Artists

Sam Haywood

Sam-Haywood Sam Haywood has performed to critical acclaim all over the world as concerto soloist, recitalist and chamber musician. He performs regularly with Joshua Bell and Steven Isserlis and has recorded extensively for radio and CD. His latest release, recently chosen as 'CD of the Week' on Radio 3's Sunday Morning programme, is the first recording to have ever been made on Chopin's own Pleyel piano of 1846.

To celebrate Chopin bicentennial year in 2010, he was invited to perform at Lancaster House in the presence of HRH Princess Alexandra. Chopin himself performed for Queen Victoria and Prince Albert at the same venue, on the same day and on the same instrument in 1848.

Earlier this year he appeared in twenty-one cities in USA and Canada with Joshua Bell and performed Beethoven's Triple Concerto with the Athens State Orchestra. Shortly after the Japanese earthquake disaster he travelled to Tokyo, where in addition to several duo recitals with Steven Isserlis he gave a solo recital and a series of master classes to raise money to repair or replace damaged musical instruments in schools. Other engagements this season include recitals in UK, Germany, Indonesia, South America, Poland, Austria, Russia, Switzerland and the Czech Republic.

Haywood began playing the piano at the age of four. Following his success at the age of thirteen in the BBC Young Musician of the Year competition, the Royal Philharmonic Society awarded him their prestigious Isserlis prize. He went on to study in Vienna with Paul Badura-Skoda and at the Royal Academy of Music with the legendary pupil of Artur Schnabel, Maria Curcio.

He has composed several works for solo piano and also various duos, including the Song of the Penguins for bassoon and piano, published by Emerson Editions. Luc Jacquet, director of the film which inspired the piece "March of the Penguins" wrote: "The general ambience is one of sadness, yet so much hope and optimism manage to break through. The Song of the Penguins takes us on a journey of its own." He is also regularly involved in educational projects and has co-written a children's opera.