Role

:

Composer  

Country

:

United Kingdom

Birth

:

November 22, 1961 in Heswall, Cheshire, England

Period

:

Contemporary

 

 

Modern

Genre

:

Chamber

 

 

Concerto

 

 

Keyboard

 

Stephen Hough is a world-renowned classical pianist, composer, and writer. He was born on November 22, 1961, in Heswall, a small town in the Wirral Peninsula, England. Hough grew up in a musical family, and his parents encouraged him to pursue his passion for music from a young age. He began playing the piano at the age of five and showed exceptional talent and dedication to the instrument. Hough's early musical education was at the Chetham's School of Music in Manchester, where he studied with Gordon Green. He later continued his studies at the Juilliard School in New York City, where he studied with the renowned pianist and teacher, Adele Marcus. Hough's talent and hard work paid off, and he won several prestigious awards and competitions, including the Naumburg International Piano Competition in 1983 and the Royal Philharmonic Society's Instrumentalist of the Year Award in 1996. Hough's career as a concert pianist took off in the 1980s, and he quickly established himself as one of the most exciting and versatile pianists of his generation. He has performed with many of the world's leading orchestras, including the New York Philharmonic, the London Symphony Orchestra, and the Berlin Philharmonic. Hough is also a prolific recording artist, with over 50 albums to his name, including several award-winning recordings of the works of Chopin, Liszt, and Rachmaninoff. One of the highlights of Hough's career was his performance of Tchaikovsky's Piano Concerto No. 1 with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra in 1996. The performance was hailed as a triumph, and Hough received a standing ovation from the audience. He has also performed at many of the world's leading music festivals, including the BBC Proms, the Edinburgh International Festival, and the Salzburg Festival. In addition to his career as a pianist, Hough is also a respected composer and writer. He has written several books, including The Bible as Prayer, which explores the spiritual and religious themes in the Bible, and Rough Ideas: Reflections on Music and More, which is a collection of essays on music, art, and culture. Hough's compositions have been performed by many leading orchestras and chamber ensembles, and he has received commissions from the BBC Proms, the Wigmore Hall, and the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra. Hough's talent and dedication to music have been recognized with numerous awards and honors. In 2001, he was awarded a MacArthur Fellowship, also known as the "genius grant," which recognizes individuals who have shown exceptional creativity and talent in their field. He has also been awarded the Royal Philharmonic Society's Instrumentalist of the Year Award three times, in 1996, 2003, and 2009. Hough's contributions to the world of classical music have been immense, and he continues to inspire and delight audiences around the world with his performances, compositions, and writing. His passion for music and his commitment to excellence have made him one of the most respected and admired musicians of his generation.

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