Pianist Kyle Hutchings in Iris Axon Recital

'Poet of the Piano' to perform at Acton Hill Church

Kyle Hutchings

April 21, 2026

The long-running Acton Hill concert series welcomes the distinguished pianist Kyle Hutchings for its next recital on Sunday 3 May at 4pm, an afternoon that promises depth, poetry and virtuosity from an artist whose rise has been remarkable. Initially self-taught, Hutchings has since won numerous national and international awards and earned a reputation as a “poet of the piano”.

His programme brings together three composers whose music reveals the full range of his artistry. The recital opens with Mozart’s Adagio in B minor, K.540, one of the composer’s most profound and introspective works, a piece that seems to suspend time with its quiet intensity. Hutchings then turns to Liszt’s Années de pèlerinage – Italie, S161, performing the three Petrarch Sonnets — Nos. 47, 104 and 123 — pieces that move between lyrical tenderness, ardent passion and spiritual reflection. The afternoon concludes with three of Rachmaninov’s Moments Musicaux, Op.16: No. 3 in B minor, No. 5 in D-flat and No. 6 in C, each a miniature drama in its own right, showcasing both the pianist’s technical command and his gift for shaping long, singing lines.

The recital takes place at Acton Hill Church, W3 9BU, on the corner of High Street and Woodlands Avenue, next to Chaiiwala and opposite Acton Police Station. Programmes are available at the door, priced at £10, with £5 concessions and free entry for children.

Organisers hope supporters will join them for this special event, particularly as the June and July concerts have had to be cancelled due to ill health. Whether the series will resume in the autumn is still uncertain, and the team extends heartfelt thanks to all who have sustained the concerts over more than twenty years.

The Iris Axon Concert Series is an annual season of short (60-70 minute) monthly recitals on Sunday afternoons at the Acton Hill Church. The series was started by Music Director Jane Schopf in 2004 to provide a venue for young musicians starting on their professional careers, many of whom have subsequently enjoyed international success in competitions and on the concert platform. The series has continued to grow and now attracts established international artists as well.

Originally called the Acton Classical Music Concert Series, it was re-named in 2009 in memory of one of its most loyal supporters, Iris Axon, who made possible the purchase of a concert grand, handmade by Clive Pinkham.

The church is deemed ideal for concerts as it has the largest unsupported wooden barrel-vault ceiling in London which brings out the middle harmonics, creating a luxuriously warm sound.

Concerts are usually held on the first Sunday of the month at 4pm. Programmes at the door. There are crèche facilities available.

More information is available at classicalconcerts-acton.com.