Piers Lane facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Piers Lane
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Lane, pictured as the artistic director of the Australian Festival of Chamber Music
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| Background information | |
| Born | 8 January 1958 (age 67) London, UK |
| Genres | Classical music |
| Occupation(s) | Pianist; academic; festival director |
| Instruments | Piano |
| Years active | 1977–present |
| Alma mater | Queensland Conservatorium |
Piers Lane is a famous Australian classical pianist. He was born on January 8, 1958, in London. He is known for his amazing piano performances around the world.
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Early Life and Learning
Piers Lane's parents were both piano students. They met while trying out for the Royal College of Music. Piers was born in London but grew up in Brisbane, Australia.
He studied at the Queensland Conservatorium of Music. He earned a special Medal of Excellence there. His teacher was a famous pianist named Nancy Weir. Piers also won several prizes during his studies. Later, the conservatorium gave him an honorary doctorate degree.
Piers first became well-known in 1977. This was at the very first Sydney International Piano Competition. He was named the Best Australian Pianist at this event. He even returned as a judge for the competition in 2004. After his studies, he traveled overseas to learn more. He did this with a special scholarship called a Churchill Fellowship.
A Career in Music
Piers Lane has had many exciting moments in his career. One big highlight was playing Busoni's Piano Concerto at Carnegie Hall in New York. The audience gave him a standing ovation! He also played Beethoven's Emperor Concerto with The Queensland Orchestra. This performance won an award for Best Orchestral Concert in 2007.
He has performed with many famous orchestras. These include the London Philharmonic Orchestra, Hallé, and City of Birmingham Symphony. He has given solo concerts in major halls, like Symphony Hall in Birmingham. Piers has also played at many big piano festivals around the world. These festivals are held in places like the United States, United Kingdom, France, and Germany.
Piers Lane has been a soloist five times at the BBC Proms. This is a huge classical music festival in London. It takes place at the Royal Albert Hall.
Collaborations and Festivals
Piers often works with other musicians. He has toured Australia with singer Cheryl Barker and baritone Peter Coleman-Wright. He also performs with violinist Tasmin Little in the UK. Piers is a patron of the Accompanists Guild of Queensland. This group supports musicians who play with other performers.
Since 2007, Piers Lane has been the artistic director of the Australian Festival of Chamber Music. This festival happens every year in Townsville. He helps decide which musicians will play and what music they will perform.
He is also the artistic director for the Myra Hess Day. This event is held every year at the National Gallery in London. In 2009, he directed the Bloch Festival at Wigmore Hall.
Recordings and Radio
Piers Lane has recorded many albums. Most of his recordings are on the Hyperion label. He has also recorded for other labels like EMI and Decca. Some of his recordings have won awards. For example, his recording of Ernest Bloch's Piano Quintets was named Editor's Choice by Gramophone magazine. It was also BBC Music Magazine's Record of the Month.
He is one of the few pianists to record John Ireland's Piano Concerto in E-flat major. In 2014, he released a recording of all the piano concertos by Malcolm Williamson. This included the first-ever recording of Williamson's 4th Piano Concerto.
Piers is also well-known on BBC Radio 3. He has written and presented over 100 radio programs. One of his popular series was called The Piano, which had 54 parts.
Awards and Recognition
In 1994, Piers Lane became an Honorary Member of the Royal Academy of Music. He has been a piano professor there since 1989. In 2007, he received another honorary doctorate from Griffith University. Piers supports the Tait Memorial Trust in London. This charity helps young Australian artists who are studying in the UK.
In 2012, Piers Lane received a very special honor. He was named an Officer of the Order of Australia. This award recognized his "distinguished service to the performing arts." It honored his work as a pianist, his contributions to cultural groups, and his support for new musicians.
In 2015, Piers was chosen as the artistic director for the 2016 Sydney International Piano Competition. This was after the previous director, Warren Thomson, passed away. In 2022, Piers Lane won the Sir Bernard Heinze Memorial Award. This award celebrates people who have made a great contribution to music in Australia.
