Classical music has provided the background rhythm to Frank Reed’s life, and now, at the age of 80, he wants to share his passion.
An accomplished pianist, who first tickled the ivories at the age of ten, classical music has been a mainstay and he fears that others may be missing out on the joy it brings.
Last year, supported by Torbay Community Builder Helen Kelly, he ran a series of lectures where he introduced people to some of his favourite composers and his favourite pieces of work.
He is aiming to do the same again this year with a series of nine lectures running monthly from March until November, covering in just two hours a different subject each time, from Beethoven to Mozart, from well known classics to Tchaikovsky.
Frank, who lives in Torquay was encouraged in his love of music by his mother, also a pianist, when he was a young schoolboy living in Taunton. And it has never left him.
He worked in the printing industry in Taunton, Exeter and latterly in Torquay, all the while playing and improving his knowledge of classical composers, especially Mozart who in his words “produced such a wealth of music in such a short life. It is so melodic.” Especially his favourite, the Piano Concerto no. 21.
But he worries that classical music is no longer given the airtime it deserves, particularly in schools, “I wish it was taught more; there is a whole world of music out there that people are just not being exposed to.”
It is not the first time Frank has taken the music to the people and for four years was a regular on the hotel restaurant circuit playing in the background as people ate, but COVID put paid to that, and Sunday lunchtime trade has never fully recovered.
“I miss that, people were so appreciative, particularly when I played at the Livermead Cliff Hotel. People would come up to me all the time,” he said.
“Classical music has enhanced my life and I am giving these lectures in the hope that it will enhance others too.”
For more details of the Classical Music Lecture series, on the first Friday of each month from 7-9pm at St Martin’s Church Hall in Barton. Frank can be contacted on 07769 693655.
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