LUCAS KELLY

Lucas began learning the piano aged 8 and showed proficient technique allowing him to jump into ABRSM examinations starting at Grade 3. In his early years, Lucas was mostly self-taught but eventually consulted local musician and choir musical director Kim Kaye, who guided him through the advanced ABRSM grades. During his time at secondary school, Lucas gained experience playing in local orchestras and big bands, and by the age of 14, he had achieved Grade 8 classical piano with a distinction, and had also set up his own jazz sextet, "Lucas and the Jazz Turnips" (a powerful name!). During his GCSE studies, Lucas composed a piece for big band entitled "Mini Jymphony No. 1 in Bb Major" (a "mini jazz symphony"), which was awarded full marks and also performed live by Lucas with the Greenhead College Big Band in 2016 at the Royal Albert Hall as part of the Music For Youth Festival.

After completing his GCSE studies, Lucas began studying Music, Music Technology and Computer Science at Greenhead College in Huddersfield. During his time there, he assisted with setting up a 12-piece funk band known as "Major Inconveniences", which Lucas wrote several arrangements for.

Lucas started studying jazz piano at the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire in 2017, and graduated with First Class in June 2021. He has received tuition from musicians such as John Turville and Liam Noble, as well as ensemble coaching from Mark Hodgson, Ross Stanley and John O'Gallagher. Lucas was on the piano chair for the conservatoire's Duke Ellington Orchestra (occasionally playing the conservatoire's Hammond M100 organ) and has played many engagements with the Conservatoire Jazz Orchestra, Afro Cuban Jazz Orchestra and the Conservatoire Township Band (led by bassist Riaan Vosloo). Lucas is also an active classical/jazz/pop piano, keyboard and music theory tutor to students across a wide range of ages and abilities as part of Musica Kirklees and his own private students. He also is an experience accompanist, being the principal accompanist for Leeds Male Voice Choir as well as the Junior and Children's West Choirs as part of Barnsley Youth Choir.