Keelan Carew

Pianist and broadcaster Keelan Carew balances a love of the piano with a broad interest in classical music education. Born and raised in Medway, Kent, Keelan began playing the piano at age 7, later studying at the Royal Northern College of Music with Dr Stephen Savage, graduating in 2021. 

 

Keelan has found success in recitals across the UK and Europe, including an especially extraordinary event at the Royal Festival Hall in 2011, featuring Lang Lang, 99 other young pianists, and over 50 grand pianos across the stage. He made his concerto debut in 2018 with Rachmaninoff’s Rhapsody on a theme of Paganini at the Turner Sims Concert Hall. In 2019, Keelan successfully entered the London Sinfonietta Academy program, and particularly enjoys championing contemporary music. Throughout his studies he participated in masterclasses with Garrick Olhsson, Pascal Roge, Peter Donohoe, Noriko Ogawa, Joanna Macgregor, Freddy Kempff, and Melvyn Tan, amongst others. From 2021 to 2024, Keelan led community music making and outreach programs at the Yehudi Menuhin School, working alongside the school’s Director of Music Ashley Wass. As of 2025, he is the Founding Artistic Director of the Rainham Piano Festival, near his home in Kent.

 

While a student, Keelan competed on the BBC’s University Challenge, representing the Royal Northern College of Music. This led to his presenting debut on BBC Radio 3, presenting the series “Sounds Connected”, weekly coverage of the BBC Proms, including live at the Last Night of the Proms, and a 2022 series on the history of piano music, “Piano Odyssey with Keelan Carew”. Through 2023 He regularly contributed to InTune opposite Sean Rafferty and Katie Derham, highlighting music and culture across the UK. Keelan is a regular guest on Radio 4’s Add to Playlist series and has appeared opposite Jess Gillam on This Classical Life. 

 

Keelan now divides his time teaching, performing, broadcasting, presenting and producing accessible concerts for young people across the UK.