy welcomes students from across Jordan, discovering and nurturing a new generation of creators and musicians.

“... a dashing account of Schumann’s Piano Concerto, with Giulia Contaldo as the last-minute replacement soloist." The Guardian

Italian - American pianist Giulia Contaldo came to international attention when she stepped in for Elisso Virsaladze to play Schumann’s Piano Concerto with the BBC Philharmonic conducted by Omer Meir Wellber at the Bridgewater Hall (Manchester) live broadcasted by BBC Radio3.

Giulia has received numerous prizes, including first prizes at the 28th JS Bach Italian National Competition, the 15th International Maria Giubilei Competition, prizes at the International Competition Prémio Internacional de Piano Figueira da Foz, 32nd Concours Européen de Musique de Chambre (Paris), Massarosa International Competition, Third Prize and Audience Prize at the James Mottram International Competition, Second prize and Classical Sonata Award at the Verona International Competition. She was also awarded the prestigious Gold Medal at the RNCM.

As a soloist, Giulia has performed with leading orchestras such as the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra, Royal Liverpool Philharmonic, Manchester Camerata, Nottingham Philharmonic, Stockport Symphony Orchestra, Orchestra dell' Arena di Verona, Young Musicians European Orchestra and more. She has performed throughout Europe, Switzerland, UK and USA for many festivals including Teatro Alighieri (Ravenna), Teatro Filarmonico (Verona), Amici della Musica di Padova, Teatro Verdi, Teatro della Pergola (Firenze), Festival dei Due Mondi (Spoleto), Sale Apollinee (Teatro la Fenice), Bridgewater Hall (Manchester), Wigmore Hall, Steinway Hall (London), Musica Insieme (Bologna) etc. Furthermore, Giulia has had broadcasts of her performances on Rai Radio3, BBC Radio and Classic FM.

Giulia completed her undergraduate and graduate degrees with highest honors and a special mention at the Cherubini Conservatory Florence, whilst also studying at Imola International Academy with Jin Ju, where she completed her artist diploma. Giulia continued her studies for the Advanced Postgraduate Diploma in Performance at the RNCM with Graham Scott and Dina Parakhina, graduating with distinction; She was then accepted into the highly selective International Artist Diploma. Giulia also studied with Ricardo Castro at the Haute Ecole de Musique de Geneve.

Giulia is piano professor at the Conservatorio Jacopo Tomadini in Udine, Italy. She is supported by the Keyboard Charitable Trust and is a scholar of the Imogen Cooper Music Trust.

This concert is dedicated to the memory of David Lipsey

and made possible by the generous support of

Philip Hughes

David and Margaret Lipsey

Judith Serota