The 3rd Haileybury Astana ICEsteddfod

In the end of February 2019, Haileybury Astana will celebrate the Welsh traditional culture of music, dance and art in the form of a Music and Drama Competition.

Running order

Download the ICEsteddfod brochure

The chief Jury of the 3rd Haileybury Astana ICEsteddfod contest

Ffinian Jones.

Originally from Denbigh in North Wales, Concert Pianist Ffinian Jones enjoys an international career as a soloist, chamber musician and teacher. After taking up the piano at the age of 8, he soon become recognised as a talented young musician was invited to join the Staffordshire Society for talented young musicians. By the age of 14 he had already gained grade 8 ABRSM distinction on the piano, cello and saxophone before going on to study with Murray McLachlan at the renowned Chetham's School of Music in Manchester. Upon leaving Chetham's Ffinian entered Trinity College of Music in London to study with Philip Fowke were he was the recipient of numerous prizes such as the John Ireland Piano Competition, Scarlatti Competition, Il Circolo Competition and Messiaen Prize. Ffinian was also chosen to study for a term at the Conservatoire National et Superior de Music et Dance de Lyon as part of a partnership program with Trinity College of Music.

He has participated in many master classes given by distinguished musicians such as Leslie Howard, Anton Kureti, Philipe Cassard, Noriko Ogawa, Alexander Ardakov, Mikhail Kazakevich, Deniz Gelenbe and Douglas Finch. He was also invited to play Ronald Stevenson's Peter Grimes
Fantasy to the composer, who was himself a personal friend of Benjamin Britten.

Example of Finian in concert at St Martin-In-The-Fields,Trafalgar Square, London, is:

Download the ICEsteddfod brochure