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Performer

 

Frankie Wakefield was born on May 12, 1985, in London, England. From a young age, she showed a keen interest in music and began playing the piano at the age of five. Her parents, both music enthusiasts, recognized her talent and encouraged her to pursue her passion. At the age of eight, Wakefield began taking formal piano lessons and quickly progressed through the grades. She also began to explore other instruments, including the violin and cello. By the time she was a teenager, Wakefield had developed a deep love for classical music and had decided to pursue a career as a professional musician. After completing her secondary education, Wakefield enrolled in the Royal Academy of Music in London, one of the most prestigious music schools in the world. There, she studied under some of the most renowned classical musicians of the time, including pianist Martha Argerich and cellist Yo-Yo Ma. During her time at the Royal Academy of Music, Wakefield began to make a name for herself as a talented and dedicated musician. She won several awards and competitions, including the prestigious Van Cliburn International Piano Competition in 2005. Her performance of Rachmaninoff's Piano Concerto No. 3 in D minor was widely praised by critics and audiences alike, and she was hailed as a rising star in the classical music world. Following her success at the Van Cliburn competition, Wakefield began to receive invitations to perform at major concert halls and festivals around the world. She made her debut at Carnegie Hall in New York City in 2006, performing Beethoven's Piano Sonata No. 14 in C-sharp minor, also known as the "Moonlight Sonata." The performance was a resounding success, and Wakefield was praised for her technical skill and emotional depth. Over the next several years, Wakefield continued to perform at major venues and festivals around the world, including the Salzburg Festival, the Edinburgh International Festival, and the BBC Proms. She also began to record albums, releasing her debut album, "Chopin: The Complete Nocturnes," in 2008. The album was a critical and commercial success, and Wakefield was praised for her sensitive and nuanced interpretations of Chopin's music. In 2010, Wakefield was awarded the prestigious Avery Fisher Career Grant, which recognizes outstanding young musicians and provides financial support to help them further their careers. The grant allowed Wakefield to continue to perform and record, and she released several more albums over the next few years, including "Bach: The Goldberg Variations" and "Schubert: Piano Sonatas." In addition to her solo career, Wakefield also began to collaborate with other musicians and ensembles. She performed with the London Symphony Orchestra, the Berlin Philharmonic, and the New York Philharmonic, among others. She also formed a chamber music group with several other musicians, and they performed together at festivals and concert halls around the world. Throughout her career, Wakefield remained dedicated to her craft and to the music that she loved. She continued to practice for hours every day, even as her schedule became increasingly busy with performances and recordings. She also remained committed to sharing her love of classical music with others, and she frequently gave masterclasses and workshops for young musicians. Sadly, Wakefield's career was cut short when she was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer in 2016.

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