Birth

:

March 31, 1977 in Dublin, Ireland

 

Finghin Collins is a renowned classical pianist from Ireland, known for his virtuosic performances and sensitive interpretations of a wide range of repertoire. Born in Dublin in 1977, Collins began playing the piano at the age of six and quickly showed a natural talent for the instrument. He studied with John O'Conor at the Royal Irish Academy of Music and later with Dominique Merlet at the Conservatoire de Paris. Collins made his professional debut at the age of 18, performing with the RTÉ National Symphony Orchestra in Dublin. He went on to win numerous awards and competitions, including the Clara Haskil International Piano Competition in Switzerland in 1999, the AXA Dublin International Piano Competition in 2000, and the International Mozart Competition in Salzburg in 2003. Collins has performed with many of the world's leading orchestras, including the London Philharmonic Orchestra, the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, the Berlin Symphony Orchestra, and the New York Philharmonic. He has also collaborated with some of the most distinguished conductors of our time, such as Sir Simon Rattle, Vladimir Ashkenazy, and Marin Alsop. One of Collins' most memorable performances was his debut at the BBC Proms in 2004, where he played Mozart's Piano Concerto No. 21 with the BBC Symphony Orchestra. The performance was widely praised for its elegance, clarity, and emotional depth, and helped to establish Collins as one of the most exciting young pianists of his generation. In addition to his work as a soloist, Collins is also a passionate chamber musician and has collaborated with many of the world's leading string quartets and instrumentalists. He is a founding member of the Dublin International Piano Competition and has served as its artistic director since 2012. Collins has recorded extensively for the Claves, Naxos, and RTÉ labels, and his recordings have received critical acclaim for their technical brilliance and musical sensitivity. His discography includes works by Mozart, Schubert, Brahms, and Debussy, among others. In recognition of his contributions to the world of classical music, Collins has received numerous honors and awards, including the Royal Philharmonic Society's Instrumentalist Award in 2018 and the National Concert Hall's Lifetime Achievement Award in 2019. He was also appointed an Officer of the Order of Arts and Letters by the French government in 2011. Despite his many achievements, Collins remains humble and dedicated to his craft. He continues to perform regularly around the world and is committed to promoting classical music to new audiences through his work as a performer, teacher, and advocate.

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