Concerts in Association with the German YMCA in London
Programme
Programme
Beatrice Nicholas
Psalmus for Cello and Piano
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Schubert - Nicholas
Sonata in B Flat Major
for Cello and Piano, D960
The Schubert Society of Britain
in association with
The German YMCA
presents
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Schubert
Reimagined
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Music for Cello and Piano
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with
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Beatrice Nicholas
Composer-Pianist
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Ariana Kashefi
Cello
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Thursday, 17 July 2025, 14:00
St. James's Church
Sussex Gardens
W2 3UD
The Concert
Beatrice Nicholas opens the concert with her piece Psalmus, before reimagining Schubert’s last piano sonata, D960, in her transcription The Schubert-Nicholas Sonata for Cello and Piano in B Flat Major.
Psalmus was written by Beatrice in the 2020 pandemic. It is based on an ancient plainsong that would be sung by Nottingham parishioners during the Middle Ages. Psalmus premiered at the 2020 Nottingham Chamber Music Festival, a few days before the city was declared ‘tier three’ and was locked down. It was featured on BBC Radio 3 a year later.
Following Psalmus is Beatrice’s transcription of the famous Schubert Piano Sonata in B Flat Major D 960, re-imagined by Beatrice as a new chamber music work for cello and piano. Her transcriptions for cello and piano were released in 2023 as an album called ‘Beatrice - Arrangements for Cello & Piano’.
Beatrice Nicholas
Beatrice Nicholas is a British concert pianist performing solo and chamber music internationally. Her solo recitals have been noted for their culturally rich and ethnically diverse programming, often combining classical and jazz together. Beatrice has performed at the major classical music venues including the Wigmore Hall, Southbank Center, Kings Place, Snape Maltings, Edinburgh Queen’s Hall.
Her latest release Black and Classical, throws a spotlight on classical music by black women and has been described as a ‘stunning record’ by Bandcamp. She has enjoyed collaboration with oboist Nicholas Daniel, composers Lola Perrin, Matthias Sparlingher and recently appeared in the Hollywood movie The Beekeeper playing music by Federic Chopin. Beatrice is also a member of the Chineke! Chamber Ensemble; an ensemble of principal players from the Chineke! Orchestra, Europe's first professional orchestra of majority Black & ethnically diverse musicians.
As well as a concert pianist Beatrice is a composer who has received commissions from Nottingham Chamber Music Festival, Dark Design Graphics Company and was featured composer for Black History Month 2021 at the British Classical Foundation where she premiered Flight for solo piano.
Ariana Kashefi
Ariana Kashefi is a British-Persian cellist praised for her innate musicianship and magnetic stage presence. She performs regularly as a soloist and chamber musician in top venues including Wigmore Hall, Pierre Boulez Saal, and the Berlin Philharmonie.
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A passionate chamber musician, she collaborates with renowned artists such as Bruno Canino and Maksim Stsura, with whom she won first prize at the 2019 Luigi Nono Chamber Music Competition. Alongside core repertoire, Ariana champions contemporary works and recently premiered From Night, a solo piece written for her by Deborah Pritchard at the Southbank Centre.
Ariana is a City Music Foundation and Talent Unlimited artist, and has received multiple accolades including the Royal Philharmonic Society’s Julius Isserlis Scholarship, a top prize at the Rubinstein International Cello Competition, and recognition as a finalist in the Pierre Fournier Award. She holds degrees from the Royal College of Music, Hochschule für Musik Hanns Eisler, and an Artist Diploma from the Barenboim-Said Akademie.
She performs widely as a soloist with orchestras across Europe and has appeared live on BBC Radio 3. Ariana is also in demand as guest principal cellist with ensembles including Britten Sinfonia, RTÉ Concert Orchestra, and West-Eastern Divan Orchestra. Her artistic development has been shaped by masterclasses with leading cellists such as Steven Isserlis, David Geringas, and Ralph Kirshbaum.