Alexander Boyd

Biography

Appreciated for the sensitivity and integrity of his interpretations, pianist and composer Alexander Boyd made his Concerto debut at the age of 11 with the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra conducted by Yerzy Maksymiuk, and since his London Wigmore Hall debut in 2001 he has frequently performed there and at many of the UK’s leading concert halls including London’s South Bank Centre, Barbican, Conway Hall, St Johns Smith Square, St Martins in the Fields, Birmingham’s Barber Institute and Cardiff’s St David’s Hall. He has given recitals in Ireland, Belgium, Italy, the US, Australia and New Zealand, also appearing at international festivals such as Yale and Tanglewood (US), Aldeburgh (UK), Banff (Canada) and Huntingdon (Australia).

Recent years have included concerts in the UK and USA, debut recitals in Mexico in partnership with Pro Musica, and concerts in Australia including performances in partnership with Musica Viva. Alexander frequently returns to Australia where he spent much of his childhood, and this year his programme will include a premiere performance of his composition "The Bride Suite", based on the art works by his grandfather Arthur Boyd. As well performing his own compositions he has premiered new works by other composers, most recently "Half Moon Prelude" at the Sydney Recital Hall, which was composed for him by Elena Kats-Chernin.

2023/24 also brings recitals throughout the UK, including London’s Wigmore Hall, South Bank Centre, Leighton House and Conway Hall, and Concerts in the West, as well as concerts with duo partner and brother, Nathaniel Boyd. As a chamber musician, in addition to his concerts with Nathaniel, Alexander has collaborated with numerous ensembles, most recently the Navarra, Goldner and Dante String Quartets.

Alexander has composed the music for three films, "Galatea", "Sogni d'Oro and "Art in Heaven", and broadcast for BBC Radio and ABC Radio amongst others, and in 2020 he was invited by Steinway Pianos to join their international roster of Steinway Artists.

Alexander's discography includes recordings of Chopin, Beethoven, Prokofiev, Bach, Debussy and Schumann. More recently he has recorded much of the Spanish repertoire with Claudio Records.

Recordings of Goyescas by Granados and the Iberia Suite by Albeniz were described by International Piano Magazine as "riveting, compelling and utterly haunting, full of poetry, technical virtuosity and Spanish atmosphere" and by Musical Opinion as "immaculate playing by this highly gifted artist. There are several rival versions of this wonderful music but none finer than this. First rate."

2024 will see the release of a CD called "Fandango" for Brancusi Classics, which includes several works never previously recorded and specially arranged for the piano by Alexander, along with Chopin's 4 Ballades and Impromptus, and Barcarolle for Claudio Records and Naxos.

Alexander is passionate about teaching and is a member of staff at the Guildhall School and Birmingham University, and he has given master classes in the UK, the US and Australia. 

Alexander studied at the Guildhall School with Paul Berkowitz and James Gibb, and later at the Rubins Academy in Israel with Alexander Volkov and Pnina Salzman. He has also played to and participated in master classes with musicians such as Murray Perahia, Stephen Kovacevich, Claude Frank, Willam Pleeth and Menahem Pressler amongst others.