Nicholas McCarthy (piano)

A musical phenomenon, Nicholas McCarthy was born in 1989 without his right hand, but through sheer talent and determination rose above the many obstacles and active discouragement to pursue his love of the piano, going on to study at the Royal College of Music. His graduation in 2012 drew press headlines around the world, being the only one-handed pianist to graduate from the RCM in its 130-year history. In March 2018 he was awarded honorary membership by its President, HRH King Charles.

As one of just a few soloists with a disability, Nicholas is a champion of the dynamic and brave world of left-hand alone repertoire, a repertoire that first came into being in the early 19th Century and developed rapidly following the First World War because of the many injuries suffered on the battlefield. 

Scriabin – Nocturne Opus Op.9 No.2 
Wagner/Liszt (arr. Wittgenstein) – Isolde’s Liebestod from Tristan and Isolde
Schubert/Liszt (arr. Zichy) – Der Erlkönig 
Julie Cooper – Galilean Moons (commissioned by Nicholas McCarthy) 
Scriabin – Prelude and Nocturne Op.9 
(Bach arr. Brahms) – Chaconne in D Minor from Partita No.2 
(Bartok) – Etude for Left Hand