In demand as a recitalist, concerto soloist and chamber musician, John Paul Ekins has given performances throughout the UK and Northern Ireland, and overseas in the Czech Republic, France, Germany, Italy, Kuwait, Norway, Poland, Romania, Spain and Switzerland, and he has been broadcast on the BBC, on Romanian national television and radio, and on Polish television. He gained First Class Honours from the Royal College of Music and a Distinction in Master of Performance as a scholar at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, where he studied with John Barstow and Charles Owen respectively. He was the recipient of a Music Education Award from the Musicians Benevolent Fund, and received generous support from Making Music, The Concordia Foundation, The Razumovsky Trust and The Keyboard Charitable Trust.
International Competition successes have seen him awarded as many as 19 scholarships and prizes, and performance highlights have included Rhapsody in Blue and the Warsaw Concerto at The Royal Albert Hall.
Educational and outreach work is enormously important to John Paul, and he has given workshops and masterclass-recitals with great success in the UK. For many years he was visiting piano teacher at St. Paul’s School, London from 2013-2020.
In response to the Covid pandemic John Paul set up Cats, Chats & 88 Keys (www.youtube.com/CatsChats88Keys), a live online concert series for maintaining a connection with audiences, which raised over £5,000 for the NHS. With performances coming live from his music room in south-west London, the series was founded on a passionate belief that classical music is for everyone, fuelled by a desire to instil his love for music in others. He delivers informal yet enlightening introductions to welcome and inspire those who are new to classical music, while deepening the experience for those who are more familiar with the genre.
John Paul was particularly honoured to be presented to Her late Majesty The Queen and His Royal Highness The Prince Philip at a Reception for Young Performers at Buckingham Palace.
To watch JP’s concerts:
Subscribe www.youtube.com/CatsChats88Keys
Like www.facebook.com/CatsChats88Keys
Follow www.twitter.com/jpekinspianist
Follow www.instagram.com/jpekinspianist