Simon Docking is a Canadian classical pianist who has established himself as one of the most versatile and accomplished musicians of his generation. Born in Halifax, Nova Scotia in 1977, Docking began playing the piano at the age of four and showed an early aptitude for the instrument. He went on to study at the Royal Conservatory of Music in Toronto and later at the Juilliard School in New York City, where he earned his Bachelor's and Master's degrees in piano performance. Docking's career as a concert pianist began in earnest in the early 2000s, when he won several prestigious competitions and began performing regularly in Canada and abroad. In 2002, he won the Eckhardt-Gramatté National Music Competition, which is open to pianists, violinists, and vocalists and is known for its focus on contemporary music. Docking's performance of works by Canadian composer Alexina Louie was particularly praised by the judges, and he went on to perform the same program at the Banff Centre for the Arts and at the Glenn Gould Studio in Toronto. In 2003, Docking won the Canadian Music Competition, which is open to musicians of all instruments and ages. He was awarded the grand prize in the piano category and also won the prize for best performance of a Canadian work. Docking's repertoire at the competition included works by Beethoven, Chopin, and Debussy, as well as a piece by Canadian composer Jacques Hétu. Docking's success in these competitions helped to establish him as a rising star in the Canadian classical music scene, and he began to receive invitations to perform with orchestras and at festivals across the country. In 2004, he made his debut with the Toronto Symphony Orchestra, performing Beethoven's Piano Concerto No. 4 under the baton of Peter Oundjian. The performance was well-received by critics, who praised Docking's "impeccable technique" and "sensitive musicality." Over the next few years, Docking continued to perform with orchestras and in solo recitals, both in Canada and internationally. He made his European debut in 2006, performing at the Festival de Musique de Menton in France, and has since performed in Germany, Italy, and the United Kingdom. In 2008, he was invited to perform at the prestigious Gilmore Keyboard Festival in Michigan, which is known for its focus on the piano and its celebration of the world's greatest pianists. Docking's repertoire is wide-ranging and includes works from the Baroque era to the present day. He is particularly known for his interpretations of contemporary music, and has premiered works by many Canadian composers, including Alexina Louie, Jacques Hétu, and Christos Hatzis. He has also recorded several albums, including a disc of works by Chopin and a disc of works by Canadian composers. In addition to his performing career, Docking is also an active educator and has taught at several universities and conservatories in Canada and the United States. He is currently a professor of piano at Dalhousie University in Halifax, where he also serves as the director of the Fountain School of Performing Arts. Docking has received numerous awards and honors throughout his career, including the Virginia Parker Prize from the Canada Council for the Arts, which is awarded annually to a young Canadian musician who shows exceptional promise. He has also been a finalist for the Prix Opus, which is awarded by the Conseil québécois de la musique to recognize excellence in classical music in Quebec.

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