About us
Kettner Concerts grew out of the long running Kettner Society, originally a group which met for monthly lunches with an invited speaker. Over a period of almost five decades, a huge range of topics have been explored. Continuing in this tradition, Kettner Concerts offer programmes that draw on the rich links of music with cultural, artistic, historical, and political subjects. We also strongly encourage performers to include contemporary music as well as compositions by lesser represented communities in their repertoire.
Our main objective as a charity is to promote young talents and offer them a springboard to interact with new audiences in Central London, while also drawing more members of the public to music with interesting and relevant programmes. We support our artists by building their following and offer the opportunity to perform on an extraordinary Steinway model D concert grand.
Kettner Concerts are delighted to be hosted by the National Liberal Club (NLC) in its David Lloyd George Room. Please note that we kindly ask members of the public to adhere to the dress code of the NLC (formal). For more information about the venue please visit the NLC website.
Artistic Directors
Hailed for her ‘dark energy’ and ‘uncommon sensitivity’, New Zealand born Hannah-Elizabeth Teoh is one of the most interesting young pianists in the UK. Following intensive periods of study at the Royal Academy of Music, the Ecole Normale de Musique de Paris and the Royal College of Music, she has won numerous awards including the Harold Samuel Prize, the Florence Murray Award, the Lesley Holland Scholarship and the Ivy Corkill Recital Award. As a concerto soloist she has performed around the world, including a premiere recording of Ross Harris’ Concertina for Piano and Orchestra with the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra, and most recently making her Italian debut with the Master Orchestra in Brescia playing Saint-Saëns’ second piano concerto. A keen exponent of contemporary music, Hannah-Elizabeth has premiered a number of works for piano including Kettner composer-in-residence Dan Chappell’s Microludes in a 2022 Kettner Concert. Supporting her musical life, Hannah-Elizabeth draws inspiration from literature and art and has a Masters in Philosophy from Birkbeck University.
Born in Bucharest, Romania, Cristian Sandrin had his Wigmore Hall debut recital in 2017. He collaborates often with orchestras in Romania and the UK, having had his debut with the prestigious “George Enescu” Philharmonic and the Bournemouth Bach Choir Orchestra in 2021. Cristian enjoys conducting Mozart concertos from the keyboard as well as chamber music collaborations. He has performed all over Europe, including recitals at the Salle Cortot, Teatro La Fenice and Palau de la Musica Catalana. He has won numerours prizes and distinctions in international piano competitions, such as the top prizes of the International Piano Competition Citta di Oleggio 2019, the Windsor International Piano Competition 2018, the Concours Musical de Versailles 2019, Automobile Club de France Piano Competition 2011 and the “Animato” Competition in Paris 2012. In 2019 he received the Rossalyn Tureck Prize for the best interpretation of Bach at the Olga Kern International Piano Competition in New Mexico. He is an alumni of the Imogen Cooper Music Trust, being supported as well by the Keyboard Charitable Trust.
Composer in residence
Daniel Lee Chappell is a composer and pianist from Manchester, with a multi-faceted career that defies traditional categorization. His writing includes instrumental concert music, scores for opera and dance stages, electro-acoustic works, and film scoring. His chamber-opera 'The Grape' was recently released for online broadcast, following it's 2021 premiere by Opera Orchestra National Montpellier, and it received 2nd prize at the New Music Generation International Composers Competition. Other works have been performed by the Berkeley Ensemble, Psappha, Quator Danel, Cohan Collective, and Spectra Ensemble, and featured at Festival de Royaumont, Tete-a-Tete, St James' Picadilly, St Magnus Festival, and New Music North West. Collaboration is central to Daniel's work as a composer, and his interdisciplinary ballet-opera work with Cecilia Stinton was included at the Tate Modern as part of a discussion of interdisciplinary collaboration in the arts.
As a pianist, Daniel has worked with London Sinfonietta Academy, Melos Sinfonia, Asyla Ensemble, and Illinois Modern Ensemble, with performances at St Petersburg Philharmonia Hall, Wigmore Hall, and the Schoenberg Piano Concerto at the Waterloo Festival. His theatre work includes runs at the Southwark Playhouse, recordings with the National Theatre, writing a chamber opera for the Arts Theatre, and a stint as a piano-playing clown at the Edinburgh Fringe. He continues to clown-around and play piano, though not typically at the same time.
Peter Whyte has been involved with the Kettner Society since its very beginning; it was while working at a tour operating firm in the 70s that he had a visit from Peter Boizot, who invited him to attend the new dining group he was starting. In 2003 Peter up the position of chairman, the sixth in the history of the society.
Born and raised in North London, Peter’s interest in politics later led him to become chairman of the Bracknell Liberal Association. A keen cricketer, he has also chaired a cricket club. Always interested in commemorating significant figures, he is responsible for ten blue plaques in London, (including ones dedicated to Chopin and Mendelssohn) and six road names in Reading (including one to the Liberal statesman Rufus Isaacs).
Since becoming interested in music, Peter has relished the opportunity to attend performances by many great pianists. Among those who left a particular impression are Claudio Arrau, Steven Bishop, Alfred Brendal, Artur Rubinstein, and John Ogdon.