Announced as Artist in Residence at World Heart Beat

World Heart Beat Embassy Gardens has announced concert pianist Cyrill Ibrahim as its new Artist in Residence, beginning in September 2025. Known for its innovative approach to music education and community engagement, World Heart Beat provides young people from diverse backgrounds with access to world-class training and opportunities.

At the heart of the residency is a commitment to creating immersive experiences that reimagine how classical music can be performed and shared. The opening concert on 26 September, Harmonie du Soir, sets the tone: an evocative programme inspired by Baudelaire’s poem of the same name. Works such as Beethoven’s Moonlight Sonata, Debussy’s Clair de Lune, and Liszt’s Petrarch Sonnets will be woven together with live poetry and voice, offering audiences a journey into twilight through music and literature.

Other highlights include Debussy Illuminated, a multimedia concert in which Cyrill collaborates with a visual artist to transform sound into light and image; and Chopin’s Heart, an innovative programme exploring the symbolic journey of Chopin’s physical heart, developed in collaboration with a New York-based artist. The residency also features a children’s concert in partnership with a children’s author, and a bold reimagining of two piano concertos in chamber music settings, reflecting the growing trend of moving classical performance into more intimate and immersive spaces.

Alongside these concerts, Cyrill will lead masterclasses, mentoring, and educational projects, ensuring that the residency builds a lasting legacy for young musicians. His appointment marks a forward-looking vision for classical music—one that is inclusive, experimental, and deeply human.