Pianist

Russell Thompson

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About Russell Thompson

I am an ambituous pianist who loves performing and moving people with my playing. Music is my passion, and the piano is my life!
Pianist
Wokingham
Public liability insurance of £10 million

I am a concert pianist, background pianist and accompanist. I can play a variety of music, from pop to classical, although classical is my forte! I can play the most difficult repertoire ranging from Liszt to Rachmaninoff. My training began at 8 and I later studied piano at the Royal Northern College of Music. Recently I've studied and continuing to study with Julian Jacobson, one or the UK's finest pianists. Performing highlights include winning Knowsley Young Musician of the Year, performing in the Chopin Prize at RNCM Concert Hall, Beethoven Piano Concerto 1 with South Liverpool Orchestra and performing with my Wife on two pianos on the London Palladium for the celebrity judges of Britain's Got Talent!

Russell Thompson
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5 out of 5
2 verified reviews

Russell Thompson's Reviews

From customers:

SR
Stella R
2 years ago, for a Concert in 8 High St
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5 out of 5

Review of Concert at St Mary’s by Russell Thompson on January 21st 2024 at 4pm This was our first concert of 2024. We were pleased to welcome Russell Thompson’s back to St Mary’s after he enchanted us all with his recital in 2022. On a dark, wet and windy January afternoon we were again dazzled and amazed by Russell’s technical brilliance, his ability to make the extremely difficult appear easy and his deep understanding of the emotions and meaning of each piece. The pieces were all played with immense verve and virtuosity. We were treated to JS Bach’s Prelude and Fugue in C minor, Mozart’s Sonata in C Major, Rachmaninoff’s Preludes in C# Major and B minor and a glorious set of Chopin pieces, Grande Waltz Brilliante Op 18, Polonaise in A Major Op 40 No 1 and Ballade No 1. Russell announced the Chopin section with ‘And now Chopin, we are going to have Fun!” So we did. My own favourites were the Rachmaninoff Prelude in C# minor, a wonderful evocation of Moscow and the Kremlin Bells, the Rachmaninoff Prelude in B Minor inspired by Arnold Böcklin’s "Die Heimkehr” (the Homecoming) and the structurally complex Chopin Ballade No 1 which made a wonderful finish to the recital. We look forward to Russell’s next visit to St Mary’s in 2025. I would also like to thank the audience for battling through the rain and wind to attend the concert.

SR
Stella R
3 years ago, for a Concert in 8 High St
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5 out of 5

Review of Concert at St Mary’s by Russell Thompson on September 3rd 2022 at 19:30 Russell Thompson’s recital was technically brilliant and involved pieces that were very complex to play and very thrilling to hear. The selection of pieces from composers from the Classical Era reminded the audience that the Classical Composers not only wrote the lyrical Classical works which are the best known today but also pieces that are much darker and more epic. Underlying lyrical themes fought with layers of disconnected dissonance, questions were asked repeatedly and the answers were never satisfactory, mortals and immortals could not fall in love without being doomed in Mozart’s Sonata in C Major (K330), Chopin’s Etudes No 3 and No 12 from Opus 10 and his Ballade No 3 and Liszt’s Trancendental Etude No. 10. Matching the style of these pieces were the more modern compositions of two of Gershwin’s Three Preludes and James Horner’s “Theme from Krull”. There were also lighter pieces of music, Russell played a delightful Impromptu of his own composition, dedicated to his wife of a fortnight, Trudi, and, for an encore, his own arrangement of She Danced With Me from The Musical Film The Slipper and the Rose (Richard & Robert B Sherman). The audience thoroughly enjoyed the recital and we hope Russell will return and play for us again in the future.

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Russell Thompson's Song list

Chopin Polonaise in A Flat Major 'Heroic'
Chopin Nocturne in E Flat
Chopin Grand Waltz in A Flat Major
Liszt Liebestraume No. 3
Rachmaninoff Rhapsody 18th Variation
Beethoven Fur Elise
Mozart Rondo Alla Turca
Rimsky Korsakov Flight of the Bumblebee
Elton John Your Song
Adele Me you Feel My Love
Ed Sheeran Thinking Out Loud
Robbie Williams Angels
The Beatles Hey Jude
Abba Mamma Mia
Lionel Richie Three Times a Lady
Sinatra New York New York
Sinatra Come Fly With Me
Sinatra Strangers in the Night
Puttin On The Ritz
Gershwin I Got Rhythm
The Greatest Showman A Million Dreams
Frozen - Let It Go
Lloyd-Webber - The Music Of The Night
Neil Sedaka - Laughter In The Rain
Tony Christie Avenues and Alleyways

Russell Thompson's Prices

Last updated: 2026

Note: prices may vary based on travel distance. For an exact quote, click “Check availability”.

Standard Prices
DurationPrice
Short performance (up to 15 min)£62.50
Up to 1 hour£312.50
Up to 2 hours£500
Up to 3 hours£625
Customer questions

What if my timings change after I've booked you?

We always try our best to be flexible to help ensure your event runs as smoothly as possible. If timings change slightly in the run up to the event just let us know

Can you provide an iPod/DJ service before and between your sets?

No I don't provide this.

How much time do you need to set up?

10 minutes for piano 20 minutes foe keyboard

If I have a piano at my venue, are you happy to perform on that?

Yes, of course - as long as the piano is in working order and in tune, then I'm happy to play on it!

Can I pick the songs you play from the set list?

Our set lists are crafted from countless performances and learning what works best to ensure guests dance and have an amazing time. However, we're definitely happy to chat through and make sure we find what works for your event

Are you able to bring your own piano or keyboard?

I can't bring my own piano but can bring my keyboard.

Can you learn song requests before the event?

If a song isn't included in our song list there may still be a chance we already know it. If there is a special song you'd like us to learn we are happy to do this for you. There is a fee of £30 for this service to take into account rehearsal times etc.
Musicianship
Genres:
Classical, Baroque
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Concert, Wedding, Wedding proposal, Funeral / Memorial service, Church service, Hotel / Restaurant event, Bar / Club / Venue event, Private event, Corporate event, Charity event, Theatre / Show, Birthday party, Christmas party, New Year's Eve
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