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Joseph Tong has established a reputation as one of the most versatile and imaginative pianists of his generation. Much in demand as a soloist, duo pianist and chamber musician, Joseph made his London Wigmore Hall debut in 1997 as winner of the Maisie Lewis Young Artists Award and now gives regular recitals throughout the UK and abroad.
His CD of works by Robert Schumann for the Quartz label, recorded in 2018 at the Sendesaal in Bremen, was awarded Instrumental Choice of the month by BBC Music Magazine as well as drawing critical praise in the Sunday Times. Earlier this year, Joseph performed music by Schumann and Sibelius live on Radio 3’s ‘In Tune’ programme ahead of concerts in England and Wales. This autumn he will be returning to Wigmore Hall in London for a solo recital to mark 200 years since Schubert’s Wanderer Fantasy was composed.
Other recent projects include a new commission from the British composer David Matthews, a set of five pieces inspired by trees which Joseph will premiere at the Three Choirs Festival held in Hereford this summer. He will also perform the new work at the Sibelius Museum in Turku, Finland, in August alongside the well-known set of five ‘Tree Pieces’ Op. 75 by Jean Sibelius.
Joseph’s ongoing Sibelius recording project has seen two CDs released on the Quartz label to widespread critical acclaim. Joseph has already made several concert tours to Finland, including recitals at Ainola on the composer’s original Steinway grand piano, the Sibelius Museum in Turku, the Korpo Sibelius Festival, Helsinki Music Centre (Camerata Hall) and Hämeenlinna City Hall.
Other recent highlights have included recitals in Germany and Spain, at St John’s, Smith Square in London, the Presteigne Festival, St David’s Hall, Cardiff, St George’s Bristol, the Jacqueline du Pré Hall in Oxford, Newport Cathedral and performances at the Wye Valley Chamber Music Festival.
He was elected an Associate of the Royal Academy of Music (ARAM) in 2008 and is a visiting piano teacher at Wells Cathedral School in Somerset. Joseph’s Sibelius recording with the violinist Fenella Humphreys was released on the Resonus Classics label earlier this year and has recently been featured as ‘Chamber Choice’ in BBC Music Magazine.