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13
Jul 2024
Duncan, 80, Channel 4’s The Piano finalist to perform in Harrogate
A Harrogate man who performed on Channel 4’s The Piano is set to perform a solo concert next month.
The upcoming concert at Wesley Chapel, Harrogate, will be Duncan’s biggest performance since his appearance on The Piano.
The event, A Concert with Duncan, has been organised by local charity Dementia Forward and will see him play classical, show tunes and the romantic A Theme for Fran.
Eighty-year-old Duncan captured the hearts of viewers with a song he wrote for his wife of 42 years, Fran.
He played A Theme for Fran, which he wrote 30 years ago, on a piano in Manchester Piccadilly Sation and won a spot in the final concert of the show where he performed in front of international pop star Mika and leading pianist Lang Lang.
Duncan and Fran’s romance saw them become fan favorites. The pair first met in 1964 and have lived in Harrogate for many years. He previously played the piano at Betty’s unit the Covid pandemic.
Duncan has had Alzheimer's disease for six years, but was only diagnosed with it two years ago, and now uses his musical talent as a form of medicine.
The couple play and sing with community groups such as St Peter's Church and at Harrogate's Christ Church, where each Thursday a pianist with dementia plays.
A spokesperson for Dementia Forward said:
If you were one of the hundreds of people who was moved and inspired by Duncan’s performance on The Piano, you are in for a treat this summer.
Duncan on Channel 4's The Piano. Image: Channel 4
Fran told the Stray Ferret both she and Duncan are very excited for the concert. She said:
It was an incredible opportunity. To have that platform is just such a fabulous opportunity to raise both awareness and funds.
Duncan is really happy, and it has been such an uplifting experience for us both. It gives me joy to see him so happy.
She added that they have been stopped in the street by locals and tourists who recognise them from the show.
She said they often tell Duncan how inspirational they find him and how lovely they found his performance on the show.
Fran said:
This platform will be helpful to encourage people to come along and Dementia Forward is a remarkable, amazing charity. It would be so kind of people to come and see him and we would be very grateful.
Duncan said:
I love hearing how people enjoyed my composition and my performance. I hope this opportunity I have been given will inspire others who have similar conditions.
The event will be taking place at Wesley Chapel
The concert will take place at 7.30pm August 3 at the Wesley Chapel Harrogate.
Tickets cost £10, with all proceeds going to Dementia Forward, and are available here or by calling 01765 601224.
Duncan will also perform in a second concert in Ripon later this year where he will be joined by other musicians whose lives have been transformed by music.
The second event will take place on September 20 at St John’s Church in Sharow.
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