Alexander Boyd

Biography

Appreciated for the sensitivity and integrity of his interpretations, London based pianist and composer Alexander Boyd enjoys an international career as both soloist and chamber musician.

He 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 and the US, 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 numerous concerts in Australia including performances in partnership with Musica Viva. Alexander frequently returns to Australia where he spent much of his childhood and this season his programme will include a premiere performance of his composition "The Bride Suite" based on the art works by his grandfather Arthur Boyd at the Art Gallery of NSW in Sydney as part of their Resonate recital series. He will give further recitals in Melbourne, Canberra, Newcastle, and for the Bundanon Trust.

2023/24 brings recitals throughout the UK including London’s Wigmore Hall, South Bank Centre, Cadogan Hall, and Concerts in the West, as well as concerts with duo partner and brother, Nathaniel Boyd. He will also appear with the Dante, Goldner and Navarra 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 many 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 and his recording of Goyescas by Granados was nominated for a Grammy Award.
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 works never before recorded and specially arranged for the piano by Alexander, and also Chopin's 4 Ballades, 4 Impromptus and Barcarolle for Claudio Records and Naxos.

Alexander studied at the Guildhall School with Paul Berkowitz and James Gibb, and then with Alexander Volkov and Pnina Salzman at the Rubins Academy in Tel Aviv, Israel. He also participated in numerous international master classes, playing to Murray Perahia, Stephen Kovacevich, Menahem Pressler, Claude Frank, William Pleeth amongst many others.