Brother musicians dazzle in London concert

A concert on Monday brought together brothers pianist Kevin Tan and composer and marimba player Carey Tan, as the teenagers presented works by Beethoven and Rachmaninov alongside Carey's two original symphonies.

Held at London's Cadogan Hall, Brothers in Harmony: Where Classics Meet New Voices featured the Philharmonia Orchestra, conducted by Geoffrey Paterson, in a program spanning the classical repertoire and contemporary themes of war, technology and humanity.

The concert marked the final stop of the brothers' 2026 international summer tour, which included performances in Beijing, Czechia, Romania and Austria.

Born in 2010 in Beijing, Kevin is a young pianist currently studying at The Purcell School for Young Musicians in the UK. He is a prize-winning performer who has given more than 30 solo recitals and concerto performances internationally, appearing at venues including the Vienna Musikverein, the Berliner Philharmonie and Cadogan Hall in London.

Carey, 13, is a composer and multi-instrumentalist studying at Eton College as both a King's Scholar and a Music Scholar. He has written six symphonies, a piano concerto and more than 30 chamber and solo works, earning 12 prizes in international composition competitions. His works have been performed by professional orchestras across Europe and Asia.

Kevin performed Beethoven's Emperor Concerto and Rachmaninov's Piano Concerto No 2, which formed the classical centerpiece of the program. His performances were marked by careful control of dynamics and close attention to musical detail, earning warm applause from the audience.

Carey presented his two original symphonies, The Cries of War and The Rise and Fall of AI Humanity, while also joining the orchestra as a marimba player.

Written when Carey was 11, The Cries of War was inspired by reports and images of conflicts around the world. "It doesn't just destroy cities and countless lives, but it also wounds the human spirit," he said. "I wanted to tell a story about a fictional war, but the whole story is also a metaphor for my sincere longing for global peace, togetherness and friendly interactions between different people."

His third symphony, The Rise and Fall of AI Humanity, turns to another contemporary concern: the growing influence of artificial intelligence. Carey said the work explores the rise of AI, humanity's reflection on what it means to be human, and the rebuilding of a more authentic future after the collapse of an AI-led society. "We shouldn't ever let AI replace creation," he said. "AI can never replace true soul in music."

Placing Carey's original symphonies alongside works by Beethoven and Rachmaninov also revealed musical connections across the centuries. Carey said his symphony had most in common with Rachmaninov's, particularly in the use of "long, sweeping" melodies. He also identified a connection with Beethoven in the direct expression of emotion. "Sometimes The Cries of War ... just came from my heart," he said.

The concert also reflected the brothers' close musical relationship. Carey said they encourage each other before performances and sometimes exchange suggestions about their playing and music. "Our music is meant to converse with one another," he said.