In 2016 young pianist Andrew Gallacher was the first prize winner at the Brighton and Hove Springboard Concerto Competition, where adjudicator Timothy Barratt praised his "imaginative playing" "effective tonal finesse" "incisive control" and "understanding of the orchestra's role". This success led to Andrew's appearance in 2016 as soloist with the Brighton Youth Orchestra under the baton of Andrew Sherwood, performing Liszt's Piano Concerto no.2 in A-major, S.125. This was followed in the summer of 2017 by a tour of Poland with the same orchestra and conductor, performing concertos by Liszt and Chopin.
Andrew has performed in numerous venues including the Wigmore Hall, St James’ Church Sussex Gardens, Faversham Assembly Halls, St Butolph Without Aldgate, St Luke’s Church Maidenhead (where he is a regular recitalist at their biannual music festival), All Saints Church Marlow, St George the Martyr in Borough (London) and United Reform Church Beaconsfield.
Andrew’s eclectic performing repertoire encompasses works by Chopin, Schubert, Mozart, Schumann, Liszt, Beethoven, Prokofiev, Bach, Poulenc, Debussy and Ravel.
Pianists and pedagogues he has played to over the years in masterclasses and coachings include Anne Queffѐlec, Peter Bithell, Bernard d'Ascoli, Emily Jeffrey, Carole Presland, Martin Roscoe, Julian Jacobson, Charles Owen and many others.
His teachers were Gareth Owen, John Thwaites, Caroline Palmer and William Fong. In 2017 he graduated with First Class Honours from the Guildhall School of Music and Drama where he was awarded the Guildhall School’s prestigious ‘Concert Recital Diploma’ awarded to students for achieving the highest distinctions in their final recitals. He completed his Masters Degree at the Royal Academy of Music in 2019 and graduated with Distinction.
Andrew is supported by the Piano Cantabile Scheme, which is run by the eminent French pianist Bernard d'Ascoli and his wife, British pianist Eleanor Harris, providing scholarships for talented young pianists to have lessons and coaching with them.
Teaching is a significant part of Andrew’s professional life as a musician and he runs a piano teaching studio ‘Andrew Gallacher Piano Studio’ in Beaconsfield where his students have enjoyed numerous successes, including prizes in festivals and entry to the Junior Conservatoires.