World class piano tuition, accompanying & performing in and around St Albans up to Diploma Level. I [email protected]
I am a member of ISM, RCM trained and an award winning classical recording artist. I am not only dedicated, but completely absorbed and passionate about music education in all it's forms. I offer expert piano and theory tuition from a private teaching studio in St Albans city centre. I am also a well established long term teacher at Aldenham School in Borehamwood. I have 16 years of experience as
12/01/2024
I would like to thank Native DSD Music and HR Recordings for their part in winning this wonderful award. Album of the year 2023. It means so much to me. I do not perform much now days, having focused on other parts of my career in the last 4 years, so to have my playing validated in this way does mean a great deal. Watch put for some recitals now, hopefully very soon. Next album will be an all Liszt affair, so watch this space.
02/01/2024
I am so excited to share with you all my album nomination for solo instrumental album of the year for Native DSD Music. I need all the votes from my friends, family and colleagues to help me take the title. For those that have not heard it yet, it is available on all streaming services. Please vote here. You have until the 10th Jan only.
12/12/2023
Thank you so so much Native DSD Music for the solo instrumental album of the year nomination. One of 5 short listed. To all my students and fans, the Rachmaninoff album I recently released is available to download here. I am very proud of this one! https://www.nativedsd.com/product/e225hr-rachmaninoff/
2023 NativeDSD Album of the Year Nominations - Solo Classical Instrumental
Nominated by Bill Dodd, NativeDSD Senior Reviewer
Marrow: The 6 Suites For Solo Cello by J.S. Bach
Saeunn Thorsteinsdottir
Sono Luminus
https://www.nativedsd.com/product/dsl92263-marrow-the-6-suites-for-solo-cello-by-js-bach/
Without Words
Bruce Levingston
Sono Luminus
https://www.nativedsd.com/product/dsl92269-without-words/
Rachmaninoff
Sebastian Stanley - Piano
HR Recordings
https://www.nativedsd.com/product/e225hr-rachmaninoff/
Murmurations (One Microphone Recording)
Marcia Hadjimarkos
Outer Marker Records
https://www.nativedsd.com/product/om02100h-murmurations/
Women and War and Peace (Pure DSD)
Katelyn Bouska
Yarlung Artists
https://www.nativedsd.com/product/yar54460dsd-women-and-war-and-peace/
19/11/2023
Thank you Native DSD Music for the promotion of this new album. This is such a special album for me, sharing repertoire with the world that I have loved for 25 years. Enjoy! 😄
A Must Buy from Pianist Sebastian Stanley!
The album "Rachmaninoff" from HR Recordings presents works by Sergei Rachmaninoff, performed by critically acclaimed British musician Sebastian Stanley - Piano.
NativeDSD Listener Chris Pennelegion calls the album "A Must Buy!" noting:
"This new album by the acclaimed British Pianist, Sebastian Stanley is truly worthy of note. The playing characterizes the romantic, but never overly sentimental sides to Rachmaninoff’s music and pianism, perfectly.
The tone is expertly captured, with the High Definition quality providing an insight into Sebastian’s articulations and pedaling, which I find to be sensitive and never over done.
The choice of repertoire is really enlightening. I especially enjoyed the Nocturnes and the underrated Chopin Variations, in which Sebastian’s musical voice is clearly heard."
The album is available in Stereo DSD 512, DSD 256, DSD 128, DSD 64, FLAC 192k and FLAC 96k from Native DSD Music
https://www.nativedsd.com/product/e225hr-rachmaninoff
11/05/2023
Very excited for this tomorrow. Please come if you can 😊
📣📣📣Our Next Concert on the 12 May! Featuring our artistic director . Tickets are available via the link in our bio.
21/03/2023
It is out!!! I am super proud of this one! 😊😊😊
This new recording presents the two Suites Espanola, including popular works like Cadiz and Asturias (with its unique guitar imitations), as well as the third Suite Ancienne, which contains baroque dance forms in romantic disguise.
