The Goldberg Variations Quest
7:00pm, Sat, 4 Oct 2025
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- Event Details
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Type of event: Performance Start time: 7:00pm End time: 9:00pm Venue: St Martin's Church
132-4 Mortimer Road
London
NW10 5SNSee map below Ticket pricing/options: General admission £25 (to include glass of wine or soft drink)
Student £12Tickets: 
Description: This is a fund-raising event for Queen's Park Singers. Pianist Reiko Kimura will perform J.S. Bach's Goldberg Variations BWV 988, as well as providing spoken introductions to the music. 
Reiko writes:
Born in Japan, I received the Kreutzer Prize for excellence in my MA studies in Music. Inspired by my lifelong love for European classical music, I realised my dream by coming to the UK with a Rotary Foundation scholarship to pursue advanced solo piano course at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama. I have made London my musical home for over four decades.
After completing the concert recital diploma at Guildhall School, I worked there for ten years as an accompanist for string players mainly under Prof David Takeno, and performed with them in many concerts. I deepened my training through masterclasses with Gyorgy Kurtag and Andras Schiff at various places including Prussia Cove (IMS), and was mentored by Valeria Szervansky, one of Kurtag’s closest and oldest students.
A passionate educator, I hold certification in the Kodรกly Music method and studied Dalcroze Eurythmics. For thirteen years, I taught music to young children at my daughter’s school - Gladstone Park Primary School - leading singing assemblies as well as movement classes that nurtured joyful musical expression.
During the pandemic, I took on two personal challenges: completing a “Couch to 5K” running aspiration, and embarking on an in-depth study of Bach’s Goldberg Variations - journeys that still continue to inspire me.
These challenges have been especially meaningful to me; I wouldn’t have been able to pursue my career without the Rotary scholarship. In gratitude, I ran a 10K marathon and raised over £1,000 for ‘Freedom from Torture’ and performing this concert to raise funds for scholarships for our choir.
In this concert, I share my reflection and insights into Bach’s masterwork by combining performance with spoken introductions.
A member of the Queen’s Park Singers, I find deep fulfilment performing with others in choral works such as Bach’s St. John Passion, Brahms’ Requiem, and Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony. I believe that singing—and the human voice — uniquely expresses the very core of music.
