JOHN WILSON LLCM ALCM DIPLCM

As a child I grew up in a household where music was always present. Very early on I knew it was always going to feature heavily in my life. After realising I had a natural ear for music, my father took me for piano lessons at the age of six. From then I moved quickly through my Grades and attained my Grade 8 shortly after I turned 11. As a result I was invited to play live on UTV's then television programme The Kelly Show (make sure to check out the VIDEO section of this website to see some of the footage).

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Shortly after this I had the opportunity to play for the Irish concert pianist Hugh Tinney. He then put us in touch with a previous teacher of his, renowned piano professor Mabel Swainson, based in Dublin. Upon passing my audition I continued to take lessons with Mabel over the next 8 years. During the course of these years I learnt many invaluable lessons and was guided with love and care by a teacher who was clearly passionate and outstanding in her field. 

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I was awarded several scholarships over the years at the Leinster School Of Music (where Mabel taught) and was successful in many of the music competitions North and South of the border. Most notably winning The Patricia Read and Rhona Marshall cups at Dublin's Feis Ceoil, and winning the Northern Ireland Young Musician Of The Year in 1998. This win saw me being invited back again to perform on The Kelly Show. The same year, I was awarded the "Making A Difference - Arts and Culture Award" from Lisburn Borough Council. During this time I also received a masterclass from classical pianist and composer Philip Martin of The Royal Birmingham Conservatoire (himself also a past pupil of Mabel's). In 1999 I participated in a Kosovo fund raising concert at the National Concert Hall in Dublin. 

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During my early teens I also performed as a keyboardist for the Irish Traditional group Fiddler's Galore. During my time with the group we won a place to the prestigious annual Music For Youth Schools Prom at London's Royal Albert Hall. We were the only group from Northern Ireland to take part that year.

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In 2001 I was invited to perform at the Premier Dinner and Concert to mark the opening of The Island Centre in Lisburn. And in 2003, after getting through to the finals of the Belfast Classical Music Bursaries Competition, was bestowed a Margaret Lindsey Award of £1000.

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At the age of 19 I started teaching at The Lisburn School Of Music (now Lisburn Music Centre). I began by mainly teaching Electric Guitar and Drums due to the high demand for lessons on these instruments at that time within the school. But I would soon predominantly focus my attention on giving piano lessons, and in particular helping higher level students attain their Grade 8 and Diplomas in piano. Among some of my very first piano students, Astrid Abad Wilson received 100 per cent in her Grade 1 Exam. I also had one of my students, Shannon Moulds, pass her Grade 8 at the age of 12, and another, William Rong, at the age of 13. I was also the school's resident Head Of Piano for many years up until I left in June 2020. Duties included conducting teacher reviews/evaluations within my department each year, being actively aware of the standard of piano tuition within the school by means of reviewing all piano pupil report forms, organising and helping out with in-house piano recitals and offering teaching advice to young up and coming piano teachers within the school. During my 17 years with the School I have taught students as young as five years old up to folks in their retirement years. From complete beginners right through to students studying for their performance diplomas. I have had numerous piano pupils compete successfully in local competitions and also had several past pupils become piano teachers in their own right (privately and/or as employees of the School of Music).

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Aside from being classically trained on piano, I am self taught on Guitar and Drums and have performed in several rock and metal bands over the years, playing and writing original music as well as being part of a well established covers band for weddings and corporate functions. As such, I have a lot of live performance experience from both the Classical and Rock worlds, respectively.

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I also run a successful YouTube channel, with over 70k subscribers (as of Nov 2023). There, I provide musical analysis videos and have a range of musical performances including cover songs and original music too.  Just be careful of tiny ears listening to my music commentary videos, as they are not intended for kids! https://www.youtube.com/@JWSoundworks/videos

 

You can listen to my original instrumental music here on Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/artist/3OQqYFSIfXLpJrSrZiGit5?si=4ZS0okCpQJu0YIn7YR5fMw but it's also available on all of the usual streaming services too. My current band Diamir recently had our debut single "Behind The Façade" hand picked by Tom Robinson (of "2-4-6-8 Motorway" fame and a co writer on songs with Peter Gabriel and Elton John) for airplay on BBC Radio 6 music in May 2020. We also won the Summer 2019 Belfast Hop House Battle Of The Bands competition, receiving prize money of £1000.

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