Andrew Gallacher is a postgraduate student at the Royal Academy of Music where he studies with William Fong. In 2017 he graduated with first class honours from the Guildhall School of Music where he was awarded the Guildhall School’s prestigious ‘Concert Recital Diploma’ awarded to students for achieving the highest distinctions in their final recitals. He has studied privately with Gareth Owen, and at the Purcell School of Music with John Thwaites, and at the Guildhall School with Caroline Palmer. Pianists and pedagogues he has played to over the years in masterclasses and coachings include Anne Queffѐlec, Peter Bithell, Bernard d'Ascoli, Emily Jeffrey, Carole Presland, Martin Roscoe, Julian Jacobson, Charles Owen and many others. During his time at the Purcell School, he reached the junior finals of the Canolfan Gerdd William Mathias Piano Competition whose judging panel included John Lill. Later he was the youngest finalist (aged 17) competing against pianists from the Royal Northern College of Music and the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland in the Moray Piano Competition. Adjudicator Charles Owen praised him as "A young artist of rare talent, quality and the ability to hold the listener with every note". Later, at the age of eighteen, after competitive auditions he performed at the Wigmore Hall alongside violinist Roberts Balanas. More recently, Andrew was the first prize winner at the Brighton and Hove Springboard Concerto Competition, where adjudicator Timothy Barratt praised his "imaginative playing" "effective tonal finesse" "incisive control" and "understanding of the orchestra's role". This success led to Andrew's appearance in 2016 as soloist with the Brighton Youth Orchestra under the baton of Andrew Sherwood, performing Liszt's Piano Concerto no.2 in A-major, S.125. Andrew is supported by the "Piano Cantabile" scheme, which is run by the eminent French pianist Bernard d'Ascoli and his wife, British pianist Eleanor Harris, and provides scholarships for talented young pianists to have lessons and coaching with them. Teaching is a significant part of Andrew’s professional life as a musician and he has his own private piano teaching practice in Beaconsfield and teaches piano at Holyport College.
