One of the most lucrative and prestigious gigs I ever had was probably around twenty years ago when I was a young pianist.

I was working as an official accompanist at the Abingdon Summer School for Singers when I received a phone call from London Weekend Television.

Back then, I’d never done any television work. So when I was asked to accompany international operatic legend Sir John Tomlinson in a concert for the South Bank Show, an arts documentary programme, I was blown away.

The fee was way beyond anything I’d ever known before!

Sir John was going back to his Northern roots. In other words, he was returning to Lancashire to perform for a local audience, although he usually frequented the biggest opera houses in the world.

So how did I get on? Well, he was a typical Lancastrian in that he was down to earth, unfussy and warm. That put me at my ease.

Playing for him, however, was something else. Even if I had a lot of experience playing for singers of considerable pedigree, this man was a whole new board game!

His musicality was incredible. The sense of poise and space he brought to the music; the ease with which he sang so that his resonant voice filled every last corner of the space.

I found I had to take sooo much more time with the music. This man had worked with the top conductors and coaches in the world; he knew his Wagner! He allowed the music to speak; to breathe.

The result? Well, a huge sense of achievement for me. And it’s always reminded me that, in order to grow and expand, we need to seek out those who inspire us. Or make sure we grasp every opportunity to work with people who have something different to offer.