John Reid’s career up to date has shown him to be a pianist of notable versatility and range with wide experience as an outstanding chamber musician, song accompanist, soloist and exponent of new music. An increasingly sought-after teacher, he teaches at the Royal Academy of Music in London.
In November 2017, he made his debut in Germany with the Deutsche Philharmonie Merck (Brahms No. 1) and continues to collaborate with the Aurora Orchestra, both as principal pianist and as soloist in a series of complete concerts by Mozart at London’s Kings Place. He also plays regularly with the Birmingham Contemporary Music Group.
A much demanded guest pianist with major ensembles, he has recently appeared with the London Conchord Ensemble, Archangelo, Ensemble Court-circuit, London Haydn Project (Mozart’s K.271, K.595 and K.453 concertos); The Edington Ensemble and The Sixteen (a Schumann and Brahms series in London, Manchester and Bruges). He was invited to curate a series of concert on Britten’s centenary at Kings Place, which incorporated new works by Simon Holt, Jonathan Dove and Martin Suckling; he has performed regularly in the latest seasons of The Sage Gateshead, as a guest at the chamber music programme of the Royal Northern Sinfonia and as a Samling artist.
In the course of fifteen years, John has worked with many of the leading singers and instrumentalists of the United Kingdom. In the 2019-20 season, he continues with a series of recitals with violinist John Crockatt, exploring Mozart’s and Beethoven’s sonatas in period instruments; he has also worked with tenor Nicholas Mulroy, violinists Mathilde Milwidsky and Maia Cabeza, clarinettist Tim Orpen and pianists Iain Farrington and Siwan Rhys (in new works for two pianos and ensemble by Richard Causton and Rebecca Saunders for BCMG). His interest in collaborating with different artforms has led him to give concerts with writer John Hegley, flamenco dance group Dot Dot Dot (at the first presentation of Tom Randle’s Los Nacimientos at Buxton Festival in 2017) plus artist Will Lindley.
His recordings include the recital album with trumpetist Matilda Lloyd (Orchid Classics: 2018); Brahms Horn Trio and a repertoire with Etienne Cutajar and Carmine Lauri (launched in 2019 at Divine Art); trios with Emanuel Ensemble (Champs Hill Records) and recordings of premiere music by Emily Hall (Befalling and Life Cycle, both with Oliver Coates and Mara Carlyle), York Bowen (works for two pianos, with Michael Dussek for Dutton Epoch), Clifford Benson and Rhian Samuel. He has recorded numerous times for the BBC’s Radio 3.
John studied at Clare College, Cambridge and at the Royal Academy of Music with Michael Dussek. His teachers have also included Christine Croshaw, Malcolm Martineau and Rudolf Jansen. He was recipient of the Gerald Moore Award in 2004 and the 2003 Kathleen Ferrier and Maggie Teyte Pianist Prizes. He is a RAM Associate.