Keys to Life – Two Friends, Two Pianos brings two world-class pianists to four Australian cities during July 2026 in a national recital tour that will lift spirits and remind us of our shared humanity.
There is something special about two friends sharing a stage. Festive, celebratory and alive with the sheer pleasure of playing together, this is music making at its very best.
Australian-British pianist Jayson Gillham returns to Australian stages with a project close to his heart, welcoming his close friend and fellow pianist Iyad Sughayer for his Australian recital debut. Together they bring 176 black and white keys to brilliant, colourful life in a program that is joyful and moving.
Gillham is recognised as Limelight’s 2024 Artist of the Year and described by Gramophone as a “story-teller.” He is self-presenting this tour independently, continuing his commitment to artistic integrity and bringing world-class music directly to Australian audiences.
Sughayer is a Palestinian-Jordanian pianist based in the UK whose playing has captivated audiences across Europe, the Middle East, Colombia and North America. Recognised as Classic FM’s 2022 Rising Star, a YCAT Artist and BIS recording artist, the Keys to Life Australian tour marks a significant milestone in his fast-rising international career.
The program features a colourful and vibrant selection of works by Mozart, Debussy, Ravel, Khachaturian, Arensky and Chabrier, alongside the world premiere of a new commission by Palestinian-Lebanese composer Houtaf Khoury. Each piece reaches into our shared humanity and finds something that connects us all.
Together, the duo move through Mozart’s wit and warmth, the shimmering textures of Ravel and Debussy, and the infectious energy of Khachaturian and Chabrier. It is brought to life as a musical conversation built on deep listening, trust and the sheer pleasure of two friends playing together.
This is an evening full of warmth, beauty and the kind of connection that only live music can offer. Whether you are a lifelong classical music lover or walking into a concert hall for the first time, this program has something for everyone.
“I have been looking forward to this tour for a long time. Iyad and I share a vision of what music can do, not just as a performance, but as an act of connection. To bring him to Australian audiences for the first time, in a program this rich and this alive, feels like exactly the kind of thing I want to be doing. I can’t wait to experience it together with everyone,” says Jayson Gillham.
“Australia has always felt like a place I wanted to bring my music. To make my debut here alongside Jayson, with a program that means so much to both of us, is something I will carry with me for the rest of my life. This music speaks to something we all share and I hope audiences feel that from the first note,” said Iyad Sughayer.
Keys to Life – Two Friends, Two Pianos
Elisabeth Murdoch Hall – Melbourne Recital Centre
Performance: Sunday 19 July 2026 – 5.00pm
Bookings: www.melbournerecital.com.au
Concert Hall – Queensland Performing Arts Centre, Brisbane
Performance: Wednesday 22 July 2026 – 7.00pm
Bookings: www.qpac.com.au
Elder Hall – Adelaide University
Performance: Friday 24 July 2026 – 7.00pm
Bookings: www.jaysongillham.com
City Recital Hall, Sydney
Performance: Sunday 26 July 2026 – 5.00pm
Bookings: www.cityrecitalhall.com
For more information, visit: www.jaysongillham.com for details.
Image: Jayson Gillham and Iyad Sughayer – photo by Bruce Marshall