Rupert Cheek

I’m involved with music because as a child it was not only a positive outlet but a necessary one, an imperative one, as it was a way for me to connect to others. Music is quite literally my first language. When I was young (3 or 4), I was not talking so had speech therapy. That didn’t have much impact so I moved to music therapy, where my therapist gave me the space to communicate using a piano and percussion. Music therapy helped, and music still helps me, to communicate and connect with others, to express / be myself, to be part of the world.

I started having piano lessons at the age of 5 or 6. I continued having lessons, on and off, until the final year of my BMus (2002).

My earliest musical memories involve listening to my mum singing and playing guitar, listening to the radio when my dad had it on. I fell in love with (a record of) Tchaikovsky’s Nutcracker / Swan Lake at the age of 8.

The same year, my oldest brother gave me a tape of Queen’s album The Works. I was hooked. 3 years later, Freddie died. I remember the Tribute concert the year after. My parents got me 2 tickets to see/hear Brian May and Kerry Ellis perform at the Royal Albert Hall some years ago when they released their Anthems album. Kerry previously was a star in the queen / Ben Elton musical “We Will Rock You” in London, which I saw twice (although not when she was in it).

One of Mike Oldfield’s tracks in particular (not from TB) is emotional for me as it was used in an acrobatics display my brother used to do with someone else at this acrobatics club. Mike Oldfield is a British musician who became famous due to his album Tubular Bells (and the later Tubular Bells II, Tubular Bells III and Millenium Bell), which was the first album released on Richard Branson’s Virgin Records label.

For many years, being part of 2 local community choirs (associated to Tiffin Boys School and Kingston Grammar School) was an ‘excuse’ to spend time with family (dad, his brother & wife, dads sister). Singing in a choir was another way to learn about music, develop my passion, be part of something bigger than myself, to become more confident using my voice- to sing loudly and be heard but not above anyone else — to be equal, to make a difference.

My educational background is in music — I had piano lessons for many years and studied music at university — piano, composition, theory, history…

In 2002 I graduated with a BMus from at Roehampton Uni. I studied music (including piano & composition) and gained experience as a piano accompanist for “Shades of Harmony” (an intimate female choir) and a string trio. I also helped a solo singer pass a grade exam. I wrote a thesis (supervised by Dr B Norton) on Philip Glass’ opera trilogy; Einstein on the Beach, Satyagraha & Akhnaten.

During 2002–03 I studied film/TV composition at Kingston Uni. I got involved with an arts event called “transit station” and travelled to Berlin & Edinburgh and collaborated (as composer / pianist) with dancers and live / performance artists and film makers.

In 2003 I created the soundtrack for (Death (G)row (Right Charlie Productions).

In 2005 I composed the score for a short film (The Spotter, dir. Li, prod. Main) by students at the London Film Academy.

During Feb — July 2005 I worked with Sheen Mount School as a pianist. In 2011 I gained further experience as an accompanist at St John’s primary school in Kingston.

During 2006–07 I worked as a play-worker and gained a level 2 CACHE playwork certificate.

In 2007 I gained experience as a youth music tutor.

During 2010–12, under the banner “piano Talent”, I worked with London based singer-songwriter called Nix Nugent. Piano Talent is now a platform to promote other pianists, teachers, composers etc… @pianotalent /

Around 2007 I started working as a composer on an opera / musical / music theatre piece based on a book called We All Know Too Much by Chris Eales. This is a project I would like to bring to fruition in the future. Find out more at

Since c2012 (.uk ) I have been developing my skills / experience / passion for using social media to connect with musicians and help them to connect / communicate with others.

Music promotion via Cheeky Promo, born on 1st January 2013, is perhaps a way of finding people who can help with a musical, social, educational enterprise comprising an arts centre, creative space, creative startup incubator / accelerator;

To help (musicians). To share my passion for music. To learn. To meet people and make friends