Alexander Boyd

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.

 

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 and this year he will premiere a Suite in 13 movements by the composer Elena Kats-Chernin.

 

2024/25 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, cellist Nathaniel Boyd. As a chamber musician, he has also 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". He has also 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.

 

His discography includes recordings of Chopin, Beethoven, Prokofiev, Bach, Debussy and Schumann, and more recently he has recorded much of the Spanish repertoire with Claudio Records and Naxos.

 

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"

 

His recently released recording of Chopin's 4 Ballades, Impromptus and Barcarolle for Claudio Records and Naxos was described by critic Robert Matthew Walker as “superb and well worth the attention of all lovers of Chopin. Boyd is a fine artist and his grasp of detail and Chopin’s structural  mastery is well nigh complete.”

 

2025 will also see the release of a CD called "Fandango" for Brancusi Classics, which includes several works never previously recorded and others specially arranged for the piano by Alexander.

 

Alexander is passionate about teaching and he has been a member of the teaching staff at the Junior Guildhall School since 2005 and Birmingham University since 2004. He has also given various master classes in the UK, the US and Australia.

 

Alexander was awarded scholarships to study at the Purcell School and Guildhall School of Music and Drama with Paul Berkowitz and James Gibb. He later studied at the Rubins Academy in Israel with Alexander Volkov and Pnina Salzman, and has also had lessons and participated in masterclasses with musicians such as Murray Perahia, Stephen Kovacevich, Claude Frank, William Pleeth and Menahem Pressler amongst others.