The classical concert pianist - who has only one hand

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Nicholas McCarthy was 14 when he had a life-changing musical experience during a piano recital. Despite never having played any instrument before, he decided he wanted to be a concert pianist. But there was an even bigger obstacle to overcome - he only had one hand. His supportive parents bought him a keyboard and incredibly, within a few years, he became good enough to secure a place at a top UK music school. There was one condition: he had to concentrate on the notoriously challenging scores of the left-hand alone piano repertoire. It would mean giving up the music he loved - composers like Chopin and Beethoven, but could also be the way to carve a career from the piano. (A longer version of this interview was first broadcast in August 2022.) Get in touch: [email protected] Presenter: Jo Fidgen Producer: Katy Takatsuki (Photo: Nicholas McCarthy playing piano with Manchester Camerata behind him. Credit: Courtesy of Nicholas McCarthy)