Lunchtime Recital - Duo Papandrea-Davis

Programme:

Claude Debussy: Sonata in D minor L.135 for Cello and Piano

César Franck: Sonata in A major FWV8 Piano Cello

Biographies:

Owen Sørbye Davis, a 19-year-old cellist from Oslo, Norway, has received extensive training through prestigious music programs. He has studied in the “Young Talents program at the Barratt Due Institute of Music since 2016. Owen has been awarded scholarships from the Wilhelmsen Foundation and the European Union International Youth Collaboration Program, which have enabled him to participate in renowned festivals such as the Verbier Festival, Colluvio Music Academy, and Bowdoin Summer Music Festival. He has also won prizes in competitions, including the National Youth Music Competition and the Young Ludwig Competition in Berlin.

He currently studies under Josephine Knight at the Royal Academy of Music where he holds a scholarship.

Phoebe Papandrea - Piano Award-winning British-Italian pianist Phoebe Papandrea was born in London in 2007. She began taking piano lessons at the age of three and rapidly gained international recognition for her exceptional talent and artistry. Her early passion for music led to remarkable achievements, with invitations to perform at the Royal Festival Hall, London aged four, Carnegie Hall aged twelve and Wigmore Hall aged fifteen. She was awarded her Diploma in Piano Performance at the age of ten and received a Scholarship to attend The Purcell School for Young Musicians. In September 2025, Papandrea began her Bachelor's Degree in Music and Piano Performance in the class of Professor William Fong at the Royal Academy of Music, where she holds the prestigious Dianne Roberts Scholarship. She is also a Scholarship Holder at the Musikakademie Liechtenstein in the class of Professor Ruben Dalibaltayan. International competition success has seen Papandrea awarded First Prize in all competitions entered last season, including the César Franck, Béla Bartók, Pianale Fulda, IMF Paris, Mimas Italy, IPPA Conero Kansas, WPTA Italy, Livorno Junior and Pacific Stars LA. She is a frequent guest at major festivals and academies worldwide and has performed in public masterclasses with many of the world's leading pianists and pedagogues including Maria João Pires, Arie Vardi and Elena Levit. Papandrea has toured extensively, appearing in major concert halls including Wigmore Hall, Carnegie Hall, the Musikverein Wien, Salzburg Mozarteum, Palau de la Música Catalana, the Royal Albert Hall and the Barbican. As a soloist, she has performed with orchestras worldwide, most recently performing Rachmaninoff Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini, Rachmaninoff Piano Concerto No.2, Chopin Piano Concerto No.1 and Grieg Piano Concerto in A minor. Described as "a true musician and true artist," Papandrea brings a distinct personality, intelligence and innate understanding of the music she performs.

Presented in association with the Royal Academy of Music.