Page 189 - FINAL_Guildhall Media Highlights 2019-2020 Coverage Book
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What kind of music, Starmer, Keir Starmer? “Beethoven piano sonatas”, he replies, pausing
to add, “actually all things Beethoven.”
Sir Keir Starmer was a junior exhibitioner at the Guildhall School of Music. Picture: Getty
In the same interview, Starmer says his favourite musician is Israeli pianist-conductor Daniel
Barenboim, whom he agrees is “known to be a difficult person”, “but like talented
footballers, you accept this”.
Starmer, also the former Director of Public Prosecutions and Head of the Crown Prosecution
Service, played his many instruments as a junior exhibitioner at the prestigious Guildhall
School of Music, which he attended until the age of 18.
“I played the flute, piano, recorder and violin,” the politician says. “Then I realised at the age
of 17-18 that the other people at the Guildhall were hugely talented, whereas I just practised
hard.”
We’re yet to uncover video evidence of Starmer’s musical endeavours, but you never know,
he might bring his recorder along to the next Prime Minister’s Questions.