Keelan Carew is a concert pianist, presenter, writer and broadcaster, who combines a love for the piano with a fierce advocacy for the power of music.

Born and raised in Medway, Kent, Keelan has established a dynamic career across UK arts and media. An outright pioneer in the presentation of classical music, his
“encyclopaedic musical brain” (Radio 4, Add to Playlist) compliments a warm, enquiring approach to the classical repertoire.  

As a pianist, Keelan has found success in recitals across London, throughout the UK and Europe, including an extraordinary event at the Royal Festival Hall in 2011, featuring Lang Lang, 99 other young pianists, and over 50 Steinway Grands across the stage. He maintains a broad repertoire and a ravenous appetite for discovering music new, and once lost. J.S.Bach is his favourite composer.

He made his concerto debut in 2018 playing Rachmaninoff’s Rhapsody on a theme of Paganini with the Southampton Concert Orchestra, with whom he regularly collaborates. A keen chamber musician and proponent of new music, in 2019 Keelan participated in the London Sinfonietta Academy, specialising in the performance of ambitious contemporary music for chamber orchestra. Throughout his studies he has enjoyed masterclasses with Garrick Olhsson, Pascal Roge, Peter Donohoe, Noriko Ogawa, Joanna Macgregor, Freddy Kempff, and Melvyn Tan, amongst others. Keelan has explored continuo playing at the harpsichord, the fortepiano and has extensive experience conducting young ensembles. From 2021 to 2024, Keelan coordinated music partnerships and outreach efforts at the Yehudi Menuhin School, working alongside the school’s Director of Music Ashley Wass, promoting community music-making and producing original, interactive concerts for all ages and abilities. 

Whilst a student, Keelan competed on the BBC’s University Challenge, representing the Royal Northern College of Music. This led to his presenting debut on Radio 3/BBC Sounds, presenting the series “Sounds Connected”, weekly coverage of the BBC Proms, including a live segment at the Last Night of the Proms, and a 2022 mini-series on the history of piano music, “Piano Odyssey with Keelan Carew”. In 2024 he appeared weekly on In Tune opposite Sean Rafferty and Katie Derham, highlighting music and culture across the UK. Keelan is a regular guest on Radio 4’s Add to Playlist series and has appeared opposite Jess Gillam on This Classical Life.

In 2025, Keelan acted as the founding Artistic Director of the Rainham Piano Festival, taking place in his hometown. He is an Associate Editor of the musicians’ wellness platform Zenezen, an enterprise focussed on providing invaluable resources and support for young musicians as they enter the profession.