Sarah Beth Briggs

piano

Thursday 15th October 2026

7.30pm Morpeth Methodist Church

Programme (on occasion, the artist may make minor changes to the published programme)

Beethoven Six Bagatelles Op. 126

Haydn Sonata in C Hob XVI/50

Hans Gál Preludes Op. 65

Debussy Bergamasque

Chopin Berceuse Op. 57

Mendelssohn Variations Sérieuses Op. 54

Listen to music from this programme HERE

Newcastle born Sarah Beth Briggs first made an impression on audiences at the tender age of 11 as a finalist in the BBC Young Musician of the Year competition. Since this early start, she has established a career as an in demand soloist and chamber musician performing internationally as well as making acclaimed recordings. Sarah often performs with violinist David Juritz and cellist Kenneth Woods.

Sarah's programme opens with six bagatelles by Beethoven - written in the same period as his iconic ninth symphony. The composer himself described them as 'the best that I have ever written'. In a similar classical vein, the next piece is a Haydn sonata followed by three dreamy preludes by the Austrian composer Hans Gál.

The second half of this concert will continue with Debussy's Bergamasque suite which includes the famous Clair de lune. The final works of the programme will be in a romantic mood with a Chopin berceuse or lullaby and Mendelssohn's Variations Sérieuses.

'..an exceptionally gifted musician'

The Guardian

More about Sarah from her website :

'Pianist Sarah Beth Briggs – an artist of extraordinary magnetism (Daily Telegraph) – is a leading recitalist, concerto soloist, and chamber musician. A long-standing pupil of the late Denis Matthews, she gained a Hindemith Scholarship to study chamber music in Switzerland with celebrated violist, Bruno Giuranna, and remained in Lausanne for further studies with renowned Arrau pupil, Chilean pianist Edith Fischer.

Her professional career was launched at the age of eleven when she became the then youngest-ever finalist in the BBC Young Musician of the Year and a recipient of a Dame Myra Hess Award. Four years later she gained international recognition as joint winner of the International Mozart Competition in Salzburg.

Sarah’s musical interpretations have been broadcast internationally on radio and television, while recital and concerto performances have taken her to Austria, Germany, Switzerland, France, Italy and the USA. In the UK she has performed with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Royal Northern Sinfonia, the Hallé, London Mozart Players, London Philharmonic Orchestra, English Chamber Orchestra, Scottish Chamber Orchestra, Ulster Orchestra, Manchester Camerata, Royal Liverpool Philharmonic, English Symphony Orchestra and BBC Concert Orchestra. She has been the featured soloist at major British venues including St George’s, Bristol, Manchester’s Bridgewater and Stoller Halls, Nottingham’s Royal Concert Hall, Queen’s Hall, Edinburgh and London’s South Bank and Barbican Centres.

Sarah is a celebrated artist at societies and festivals throughout the UK, acclaimed by promoters and critics for her performances and for her engaging and informative introductions to recital programmes. She gave the world premiere of Britten’s Three Character Pieces (which feature in her wide-ranging discography) at the request of the late Richard Hickox in 1989. The critical acclaim for her recordings includes both Gramophone Editor’s and Gramophone Critic’s Choice Awards, and her eleven albums to date notably include the world premiere of Hans Gál’s Piano Concerto with the Royal Northern Sinfonia and conductor Kenneth Woods. In December 2023, Sarah made a warmly reviewed German concerto debut playing the Gál Concerto with the Hofer Symphoniker and Enrico Delamboye.

Sarah enjoys balancing a successful solo career with numerous chamber music engagements, and has worked with many renowned soloists over the years including the late soprano Kathryn Harries, clarinettist Janet Hilton, and ex Lindsay violist Robin Ireland. Her most regular current partnerships are with violinist David Juritz and as part of the Briggs Piano Trio (in which Sarah and David are joined by cellist, Kenneth Woods) as well as a four hands piano duo with James Lisney. She has also enjoyed collaborations with the Emperor and Carducci String Quartets.

Sarah taught keyboard for many years at the University of York. She gives regular masterclasses and chamber music tuition in the UK, and has also taught in Switzerland and the USA. Away from the concert platform, she loves the theatre, good food and wine, and walking in the countryside with her cocker spaniels.'