Recital from classical pianist and mezzo soprano at Town Hall

Classical music lovers will be treated to a recital from acclaimed pianist Maryam Sherhan and mezzo soprano Jemma Brown at 7:30pm on Thursday 17 November at the Lerwick Town Hall.

In partnership with Live Music Now!, Shetland Arts and the Robertson Trust, the concert will feature performances of pieces from composers including as Ravel, Purcell, Rachminoff, Bizet, Rossini and more.

Born and brought up in Aberdeenshire, Maryam began learning piano at the age of six and the violin when she was seven. She received lessons at the North East of Scotland Music School, studying piano with Nigel Clayton and violin with Gillian Findlay. Enjoyment of classical music, traditional Scottish music and jazz led to a rich and varied musical upbringing and Maryam has been a member of a large number of ensembles including the National Youth Orchestra of Scotland, National Youth Jazz Orchestra of Scotland, the Garioch Fiddlers Strathspey and Reel Society and the North East of Scotland Music School string Quartet.

In 2006 Maryam graduated from the University of Strathclyde with BA (Hons) in Applied Music. She went on to study with John Thwaites at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama, receiving a PGDip in piano accompaniment. It was during this time that she developed a particular interest in working with vocalists.

Jemma Brown studied with Patricia MacMahon and obtained a BMus (hons) from the University of Glasgow in 2007 where she graduated with the Hague prize for performance. She completed her PgDip, MMus (performance), MMus (opera) and MOpera in 2011 and she won the John Ireland Prize for voice and piano with Adam Laslett and the Tony and Tania Webster Prize for Russian Song.

Jemma has appeared at the Glasgow International Visual Arts Festival, Max at 75, Plug and with the Royal Scottish National Orchestra. She also appeared on BBC Proms in 2010.

Jemma also has a busy teaching base in Glasgow and recently joined the staff of the National Youth Choir of Scotland Girls Choir.

Music Development Officer, Bryan Peterson said: “It’s a privilege to be hosting musicians of this calibre and to give local audiences a chance to experience such talent and proficiency.”

Maryam and Jemma are proud members of Live Music Now!, a scheme set up by Yehudi Menuhin to help young professional musicians at the beginning of their careers and to take quality live music into venues which have limited access to live performance, such as schools, nursing homes and prisons. During their visit to Shetland, the duo will also be performing at the Bells Brae nursery.

Tickets for the concert, priced at £10 (£8 concessions), are available from Shetland Box Office, Islesburgh Community Centre, 01595 745 555 or online at www.shetlandboxoffice.org