Role

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Composer  

Birth

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June 11, 1994 in Urbana, IL

 

Conrad Tao is a classical music artist who has made a name for himself as a pianist, composer, and conductor. Born on June 11, 1994, in Urbana, Illinois, Tao showed an early interest in music and began playing the piano at the age of 18 months. His parents, both scientists, recognized his talent and encouraged him to pursue music. Tao's musical education began at the age of three when he started taking piano lessons with Emilio del Rosario, a renowned teacher in Chicago. By the age of four, Tao was performing in public, and at the age of eight, he made his concerto debut with the Utah Symphony Orchestra. He continued to study with del Rosario until the teacher's death in 2010. In addition to his piano studies, Tao also showed an interest in composition. He began writing music at the age of five and had his first composition performed by the Chicago Symphony Orchestra when he was just nine years old. He continued to compose throughout his childhood and teenage years, and his works have been performed by major orchestras and ensembles around the world. Tao's talent as a pianist and composer was recognized early on, and he began to receive numerous awards and honors. In 2004, he was the youngest-ever recipient of the Gilmore Young Artist Award, which recognizes exceptional young pianists. He was also a recipient of the Avery Fisher Career Grant in 2012, which provides financial support to young musicians who show great potential for a career in classical music. Tao's career as a performer took off in his teenage years. He made his Carnegie Hall debut in 2011, performing with the Philadelphia Orchestra. He has since performed with many of the world's leading orchestras, including the New York Philharmonic, the Boston Symphony Orchestra, and the London Philharmonic Orchestra. He has also performed at major music festivals, such as the Ravinia Festival, the Aspen Music Festival, and the Mostly Mozart Festival. In addition to his career as a pianist, Tao has also established himself as a conductor. He made his conducting debut in 2016 with the ProMusica Chamber Orchestra in Columbus, Ohio. He has since conducted many orchestras, including the Detroit Symphony Orchestra, the San Francisco Symphony, and the Los Angeles Philharmonic. Tao's career as a composer has also continued to flourish. He has written works for solo piano, chamber ensembles, and orchestras. His compositions have been performed by many major orchestras, including the New York Philharmonic, the Boston Symphony Orchestra, and the Dallas Symphony Orchestra. In 2019, he was commissioned by the New York Philharmonic to write a new work for their 2019-2020 season. Tao's talent as a musician has been recognized by many prestigious organizations. In addition to the awards mentioned above, he has been named a Presidential Scholar in the Arts, a Davidson Fellow, and a YoungArts Gold Medalist. He was also named a Gilmore Artist in 2018, which is one of the most prestigious awards in classical music. Tao's recordings have also received critical acclaim. His debut album, "Voyages," was released in 2013 and features works by Ravel, Rachmaninoff, and Meredith Monk, as well as some of his own compositions. The album was praised for its virtuosity and musicality. His second album, "Pictures," was released in 2015 and features works by Mussorgsky, Copland, and Tao himself. The album was also well-received by critics. Tao's career as a musician shows no signs of slowing down.

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