The Olympianist 2012

Recital for Charity programme available: 9 May 2012 - 29 May 2012

Final preparations are underway for The Olympianist's charity piano cycle in May 2012.  We owe a huge debt to all the presenters out there who have embraced this project and lent their support, audiences and generosity to us to make this project a reality.  We hope that you will all enjoy the journey.

Winner of the William Kapell International Piano Competition in Washington DC, the NFMS/ESSO 'Young Concert Artists Award' and prize winner at the International Schubert Competition and Special Prize at the ARD Munich Competition, British pianist, Anthony Hewitt embarks on a project in May 2012 which links the musical and the sporting world in a mission to raise money for charity.  Anthony Hewitt will become 'The Olympianist'.

Anthony, who when not playing the piano is an avid cyclist, will cycle from Land's End to John O'Groats.   Behind his bike his Grand Piano will follow him in a specially designed 75 tonne van, nicknamed "Van Beethoven".  En route Anthony will collect money for his named charities.   In each cycling day Anthony will perform either a lunch time recital, a rush-hour recital or a full evening recital according to the invitations that we receive from presenters and local communities.

The Route

Anthony will set off from Land's End on 10 May and will finish in John O'Groat's on 28 May 2012.   The Olympianist route is now finalised and can be viewed on www.olympianist.com/the-route.html

Join Anthony on his cycle throughout the UK by coming to one of the concerts or getting on your bike and cycling alongside him.  You can also keep up to date with the project via Anthony's daily blogs on the Olympianist website and hear and watch excerpts from his concerts.

The Recital

You are very welcome to come to any of the concerts. For a list of all the recitals please see www.olympianist.com/the-route.html

Anthony will do a series of website blogs and media interviews prior to the cycle and then again upon each day of the cycle to keep everyone informed of his progress and let the British public know about all the wonderful recitals he has done or will do.  We also have a PR person on board the project who will be in contact with all national press and radio each pedal of the way.

Further information

Further information including Anthony's biography and extracts from some of the works that he will play in recital on this cycle may be found on his dedicated project website - www.theolympianist.com

Finally..

This is a unique project conceived by a rather special and generous musician who is giving an enormous amount of his time, both prior to and during the event, to raise money for three key charities.  It is Anthony's mission also to bring classical music to more people throughout United Kingdom and use his gift for music for a good cause.  This strikes a chord with all of us who work to present classical music in this country and I do hope you will join us in celebrating this and helping this to make this a truly remarkable project.

Donations towards the charities that Anthony is supporting can be made via www.olympianist.com/donate.html. All amounts, no matter how small or large, are hugely welcomed.