Women Composers
Collaboration with British-Canadian mezzo-soprano Patricia Hammond started when Andrea appeared on Patricia’s CD Our Lovely Day (2011), played frequently on BBC Radio 2. In addition to her work in classical music, Patricia is a fervent researcher of popular songs from bygone eras.
Andrea was later invited to collaborate on Patricia’s CD Songs of the Great War (2014), popular songs from the First World War with authentic instruments.
Patricia and Andrea are currently working on a project exploring and celebrating the surprising stories and songs of women composers in the 19th and early 20th century Parlour-Song genre. Publication of a book called “She Wrote the Songs” is scheduled for November, along with a CD that contains a few world-premiere recordings in addition to such well-known gems as "Bless This House" and "A Perfect Day".
Here is a sampler!
Trinity trio
Andrea founded the Trinity Trio in 2011, collaborating with her fellow students at Trinity College of Music in Greenwich, London. The trio first existed as a piano trio (violin, cello and piano), with a vision of versatility in the performance of standard classical repertoire along with popular, "evergreen" classics.
Bulgarian clarinettist Boyan Ivanov joined the trio in 2012, creating a new sound, which blends the distinctive timbres of clarinet, cello and piano. Over the years a few different cellists have performed as members of the Trinity Trio, most recently the French musician Solene Chevalier, who joined the ensemble on their tour of China in 2016. Outside of their ensemble work, each member of the trio enjoys a busy career combining solo work with collaborative and orchestral activities.
Andrea and Boyan also perform together as Ivanov&Kmecova Duo, playing in classical recital settings in London and around the UK, and they often present classical music in more informal and interactive concerts on cruise ships and educational concerts in schools.
Andrea and Boyan performing for the Bulgarian Institute in Slovakia
Community work
Andrea believes in the importance of musicians as citizens of the wider world, and enjoys sharing her talent and love of music with the community. She performs for a number of UK-based charities, and she is happy to take part in events supporting a good cause.
As part of the charity scheme at Music in Hospitals and Care, Andrea brings live music to people receiving care or treatment in a healthcare setting across the UK.
Here is a short video about the charity, with a few clips form the concert.
As a collaborative pianist at Lost Chord, a charity that organizes therapeutic interactive concerts for people living with dementia, Andrea tours regularly around London and across England. Andrea talks about her memorable moments as a Lost Chord musician in an article published in the charity’s Spring 2018 Newsletter:Andrea has recently taken part in the organization, and performance, of fundraising concerts in South East London, raising funds for a female prison in Olongapo, and helping children in Aeta tribe villages, both based in the Philippines.
Opera
As rèpètiteur Andrea has worked for several productions, including Madama Butterfly (East-West Arts Initiative), The Marriage of Figaro (Opera Nova), Cavalleria Rusticana, La Finta Semplice, Hänsel und Gretel (Opera at Home), Carmen (Impact Opera), Rinaldo (Trinity College Opera Ensemble).
Andrea rehearsed and performed for the contemporary Tête à Tête Opera Festival at The Riverside Studios, Hammersmith, where she premiered The Yellow Dress, an opera by Richard Lambert and she played in the London premiere of Astor Piazolla’s tango opera Maria de Buenos Aires (Opera at Home).