Jeanette Szeto(viola) & Matt Lan(piano)

Event information

Programme
Olivier Messiaen Theme & Variations
Rebecca Clarke Viola Sonata
Ralph Vaughan Williams Romance
César Franck Violin Sonata
Henri Vieuxtemps Capriccio

Jeanette Szeto is a violist, composer, and creative based in London and Manchester. Currently in her final year at the Royal Northern College of Music, where she studies with Louise Lansdown, Jeanette brings a distinctive and versatile creative voice—combining classical performance, improvisation, composition, and cross-disciplinary exploration.

She performs regularly with many of the UK’s leading orchestras, including the BBC Philharmonic, Royal Northern Sinfonia, Chineke! Orchestra, and Manchester Camerata, and was awarded first place for the RNCM Viola Prize in her third year. Jeanette is passionate about refreshing the classical landscape with bold ideas, genre-fluid programming, and innovative artistic collaborations.

She is co-founder, creative director, and core performer of Valette Ensemble, a chamber collective known for its adventurous and immersive performances. Their recent Wigmore Hall appearance featured Gabriella Smith’s Carrot Revolution, and Jeanette’s original compositions were featured in the ensemble’s retelling of Scheherazade.

Beyond her ensemble and orchestral work, Jeanette is a keen composer, arranger, and improviser, often in collaboration with pop and jazz artists to create rich, expressive string textures. She also hosts Art Wall, a podcast where she speaks with musicians about their creative process, inspirations, and lives beyond the rehearsal room.

Matt obtained his Master's degree with distinction at the Royal Northern College of music in Manchester, studying under the tutelage of Ashley Wass. His previous teachers include Jeremy Young and Frank Wibaut. Matt has played for professional pianists such as Gabriela Montero, Phillipe Cassard, Stephen Hough, Jean-Efflam Bavouzet and Kathy Stott. He has been actively performing at local venues and has given recitals in Kronberg ,Bad Homburg and Alfriston as part of the Alfriston Summer Music Festival. Recent competition success include 1st prize of the 5th Japan-Hong Kong International Music Competition Advanced category and 3rd prize in the 3rd Enkor International Music Competition.
Matt quickly established himself as a sought-after collaborative pianist and chamber musician. Matt and his twin brother Jason formed a piano duo and have won the Piano Duo Prize at RNCM, as well as Third prize at the 2019 Roma International Chopin Competition. Matt has recorded Piazzolla’s Le Grand Tango with cellist Jobine’s Siekman at Abbey Road Studios, their recording is now available to listen on most major streaming platforms.

Matt is also a keen aspiring orchestral pianist. Aside from RNCM orchestral projects, Matt has performed with LPO Folye Future Firsts at the Southbank Centre, Leeds Youth Orchestra at Leeds Town Hall and Nottingham Philharmonic at Nottingham Albert Hall.

Since September 2022, Matt returned to the RNCM as Junior Fellow in Accompaniment.