François Cloete (OE10479)  will be performing J. S. Bach's complete Goldberg Variations BWV 988 on the Andrew Garlick harpsichord, in College Hall at Elizabeth College on Saturday 2 August 2025, 6.30pm. Drinks to follow the performance.

It is a fundraising concert for the Guernsey Harpsichord Trust (GHT), with a suggested donation starting, but not capped, at £25, that can be made anytime using the bank details provided below. Susan Lloyd, the organiser, would appreciate RSVPs to slloyd02@icloud.com to anticipate seating and drinks.

Bank details: Guernsey Harpsichord Trust; 20-35-32; 13415341

About the Goldberg Variations: A work that contains 30 intricate variations upon an aria, it lasts an hour and a quarter in extremely rare performances where all variations are performed in a single sitting. François joins an illustrious list of musicians who have performed this piece on piano but on the even more challenging medium of harpsichord, as originally intended by Bach.

Two celebrations: This is a celebration of two things. First, Andrew Garlick, the maker of the GHT's harpsichord, came to Guernsey to completely revamp the harpsichord last year, in a trip funded by the kind generosity of a private patron. The Goldberg Variations demonstrates the splendour of our new instrument as it has not been heard in decades in Guernsey.

Secondly, it is a celebration of our homegrown talent François who is achieving great things. He has won the organ scholarship to Westminster Abbey and he has won a national doctoral research award, despite being an undergraduate. He has also achieved an historic result in his music degree at Oxford: Congratulatory First Class, exceeding First Class marks for every single paper and scoring 90 in Performance.

If you are free and you wish to come along and share the rare and remarkable experience of hearing one of the greatest works of J. S. Bach on the magnificent newly restored harpsichord, it would be lovely to see you.