🎵 Listen to this album on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xaG2JLoPYMQ
💎 Purchase or streaming (Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music, Presto): https://pianoclassics.lnk.to/AlbenizSuiteEspanolaFA
🎬🎮 Our music is available for sync licensing in videos, films, tv-shows, games, advertising and more. For more information and to request a license go to: https://www.brilliantclassicslicensing.com/albums/albeniz-suite-espanola-op-47-97-suite-ancienne-no3/
Composer: Isaac Albéniz
Artist: Sebastian Stanley - Piano
The first volume of Sebastian Stanley’s Albéniz survey was greeted with enthusiasm for the repertoire and praise for the interpretations in the pages of Fanfare and elsewhere: ‘He is tender and sentimental in the lyrical moments, animated and energetic in his attack elsewhere. He clearly loves the music, and dispatches it with unapologetic flair.’
His sequel opens with the First Suite Española which contains several of the composer’s most colourful and best-known pieces. It begins with the vibrant guitar-strumming textures and Moorish harmonies of ‘Granada (Serenata)’ and continues with his own interpretation of a dance from his native Catalonia. Evocations of Seville, Cadiz and Asturias all spring from the pages with the sharp colours of a Goya canvas, and the suite comes to an exotic, sensuous conclusion with a Cuban habanera.
The Second Suite Española is much smaller and less well-known. Its two movements are evocations of Zaragoza and (once more) Seville. Sebastian Stanley includes two further landscapes in sound: the Zambra granadina (Danse orientale) evokes flamenco dance that features a haunting melody to a seductively syncopated accompaniment. The rolled chords of Cádiz (Gaditana) suggest the strumming of guitars, setting the scene for an animated copla dance.
The neoclassical side of Albéniz comes to the fore with the third of his Suites Anciennes – consisting of a graceful Minuet and sprightly Gavotte – which anticipate similar projects to revive Baroque forms in modern guise by Ravel and Respighi. As a reminder of the incomparable richness of the finest Spanish piano music,’ Sebastian Stanley’s Albéniz series should invite the attention of curious listeners and pianophiles alike.
14/02/2022
It was a nice suprise to find one of my albums on youtube uploaded by the record label Brilliant Classics and to find it has had so many likes and positive comments. As an artist this really means a lot to me. Made my day! Happy Valentines to me. 😍
Albéniz: Piano Sonatas & Suite Ancienne This new recording presents the three complete piano sonatas, the numbers 3-4-5, as well as two beautiful Suites Anciennes, which contain baroque dance forms...
11/01/2022
A crowd favourite next. Liszt's astonishing 'Dream of Love' Liebestraum No.3. Recorded as part of my series of concerts in December 2021, this one in St Johns Smith Square. Enjoy 😊
Sebastian Stanley | Liszt: Liebestraum No.3 A flat major | Live St Johns Smith Square I gave a performance on the 7th December 2021 in one of London's truly great venues, St Johns Smith Square. This was a dream experience for me and the culmin...
09/01/2022
So finally I have the videos of my live recital at St Johns Smith Square. I will be posting them up on YouTube for all to enjoy. It was surely one of the biggest hi lights of 2021, as was playing a recital on Benedetti Michelangeli's own piano in Sir George Solti's house. Thank you to the hundreds of people that attended.
Sebastian Stanley | Rachmaninoff: Variations on a theme of Chopin Op.22 | Live St Johns Smith Square I gave a performance on the 7th December 2021 in one of London truly great venues, St Johns Smith Square. This was a dream experience for me and the culminat...
02/12/2021
After nearly 2 years off the live-concert stage, and feeling like I would never pick up a ‘professional’ level of public playing again, I had my first recital yesterday. I felt my performing career was over, due to covid cancelling so many potentially life changing recitals for me at a time things were going to take off. I entered some very dark and peculiar places that I had not been to before, mentally. However, after months of work and giving myself a firm talking to, I made the leap back to the concert platform anyway, in one of the best settings imaginable. In Sir George Solti’s own house, in his studio, playing on Arturo Benedetti Michelangeli’s own Steinway; to a crowd of critics and impresarios. It was the most terrified I have ever been. After the concert, one lovely man came up to me and said ‘I had ruined the pieces I played him, forever…’ because… ‘I will never hear them played better in my life again.’ The way that one person made me feel confirmed why I still play and want to play professionally for as long as I live. Despite the many other things I do with my life and the successful teaching career I have built up, to be able to hold my own after years off the stage, made the whole year worth it. My ‘comeback’ will be further cemented thanks to playing a dream recital in St Johns Smith Square next week. Please do come and support!!! https://www.sjss.org.uk/events/paintings-dreams-–-sebastian-stanley-recital