Hastings International Piano, the charity responsible for the Hastings International Piano Concerto Competition and the Hastings International Piano Festival announced today the first of it’s live fundraising concerts, which will take place throughout the summer and autumn now that restrictions are being eased.

A Spring Celebration of Jazz takes place at 7.30pm on Friday May 28th at the newly refurbished concert hall at Rye Creative Centre with multi-award winning jazz artists vocalist Claire Martin OBE and pianist Nikki Iles.

Tickets available from www.hastingsinternationalpiano.org/events/claire-martin-and-nikki-iles

The concert programme will include songs recorded by the legendary Tony Bennett taken from the two albums he recorded with the great jazz pianist Bill Evans.

Claire Martin and Nikki Iles, two of our most revered British jazz artists, will revisit some of the classic repertoire including fresh arrangements by Nikki of My Foolish Heart, You Must Believe in Spring, Some Other Time and When in Rome guaranteeing an exceptional evening concert experience.

The evening, which will launch Hastings International Piano’s programme of concerts, will see a return to live events at venues that are able to open with socially distanced safety measures in place, ensuring a comfortable experiences for our audiences.

Ian Roberts Managing Director of Hastings International Piano says: “We are so pleased to be able to bring you the first of our live concert experiences starting in May with Claire and Nikki who are two of the most talented British jazz artists on the scene.

“I am thrilled that the our concert will be taking place in the exciting new performance space at the newly refurbished Rye Creative Centre, which is a home for the creative arts. In the centre of Rye, so within walking distance from Rye station and with parking for up to 100 cars, this great venue is the perfect choice for us to kick start our live audience experiences with an ability to produce concerts in a safe and socially distanced environment with pre-ordered refreshments and spaced out seating making it a relaxed, yet safety conscious experience.”

Claire Martin OBE says: “It’s great to be returning to perform to Hastings International Piano audiences who have been so warm and welcoming during past concert visits. Both Nikki and I look forward to performing these wonderful songs that the legendary Tony Bennett and iconic jazz pianist Bill Evans have performed over many years. Artists like us have missed performing to live audiences and I can’t tell you how happy we are to be returning to Rye and performing for the first time in such a great new concert space.”

Hastings International Piano will present a new programme of concerts and educational events throughout 2021 and the next edition of the Hastings International Piano Concerto Competition will take place in 2022. Hastings International Piano Festival will return in 2023.

Claire Martin OBE and Nikki Iles Doors Open: 7pm and Concert Starts 7.30pm

• Tickets £40 each with Seating in Pairs or Individual Distanced Seating
• Temperature Checks on Arrival
• No Interval
• Pre-Ordered Bar Refreshments Available to Order With Ticket Purchases.