Country

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United Kingdom

Birth

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1977 in Lincolnshire, England

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Keyboard

 

Ashley Wass is a renowned classical pianist who has made a name for himself in the world of classical music. Born on 4th February 1975 in Durham, England, Wass grew up in a family of musicians. His father was a professional violinist, and his mother was a piano teacher. It was no surprise that Wass showed an interest in music from a young age. Wass began playing the piano at the age of five, and by the time he was eight, he had already won his first competition. He continued to excel in music throughout his childhood and teenage years, and at the age of 18, he was awarded a scholarship to study at the Royal Academy of Music in London. During his time at the Royal Academy of Music, Wass studied under the tutelage of Christopher Elton and Hamish Milne. He graduated with a Bachelor of Music degree in 1996 and went on to pursue a Master of Music degree at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London. Wass's talent as a pianist was evident from an early age, and he quickly gained recognition for his exceptional skills. In 1997, he won the London Piano Competition, which led to his debut at the Wigmore Hall in London. This performance was a turning point in Wass's career, and he began to receive invitations to perform at major venues and festivals around the world. Over the years, Wass has performed with some of the world's leading orchestras, including the London Philharmonic Orchestra, the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, and the BBC Symphony Orchestra. He has also collaborated with renowned conductors such as Sir Andrew Davis, Vladimir Jurowski, and Sir Mark Elder. One of Wass's most notable performances was his debut at the BBC Proms in 2002. He performed Rachmaninov's Piano Concerto No. 2 with the BBC National Orchestra of Wales, which was broadcast live on BBC Radio 3. The performance was widely praised, and Wass was hailed as a rising star in the classical music world. Wass has also made a name for himself as a chamber musician, performing with some of the world's leading string quartets, including the Endellion Quartet and the Belcea Quartet. He has also collaborated with other musicians, including cellist Alban Gerhardt and violinist Tasmin Little. In addition to his performances, Wass is also a respected recording artist. He has recorded several albums, including a critically acclaimed recording of the complete works for solo piano by Franz Liszt. His recordings have received numerous awards and nominations, including a Gramophone Award nomination for his recording of the complete works for solo piano by Debussy. Wass's talent and dedication to his craft have earned him numerous awards and accolades throughout his career. In 1999, he was awarded the prestigious Prince's Prize by Prince Charles, which recognizes outstanding achievement in the arts by young people. He was also a finalist in the Leeds International Piano Competition in 2000 and was awarded the Guildhall School of Music and Drama's Gold Medal in 2002. Wass's success as a pianist has not gone unnoticed, and he has been invited to serve on the juries of several international piano competitions, including the Leeds International Piano Competition and the Scottish International Piano Competition. In addition to his performing and recording career, Wass is also a dedicated teacher. He has taught at several institutions, including the Royal Academy of Music and the Guildhall School of Music and Drama.

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