York is about to be back on the small screen – as the episode of Channel 4’s The Piano filmed at York station will air this Sunday.
The episode will be TV and music icons Claudia Winkleman and Mika arrive at York Station, where they’re joined by internationally acclaimed jazz pianist Hiromi in the search for Britain’s most remarkable amateur pianists.
Claudia and Mika were seen filming the hit series at York Station back in March, along with world-renowned Japanese jazz composer and pianist Hiromi – and now viewers can finally tune in.
Viewers will see Britain’s oldest pub landlord getting commuters singing along to pub favourites, while a remarkable 12-year-old composer turns the sounds of the station into an original piece. A gifted songwriter performs a song inspired by his grandparents’ love story that leaves Mika and Hiromi deeply moved, while another original composition offers a powerful reflection on love and loss.
Elsewhere, a teenage pianist reimagines David Bowie’s Heroes, a firefighter pays tribute to her best friend through the music of Coldplay, and a managing director confronts crippling performance anxiety to perform Chopin in front of a crowd of strangers.
Two of the stars include Nathan, 45, from Huddersfield, and Gwilym, 22, from Wales.
Nathan is a managing director of haulage company. After leaving school at 16 and spending six years in the army, he got a job as a truck driver and has worked his way up the company from there. He loves to play the piano to unwind from his stressful job. He has only played the piano publicly once – and completed froze midway through his performance, forcing him to stop playing. Upon hearing this, Mika and Hiromi break The Piano rules to go out and meet Nathan before he plays and give him some words of encouragement.
One of four boys, Gwilym grew up in a musical household – inspired by his mother who was herself a pianist. He plays an original composition called ‘Grief’ that he wrote after the sudden passing of his mother, from cancer, when he was aged 18.
With so many unforgettable performances, Mika and Hiromi face their toughest decision yet. Who will earn a place at The Piano‘s biggest final concert yet?
Find out by tuning into The Piano on Channel 4 on Sunday 26 July at 9pm, or on streaming here.
