Mischa Carr - Royal College of Music - Pianist

On Wednesday 23 October 2024, the Awards Knight Didy Grahame OBE and Knight Webmaster Valerie Wilkins had great pleasure in meeting Mischa at the Royal College of Music 'Award Holders' Reception'. The RCM recognised the vital role the Society and other supporters play in sustaining the RCM charitable mission.

Mischa kindly gives her written thanks below, followed by her biography:

Dear Ms Wilkins,

My name is Mischa Carr, a pianist about to begin my undergraduate studies at the Royal College of Music under the tutelage of Professor Dina Parakhina. Throughout my life, music has consistently remained a central focus. Having grown up within music schools such as the Yehudi Menuhin School and Chethams School of Music, I have been lucky enough to experience such a diverse range of opportunities preparing me for life at the RCM. The best memories I have made throughout my time at these schools have been those including collaborations with my peers and professors, as well as performing regularly as a soloist. Recently, I have greatly enjoyed collaborating on various chamber works with my peers at

YMS, working with Menuhin school alumna Cheryl Frances-Hoad on her piano quintet The Whole Earth Dances, additionally working with Sally Beamish on her piano trio arrangement of Debussy’s La Mer. Over the summer holidays, I was additionally given the inspiring opportunity to perform Brahms’ piano quintet in F minor with current BBC Philharmonic leader, Yuri Torchinsky. I aspire to have a career as a multifaceted musician, performing regularly not only as a soloist but additionally as a chamber musician, and I believe all these experiences amongst many others have greatly inspired me to do so. 

Studying at the RCM has always been a clear intention for me. I have consistently looked up to its vast variety of inspirational alumni, as well as current student body. Having spoken to many students that have both studied and are currently studying at the RCM, all feedback regarding the conservatoire was beyond positive and I am extremely excited to be joining as a student. As well as having a very friendly student body, the RCM additionally has an amazing board of professors, whom I greatly look up to as both teachers and musicians. I am very much looking forward to experiencing all the RCM has to offer, as well as returning to study with my former professor, Dina Parakhina. 

An upcoming performance I am particularly looking forward to is a recital in Rome, which I am due to perform in July 2025. This was awarded to me as a ‘special prize’ following my entry to the Lunigiana International Music Festival concerto competition this summer. I am additionally due to perform at the 19th congress of the Czech and Slovak Pneumology and Physiology Society in June 2025, at which the Slovak prime minister is due to attend. Additionally, this year I hope to form a connection with the Manchester cathedral concert society, having grown up in Manchester, performing at the cathedral has always been a dream of mine. 

I cannot thank you enough for generously supporting me through my time at the RCM. I have lived alone with my mother for the last 8 years, who despite being endlessly generous and encouraging when it came to my studies could not afford to contribute to my tuition fees. Throughout my musical education I have relied on the help of others for financial support and without this scholarship, attending the Royal College of Music would have been very difficult. I intend on making the absolute most out of every opportunity that comes my way from September, in all aspects of both performance and academic work. Joining the RCM student body is an immense honour. 

Yours sincerely,

Mischa Carr

Biography 

Mischa Carr is an undergraduate student at the Royal College of Music, studying piano with Professor Dina Parakhina. She is a Knights of the Round Table Award Holder supported by the John and Marjorie Coultate Scholarship.  

When she was five, Mischa began studying the piano. At the age of seven she was accepted into the Junior Guildhall program, being one of the youngest students at the institution. From there, she joined Chethams school of music in 2015, studying with professors Dina Parakhina and Murray McLachlan. During her time at Chethams, she was given the opportunity to perform Mozart’s piano concerto No.8 in a masterclass with Sir András Schiff at the Stoller Hall. She has additionally participated in masterclasses with professors such as Christopher Elton, Jean-Efflam Bavouzet, and Fabio Bidini.  

Since 2022, Mischa has been studying at the Yehudi Menuhin school with Professor Dinara

Klinton. Whilst at YMS, she has performed in venues including the Razumovsky Academy, Kings Place, and the Centro Cultural Villa in Nerja. In Nerja, she performed Chopin’s second piano concerto with the Malaga Symphony Orchestra, following being awarded the absolute first prize for solo performance, as well as being a winner of the concerto competition at the International Piano Festival in Malaga. She was additionally invited to perform the same concerto with the Farnham Sinfonia last October. Prior to her time at Menuhin, she had additionally performed in venues such as St. James Hall, the Royal Academy of Music, the National theatre in Slovakia, and Torre de Canyamel in Mallorca.  

During this summer, Mischa attended the Lunigiana International Music Festival at which she collaborated and performed Brahms’ piano quintet in F minor with the current leader of the BBC Philharmonic, Yuri Torchinsky. During this course she was awarded a recital in Rome, which she will perform in July 2025.