On Friday 3rd November, the historic Forsyth’s Music Shop in Manchester will host a special piano concert featuring Alan Clark, renowned keyboardist for the Dire Straits. Beyond the promise of a captivating performance, this event will also raise funds for Olympias Music Foundation (OMF) and its work supporting young musicians in Manchester.
Alan Clark says:
“I’m looking forward to my piano concert in Forsyths music shop on Friday, particularly because it’s to raise funds for a charity that creates opportunities for young people to access musical instruments. Music makes both the performer and the listener happy, and we really need more happiness in this world. I shall endeavour to make everyone happy on Friday!"
Originally from County Durham, Alan first started learning the piano at the age of 6 and was initially inspired by his father, who sang well and taught Alan to play his first chords at the piano. Unfortunately, Alan’s early experiences of formal piano lessons nearly put him off playing the piano entirely but, with the help of his local instrument shop, a Hammond organ shop called Fox’s, Alan discovered he loved playing by ear and performed to crowds of people who gathered to listen to him play outside the shop on Friday lunchtimes.
Since then, Alan has gone onto enjoy a start studded career performing all over the world with the Dire Straits, Bob Dylan, Eric Clapton and Tina Turner, amongst many others. A seasoned composer, Alan has produced countless soundtracks and arrangements for other musicians, releasing an album of his own solo piano music in 2021 called Backstory. At his concert on 3rd November, Alan will be playing on a magnificent Bösendorfer 230 Vienna Concert grand piano, proudly supplied by Forsyths.
As a charity which is passionate about supporting children from all walks of life to access musical opportunities and experience the joys of music-making, we are very grateful to Alan for donating the proceeds of his concert to OMF. Joining Alan on stage will be one of our young musicians, Madeeha, who has been learning flute and piano with OMF for nearly 3 years and has agreed to play a tune or two! Thank you to our wonderful friends at Forsyth’s for supporting us once again through their fantastic concert series.
Tickets for Alan’s concert can be found at https://www.forsyths.co.uk/content/446-friday-3-november-alan-clark-dire-straits-fundraising-for-omf. Doors open 6:30pm, with a drinks reception before the concert begins at 7:15pm. To make a donation to Alan’s fundraiser, visit our JustGiving page at https://www.justgiving.com/page/forsyth-brothers-ltd-alan-clark-gig-031123.
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