Pianist and broadcaster Keelan Carew balances a love of piano playing with a broad interest in popularising classical music. Born and raised in Medway, Kent, Keelan began his piano studies at age 7, later graduating from the Royal Northern College of Music with Dr Stephen Savage.
Keelan has found success in recitals across London, throughout England, Madrid and beyond, including an especially extraordinary event at the Royal Festival Hall in 2011, featuring Lang Lang, 99 other young pianists, and over 50 Steinway Grands across the stage. He maintains a broad repertoire and a ravenous appetite for discovering music new, and lost. J.S.Bach is his favourite composer.
He made his concerto debut in 2018 playing Rachmaninoff’s Rhapsody on a theme of Paganini with the Southampton Concert Orchestra, with whom he regularly collaborates. A keen chamber musician, in 2019 Keelan participated in the London Sinfonietta Academy, specialising in the performance of ambitious contemporary music for chamber orchestra. Beyond the piano, he has explored continuo playing at the harpsichord, and conducting. Beginning in 2021, Keelan coordinates music partnerships and student recruitment at the Yehudi Menuhin School, working alongside the school’s Director of Music Ashley Wass, promoting community music-making. Alongside the full-time role at the school, he continues to teach and perform.
While a student, Keelan happened to find himself competing on the BBC’s University Challenge, representing the Royal Northern College of Music. By chance, this led to his presenting debut on Radio 3/BBC Sounds, presenting the series “Sounds Connected”, weekly coverage of the BBC Proms, and a series on the history of the piano, “Piano Odyssey with Keelan Carew”. He now regularly appears on InTune opposite Sean Rafferty and Katie Derham, highlighting music and culture across the UK.
Keelan’s ambitions revolve around championing new and/or unknown works for the piano. Teaching the piano and improving access to classical music are his greatest passions. He now lives near YMS in Surrey with his partner Ellen; they are both avid readers and enjoy local country walks on weekends.