PIANIST Phillip Leslie, who grew up in Launceston, gave a recital at Minstrels Music Centre, Canworthy Water, on April 3.

Phillip was born in Dundee and grew up in Cornwall. He started playing piano at age seven with Veronica Jones. After excelling in the South West, he enrolled at Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and began his studies with Alexander Ardakov and then Margaret Fingerhut. Currently, he studies with Philip Fowke. Previously, he has been taught organ by Ann-Elise Smoot and Harpsichord with Steven Devine.

In 2014 he performed, Carmina Burana with the Trinity Laban Chorus at Blackheath Halls and Rhapsody in Blue with Maidstone Wind symphony. He has also made appearances with the Trinity Laban Wind Orchestra. He was a finalist in the John Longmire Beethoven Piano competition.

Phillip has given numerous concerts including performances at Pamoja Hall, St Alfege church and Mandeville Place. He has taken part in many competitions and masterclasses including lessons with acclaimed pianists, Paul Komen, Pascal Roge and Ivan Klansky.

Last year he performed in the Old Royal Naval Chapel for the Trinity Laban Concert Series and recently gave three performances of Peter Copley’s Piano Concerto, which is dedicated to his former teacher, Margaret. He has worked with conductors, Andrew Sherwood, Jonathan Crowhurst and Dominic Peckham. Previously, Phillip was the pianist for the Trafalgar Trio’.

He currently performs with soprano, Rebekah Smith and violinist, Beatriz Carbonell. He is an enthusiastic piano teacher and is a tutor at Blackheath Conservatoire.

Phillip performed Beethoven, Debussy and Kenneth Leighton at Minstrels Music Centre, before accompanying soprano, Chloe Arscott, a former Launceston College student.

Classical soprano, Chloe was born in Plymouth and raised in the South West of England. She began singing in her teens, with teachers Shelley-Coulter Smith, Melanie Hoadley and currently Veronica Jones.

She attended Launceston College throughout her secondary education and studied for a further year at Truro College. She took part in productions and choirs, playing lead roles in the musicals ‘Our House’, ‘Return to the Forbidden Planet’, and ‘Evita’. She has also performed on Radio Cornwall, which was broadcasted live on Radio 1. Recently she has sang as a part of Mount Kelly Choral Society.

In March 2015 she won the 19 to 25 vocal recital category at Cornwall Music Festival in Truro, and went on to attain her ABRSM Grade 8 singing exam with a distinction in December. She is currently studying German to enhance her repertoire in associated Lieder. This year she took part in Wadebridge ?Music Festival. In September Chloe will enrol at Birmingham Conservatoire, where she can continue her studies and love for singing.