Scottish pianist Alasdair Beatson
studied with John Blakely as a Foundation Scholar at the Royal College of Music,
London, graduating from his Bachelor's in 2002 with 1st Class Honours. He
subsequently completed a Performer Diploma at Indiana University, USA, studying
with Menahem Pressler, supported by the Robertson Trust and a Sir James Caird
Travelling Scholarship.
Based once again in London, Alasdair is in much demand as a recitalist,
orchestral soloist and chamber musician. Past performances throughout Europe,
Asia and North America have included appearances at Ravinia, Paxos, Bath and
Dartington music festivals, piano trio tours in South Korea, and concerts in
such venues as the Kennedy Center (Washington D.C.), Martinu Hall (Prague),
Shanghai's Grand Theatre and the Wigmore Hall. Alasdair has collaborated with
violinist Miriam Fried, actress Prunella Scales (for a performance of Poulenc's
'Babar the Elephant' at Covent Garden), cellist Lowri Blake and the Edinburgh
String Quartet. He has played in masterclass to Dmitri Bashkirov, James Conlon,
Marc Durand, Leon Fleisher, Alicia de Larrocha, John Lill and Murray Perahia,
and has made several live broadcasts for BBC Radio.
In 2003, Alasdair won the Second Prize in the China Shanghai International Piano
Competition, after his performance in the final round of Bartok's 2nd Piano
Concerto with the Poitou-Charentes Orchestra, conducted by Yang Yang. He was
finalist in the 2004 YCAT auditions, winner of the 2005 Philip and Dorothy Green
(Making Music) Award for Young Concert Artist, and two times participant in the
prestigious Steans Institute for Young Artists at Ravina Festival in 2004 and
2005.
An advocate for contemporary music,
Alasdair will perform this January in the Purcell Room, as part of the Park Lane
Group’s 50th Anniversary New Year Series.
