Musician-In-Residence

Maki Sekiya was musician-in-residence for a number of years.

Green Templeton College appointed world-class virtuoso Maki Sekiya as its first musician-in-residence in 2017. She is a sought after soloist of international calibre, and frequently performs solo recitals and makes concerto appearances.

Maki is also interested in the holistic (therapeutic) role of music. As a music educator, she has formed a local music community Oxford Music Hub to connect like minded musicians across different generations. She is a graduate of Moscow Conservatoire and lives in Oxford with her musical family.

Pedro Stoeckli, winner of the Green Templeton College 2019 Photography Competition
Maki Sekiya, the GTC Musician-In-Residence for 2018-19Maki Sekiya, the GTC Musician-In-Residence for 2018-19Maki Sekiya, the GTC Musician-In-Residence for 2018-19

Maki performed numerous recitals at Green Templeton during her appointment, including a truly memorable concert with St. Anne’s Camerata chamber orchestra in the iconic Radcliffe Observatory in 2019.

Conducted by Dr John Traill, the programme saw Maki performing solo works by Beethoven (his Opus 109 Sonata) and Liszt’s Campanella, followed by Mozart’s piano concerto no.14.

Maki Sekiya performance - 40th Anniversary of the Founding of Green College, 20 September 2019
Maki Sekiya and Rebecca Surender- 40th Anniversary of the Founding of Green College, 20 September 2019

In summer 2020, Maki gave a special performance from the Radcliffe Observatory, recorded without a live audience due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

To celebrate the 250th anniversary of Beethoven’s birth, Maki played his Sonata No.16 in G, Op.31 No.1. That was followed by Chopin’s 24 Preludes. You can watch her piano recital via YouTube on this page.

For more piano videos, please visit Maki’ s personal YouTube channel.

Recitals for the Human Welfare Conference 2021

Maki recorded a series of piano recitals that were shown during the Human Welfare Conference 2021, as part of a lunchtime recital and conversation with Emeritus Fellow Sir Muir Gray about ageing, music and wellbeing.

Chopin, Etude Op.25 N.1

Maki says: ‘A harp – instrument of angels – has been the symbol of music from ancient times, representing a bridge from earth to heaven. Aeolian harp, otherwise called a ‘wind harp’, is associated with the lyre of King David in the Old Testament, which is said to be played by the wind sent from God.

‘The choice of this piece is inspired by the harp, and also by the name of the place where this performance is being recorded, The Tower of the Winds, which houses the common room of Green Templeton College.

‘It is this Etude by Chopin which was nicknamed “Aeolian harp’. This Etude does not only dazzle, but elevates the listener’s mind higher to the place where wind was born.’

Bach, Concerto in F minor, 2nd movement, BWV 1056

Maki says: ‘The second movement of the klavier concerto N5 in F minor, renowned for its other worldly calmness and beauty. The main theme is taken from an oboe solo of Cantata BWV 156 Ich steh mit einem Fuß im Grabe.

‘This cantata was composed for the Third Sunday after Epiphany, where the prescribed Gospel reading was about Jesus’s miracle, “the healing of a leper”. Matthew (8:1-13).’

Mozart, Piano Sonata in C major, 1st movement, K545

Maki says: ‘It is suggested from various scientific research that classical music can have numerous health benefits. The original study in 1993, which later became famous as the Mozart Effect, featured the Sonata for two pianos KV 448, which is said to have temporarily increased spatial reasoning (cognitive effect).

‘There was further research conducted in 2001 that suggested listening to the piano Sonata KV545 alongside KV448 could similarly reduce Epileptiform discharges in some children with epilepsy.’

Schubert, Wanderer Fantasy 2nd movement D.760

Maki says: ‘Schubert’s music is often said to be one of the more popular choices of music for patients recovering after stroke or people living in care homes. My personal choice of composer when I look for a moment of haven in music will be Schubert.

‘Wanderer Fantasy is based on Schubert’s song about the lonely wanderer, who is on a journey, longing for a “beloved land”, like a soul searching for an eternal home.

‘In this second movement, the opening theme calls “where?”, a motif taken from the song, which seems to find an answer at the end of the movement.’


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