Saturday 14th March 2026 1:45pm – 2:30pm
Ondine Trio
Matthew Lam – Piano, Leda Mileto – Violin, Clara Hope Simpson – Cello
Programme
Sergei Rachmaninov Isle of the Dead, (Symphonic Poem), Op. 29 (arr. Matthew Lam)
Claude Debussy Piano Trio in G Major, L.3 (1880)
i Andantino con moto allegro
ii Scherzo: Moderato con allegro
iii Andante espressivo
iv Finale: Appassionato
Biographies
Matthew Lam, originally from Hong Kong, is a distinguished pianist with a First-Class Bachelor’s Degree and a Master’s Degree with Distinction from the Royal Northern College of Music (RNCM) where he studied under Ashley Wass, Frank Wibaut and Jeremy Young. He has participated in masterclasses led by renowned pianists and is recognised as both a solo and collaborative pianist and chamber musician. Matt regularly performs with his twin brother, Jason, with whom he won the Piano Duo Prize at the RNCM and was placed third at the 2019 Roma International Chopin Competition. He also co-founded the Sande Duo, recording Piazzolla’s Le Grand Tango at Abbey Road Studios. He aspires to be an orchestral pianist, collaborating with various orchestras such as BBC Philharmonic, Nottingham Philharmonic and London Philharmonic Orchestral Foyle Future Firsts. In 2022, he returned to RNCM as a Junior Fellow in Accompaniment and joined the Staff Pianist team.
Leda Mileto, an accomplished musician originally from Rome, Italy, has a background in music education rooted in the Dalcroze approach, which emphasises bodily engagement with rhythm. She earned her Master’s Degree and a Postgraduate Diploma from the RNCM, where she was part of the award-winning Aestus Quartet, currently guided by violinist, Gabriel Le Magadure. Leda’s recent performances include participation in notable festivals in Cremona, Italy, such as the 2023 Stauffer Academy Summer Festival and a concert at Stauffer Academy in 2024 where she performed a duet with Viktoria Mullova and in a string ensemble with Matthew Barley. Additionally, she led the inaugural ensemble at the Lake District Music Festival in 2025. Committed to music education, she teaches various subjects at RNCM aligned with Dalcroze principles, and is pursuing a Professional Certificate with Dalcroze UK. Currently, she is among the Manchester Camerata’s 360 Fellows and is mentored by Caroline Pether. Leda plays a Johannes Cuypers violin from 1797 on loan from the Harrison Frank Family Foundation, with her E. Comin bow.
Clara Hope Simpson is an accomplished and versatile cellist who has showcased her talent in prominent venues such as Wigmore Hall and Kodak Hall. She has earned several prestigious awards, including the John Barbirolli Memorial Prize and the Musicians Prize at the RNCM, and she won the Cello Concerto Competition at the Eastman School of Music. With a global performance background in solo and chamber contexts, Clara also competed in the Schoenfeld International String Competition in China in 2025.
She has collaborated with notable composers such as Anna Thorvaldsdottir and Anna Clyne on their repertoire for solo cello works and received the Exceptional Global Talent Visa from Arts Council England. In addition to performing as a soloist with various orchestras including Manchester Beethoven Orchestra, the Oldham Symphony Orchestra, RNCM Repertoire Orchestra and Eastman School Symphony Orchestra, Clara is a passionate chamber musician and was a founding member of the Aesus Quartet, partnering with renowned artists and ensembles. She has also served as principal cellist in multiple ensembles and performed with groups such as Manchester Collective and Manchester Camerata.
Next week’s concert 21st March – Outstanding Young Pianists
If you would like to be included in our email Newsletter, or wish to make any changes to the contact details we have for you, please complete the form at the back of the church.