Benjamin Frith was encouraged by his teacher, Fanny Waterman, to pursue a musical career after winning the UK Dudley National Piano Competition at 14. Today he has made 17 solo discs and performed with many of the great orchestras and conductors. At 20 he became a Mozart Memorial Prize winner and was invited by Sir Peter Pears to appear at the Aldeburgh Festival. He achieved international recognition by sharing top prize in the 1986 Busoni International Piano Competition, and 1st prize in the 1989 Artur Rubinstein International Piano Masters Competition, making his debut at the Edinburgh Festival in 1992 with Beethoven's Diabelli Variations.One of the most versatile pianists around, Benjamin Frith plays much chamber music as well as giving solo recitals.
In the first half of his recital for Sevenoaks Music Club he will play a number of the Nocturnes written by Irish composer John Field, in each case paired with one the Nocturne's later written by Chopin in the same key. The first part of the concert will end with a performance of Chopin's third Ballade, in A flat, and the second part will be devoted to one of Beethoven's most mighty sonatas.