Elias Ackerley - 2018 Young Musician of the Year Finalist
‘A superb talent!’, ‘jaw-dropping’, ‘a terrific pianist!’… are just a few of the recent professional comments made about up and coming pianist Elias Ackerley, who was a keyboard finalist in this year’s BBC Young Musician of the Year Competition.
Born in Shrewsbury in 2001, and emigrating the following year, Elias began his piano studies at the age of 5 in South Korea. After making rapid progress he was taken on by Russian concert pianist, Oleg Shitin, and won a number of competitions. Elias is currently a student at Chetham’s School of Music where he is a pupil of Dr. Murray McLachlan. Elias became the youngest ever winner of the Chetham’s Beethoven competition – winning in both 2015 and 2016 – and more recently took the first prize at the Scottish International Youth Piano Competition.
Elias will perform a varied repertoire when he comes to Aboyne, including some of the music he performed to so much acclaim in the BBC Competition.
This event is presented by the Aboyne Arts & Theatre Development Group.