Univ in the Arts: A Musical Journey from Baroque to Jazz
Wednesday 18 November, 6pm
Killik & Co, 46 Grosvenor Street, Mayfair, London, W1K 3HN
All members of the College and their guests are warmly invited to enjoy a piano recital with Steinway Artist Rupert Egerton-Smith (1992, History) in the beautiful surroundings of Killik & Co’s 19th century Music Room. Rupert will take us on an exhilarating musical journey from the baroque period to the jazz era, covering four centuries of composition for the keyboard and including works by Scarlatti, Gershwin and Ginastera, culminating with the intoxicating jazz writing of Nikolai Kapustin.
Described as a “pianist and musician of the highest calibre” and commended for the “electrifying energy” of his performance (New York Concert Review), Rupert’s path to becoming a concert pianist defies convention. He did not formally study the piano beyond school and largely stopped piano playing for ten years as he built a career as a strategy consultant, but then entered and won a number of competitions, including the Bradshaw & Buono International, which led to a performance in New York’s Carnegie Hall. In 2020 Rupert made a major life transition to leave the corporate world and build a career as a pianist and composer.
Rupert is passionate about innovative and themed programming in his solo work, and creates a unique musical experience for audiences through narrated performance, describing and contextualising pieces as well as performing them.
The recital will start at 6pm, and attendees will be able to mingle over drinks on arrival. The performance will begin at 6.30pm, and there will be a chance to ask Rupert questions afterwards, with time for further discussion over drinks until 8pm.
Tickets
Old Members, friends of Univ, and guests: £35
Young Univ (alumni aged 35 and under) and current Univ students: £20
The ticket price includes a glass of wine or soft drink on arrival.
Please book your tickets below by Wednesday 4 November. Thank you.
Dress code
Smart casual
Access
If you have any questions about access, please contact rsvp@univ.ox.ac.uk
Book online by 4 November
Biography: Rupert Egerton-Smith
Rupert Egerton-Smith was appointed a Steinway Artist in 2025 and was appointed Artist-in-Residence at the Orchestra of St John’s by John Lubbock OBE in 2022. In February 2024 he was guest soloist for Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue with the Band of The Grenadier Guards and Band and Bugles of the Rifles for HRH The Queen in Salisbury Cathedral. He has performed in many prestigious venues, including Salle Gaveau in Paris, the Berlin Philharmonie, London’s Cadogan Hall and recently Carnegie Hall in New York, where he received a standing ovation for his performance of Stravinsky’s The Firebird.Please note that audio, photographs and video footage may be taken throughout our events. These may be used by the College for marketing and publicity in our publications, on our website and in social media or in any third party publication. Please contact the event organiser if you have any concerns or if you wish to be exempted from this activity.