We are delighted to welcome to St Peter's concert pianist Margaret Fingerhut. Margaret was born in London of Ukrainian and Polish heritage. She has a distinguished career which has taken her all over the world. She is particularly known for her innovative recital programmes in which she explores the highways and byways of the piano repertoire. As a concerto soloist she has appeared with all of the UK's major orchestras in venues such as the Royal Festival Hall, Royal Albert Hall and the Barbican. She is often heard on BBC Radio 3 and Classic FM and many radio stations worldwide. She has a visiting post at Royal Birmingham Conservatoire where she was awarded an honorary fellowship in 2015.

Recently Margaret has become increasingly involved in using the power of music to raise money for charitable causes. In 2019 she undertook a major recital tour, devising and performing a special programme of words and music called Far from the Home I Love across the UK to raise money for refugees and asylum seekers. In 2022 she collaborated with a young Ukrainian film maker to produce a powerful video which raised money for emergency vehicles in Ukraine. Les Rochers d'Outche-Coche by Ukrainian composer Sergei Bortkiewicz is available on YouTube.

Margaret was awarded an MBE in the 2024 New Year Honours in recognition of her services to music and charitable fundraising.

Members of the Ukrainian community in Congleton will be joining us and helping to provide some Ukrainian refreshments.