We are thrilled that 15-year old pianist, Gaby Gibbs, will be hosting a piano recital at St Boltoph's Church in Cambridge on Saturday 26th October to raise money for Olympias Music Foundation. Gaby first got in touch with Olympias through her piano teacher, Patrick Hemmerlé, who is a keen supporter of the charity and has also raised money for the charity through his own performances at Clare Hall College. We caught up with Gaby to find out a bit more about her life in Cambridge, her interests inside and out of music, and what the future holds for her...
1. Tell us a bit about yourself "I was born in Madrid but moved to Dubai when I was just a year old, where we ended up living for almost 13 years before moving to a village near Cambridge. My education has been quite diverse, a mix of mainstream schooling and Waldorf education. When I was younger I was also homeschooled while we traveled to various places, including Bali, Cuba and Spain. I began playing the cello at the age of five and continued with it until I was around eleven. After that, I tried learning the flute, but quickly realised it wasn’t the right fit for me. The piano was the first instrument that I connected with and motivated me to practice on my own, and I think that was part of the reason I was able to progress relatively quickly."
2. What was your first musical experience?
"When I was around three or four years old, my parents bought me a CD of Tchaikovsky's Swan Lake. I didn't know it then, but that was my first real introduction to classical music, and it made a lasting impression on me.3. What is your favourite musical memory?I remember that when I was six or seven, my cello teacher in Dubai had a beautiful grand piano in her sitting room. After my lessons, I would sit at the piano and try to play pieces by ear. At the time, the piano seemed like an impossibly complex instrument, but I was always drawn to it."
4. Do you have a favourite piece of music to play and/or listen to?
"Clair de Lune will always hold a special place in my heart, both for listening and playing. I believe Debussy is a master at painting vivid pictures and telling stories through his music. Recently, I discovered a stunning set of piano miniatures by Lili Boulanger called Trois Morceaux pour Piano which I would like to learn after my concert."
5. What do you like to do outside of music?
"Outside of music most of my time is taken up by showjumping, and I am lucky enough to have my own horse, Hiccup. Last year we made our international debut in Portugal, which was such an eye-opening experience into the world of international sport. As I haven't been riding much lately I have been playing tennis with my younger brother, and also figure skating which is something I have taken up quite recently."
6. What does the future hold for you?
"I’m not completely certain about much at the moment, but one thing I know for sure is that I always want music and sports to be a part of my life. I'm also curious about life in Spain, so after finishing school I think I’d like to divide my time between Dubai and Madrid. Because of my love for writing and books, I’m considering a career in journalism, but at the moment I haven't fully decided on anything."
Admission to Gaby's recital is free, with all donations and proceeds to supporting our brilliant young musicians at Olympias. If you would like to support Gaby's fundraiser but are unable to attend, you can make a donation here :) Good luck Gaby!
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