'Changing World' for Viola, Cello & Piano by Fiona T Frank

'Changing World' was performed by Gordon Cervoni, viola, Zach Owen, cello & Yuki Minami, piano, in St Mary's Church, Tenby, as part of the Tenby International Festival, August 2026. What a wonderful musical moment for me to hear my piece, 'Changing World' performed with such passion and beauty as the opening work at the Tenby International Festival Finale : 'From the World to Wales'. I felt deeply honoured to receive this wonderful opportunity to be a fellow of this International music festival. I enjoyed the workshops leading up to the final performances. Thank you so much to the artistic directors! 🙏🎵🤗🎵💖 From Argentina to Armenia, and Peru to Portugal, the jury received a whopping 256 applications from 39 countries. It was a thoroughly moving experience and it was great to hear the other contemporary works performed with great panache and musical dexterity. It gave me great hope to know that all over the world beautiful music is being created and played in such a critical time for our world! It was indeed an honour to be a part of the concert and I send my heartfelt thanks to the artistic directors of the Tenby International Music Festival who are :- Iranian Composer: Kian Ravaei, Welsh violinist: Thomas Mathias and Welsh pianist: Dominic Ciccotti with huge congratulations in creating such a truly international set of concerts with outstanding musicianship. Thank you so much to the fantastic musicians who gave the Welsh premiere of 'Changing World' :- Gordon Cervoni viola, cellist Zach Owen & pianist & artistic advisor Yuki Minami in the perfect setting of St Mary's Church. The opening theme is thoughtful & tender but soon a sense of shifting sands is evident beneath the soulful melody. A duet between the viola & cello brings a momentary lull, then the listener is taken forward into a more insistent rhythmical current. There is much beauty and courageous expression in this musical journey. It celebrates the power of the human spirit to transcend the challenges laid before us. This work is also written for violin, cello & piano and the violin range gives an interesting variety of expression. This is movement 3 of a 4 movement piano trio called 'One Voice: One Family', first recorded in Zagreb in Feb.2026 for viola, cello & piano by the FM trio. It has also been performed with violin instead of viola. Both instruments bring their own intensity to the music. Leo Tolstoy: Everyone thinks of changing the world, but no one thinks of changing himself.” Ralph Waldo Emerson: “To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest accomplishment.” As we head deeper into the climate crisis, the existential threat of AI, rapidly changing social structures, and the misuse of institutional power, we need to look much deeper. Where do we live in fear rather than speaking our truth, why are we hiding in the shadows, and where are we not being authentic or honest with ourselves?