2021 turns to 2022
Thank you to all you generous Project 48 supporters around the country – to those who’ve organised events this year, to those who’ve attended them, to those who’ve tuned in to 2021’s monthly livestreams, and to those who’ve donated to the project charities.
It’s remarkable to look back to 1st January, when I gave the first livestream of the project, in that dark, cold winter lockdown! On the first of each month this year I’ve played different preludes and fugues live to camera, working through the whole 48; some have been technologically more successfully than others(!), but they’ve been a lovely way to connect with supporters across the country and beyond. They’re all available on the news page if you’d like to catch up with them.
It’s also quite amazing to look back to the first live performance, in mid May, up in Beverley, as soon as concerts were allowed to take place again. At that point, playing the whole ’48’ across five days felt like a serious challenge; my perspective on that has changed a little since I now often play the whole thing across two days, and sometimes all in one day!
It has been so special since then to play in so many different places, and to build a relationship with this music which continuously evolves and deepens. And I’m proud to have raised over £26,000 for the four project charities so far.
It feels at the moment that there is a renewed sense of hope around the pandemic; how lucky we are to live in a country with vaccines and medical care so readily available. However, we’re not out of the woods yet, and there is uneasiness around the coming weeks.
I have therefore taken the decision to hit pause on Project 48 for the first six weeks of 2022, and to add that time onto the end of the project instead. It is very difficult for organisers to plan and promote an event when guidelines are unclear and prone to change, when audiences are nervous about attending, and when last-minute cancellations are more likely. It seems to make much more sense to sit tight for a few weeks, and to be able to share this music at a stage when there might be less uncertainty!
The dates planned for January and early February will be rescheduled for later in the project, as will the London dates frustratingly cancelled a fortnight ago. And there are plenty of other counties to come too – details to follow on the website and via the project mailing list, which you can join here.
Thank you so much once again for all your support to date. A very happy new year to you all, and I look forward to seeing many of you later in 2022!