|
Repeatedly cited for his musical intelligence, imaginative artistry and technical excellence,
Danny Driver first attracted public attention in the United Kingdom by winning both the Royal Over-Seas League Competition Keyboard Award
and the BBC Radio 2 Young Musician of the Year Competition in 2001, also making his debut at Wigmore Hall during the same year.
He subsequently went on to distinguish himself at the Honens (2003), Brant (2004), Scottish (2004), and Dudley (2005) International Piano Competitions,
and to establish himself in Britain with acclaimed recitals at Queen Elizabeth Hall, Purcell Room, and Wigmore Hall in London, Bridgewater Hall in Manchester,
and Symphony Hall in Birmingham.
|
 |
Danny Driver is a Hyperion recording artist. His first CD,
featuring York Bowen's 3rd and 4th Piano Concertos with the
BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra under Martyn Brabbins, was
released in 2008 to a chorus of critical acclaim: 'Masterly,
stylish, and full of dazzling pianism' said the UK's Daily
Telegraph, while the American Record Guide exclaimed 'Absolutely
stunning… What a way to be introduced to the music of York
Bowen!' (see press page for reviews). Driver's eagerly awaited
survey of York Bowen's Piano Sonatas is being released
on November 1st 2009, with a disc of C P E Bach's Keyboard
Sonatas to follow in June 2010. Future recording projects
include the complete piano music of York Bowen contemporary
Benjamin Dale, selected works of Mily Balakirev, and piano concertos by the Scottish composer
Erik Chisholm.
Danny Driver's recent engagements have included Prokofiev's 3rd Piano Concerto and the US premiere
performance of York Bowen's 3rd Piano Concerto with the Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra in New Orleans,
solo and chamber appearances at the Bard Music Festival in New York, solo and chamber recitals at London's
prestigious Wigmore Hall and performances of Howard Ferguson's Concerto for Piano & Strings at the Hampstead &
Highgate Festival and at the 2009 Myra Hess Day at London's National Gallery.
Danny Driver has also performed with orchestras including the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra, BBC Concert Orchestra, Tel-Aviv Soloists, New Professionals,
the American Symphony Orchestra, and continues to appear at recital series and festivals throughout the UK, in the United States,
Canada, and Israel. Enjoying chamber music as much as solo performance, he has collaborated with
cellist Oliver Coates, violinist Alexander Sitkovetsky (together with Oliver Coates as the Linden
Piano Trio), the Linos Wind Quintet, clarinetist Sarah Williamson, the Contempo String Quartet, and singers Christian
Immler and Ailish Tynan, amongst others.
Trained by Alexander Kelly and Piers Lane whilst simultaneously
gaining a first class degree at Cambridge University, Danny Driver
was subsequently the recipient of a Fellowship at the Aspen
Music Festival and School, and the recipient of an Associated
Board Scholarship for postgraduate study with Irina Zaritskaya
at the Royal College of Music in London, where he distinguished
himself as a prizewinner and later as an Amerada Hess Junior
Fellow. He completed his studies privately with renowned pedagogue
Maria Curcio.
Danny Driver was appointed Artistic Director of London's Hampstead and Highgate
Festival in 2009.
|
