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James Anagnoson

James Anagnoson
Canada

James Anagnoson, Dean of The Royal Conservatory`s Glenn Gould School, is one of Canada`s best-known pianists and pedagogues. He has been on the piano faculty of The GGS since its formation in 1987, and has also taught at the University of Toronto and the University of Western Ontario.

Mr. Anagnoson`s students have won prizes in International Competitions such as the Maria Canals, the International Franz Liszt, the Gina Bachauer, and the Dublin International competitions, and repeatedly are prizewinners in Canada`s National Competitions such as the Canadian Music Competition and the Toronto Symphony Competition. He has given master classes in various parts of Europe, North America, and Asia, and he has been a juror for competitions such as the Dublin International Piano Competition, the Hong Kong International Piano Competition, the Canadian Chopin Competition, the Prix d`Europe, the International e-Competition, the Toronto International Piano Competition, and the Toronto Symphony Orchestra Competition.

In 1976, James Anagnoson began performing with Canadian pianist Leslie Kinton, and since that time the duo Anagnoson & Kinton have gone on to give “outstanding concerts…with formidable precision and panache” – to quote the New York Times – across Canada, the United States, Europe, and Asia, receiving unanimous acclaim from both audiences and critics.

In addition to their more than 1000 concert appearances around the world, which have included concerto appearances with Canada`s leading orchestras, the duo has performed for the BBC, Czech National Radio, Hong Kong Radio, Hilversum Radio in Holland, and Radio Suisse Romande. Their 2014-15 season includes appearances in Toronto`s Roy Thomson Hall and the Royal Conservatory`s Koerner Hall. Other recent concert highlights include appearances in Poznan, Poland, St Petersburg, Russia, a performance in Martinu Hall in Prague, and the Shanghai International Festival.

Anagnoson and Kinton have commissioned, premiered and recorded many original works for two pianos, piano four hands, and two pianos and orchestra. Most recently they commissioned and gave the Canadian Premiere of Ray Luedeke`s Into the Labyrinth, a work for two pianos and narrator, in collaboration with the internationally renowned actor Colin Fox.

Their interest in the works of Stravinsky led to their performing the North American premiere of Stravinsky`s two piano version of his Dumbarton Oaks Concerto, a work they later recorded on a CD that includes their performances of the Francis Poulenc and Roger Matton two piano concertos. They have also performed Stravinsky`s four hand version of Petrouchka and The Rite of Spring numerous times, both in concert and onstage in collaboration with innovative choreographers of dance companies such as Ballet BC.

James Anagnoson has been heard nationally on the CBC radio as a guest host on The Arts Tonight, and as a piano commentator for both the Esther Honens International Piano Competition and the CBC Young Performer`s Competition.

Mr. Anagnoson received his Master`s degree from The Juilliard School, and his Bachelor`s degree from the Eastman School of Music, which he attended on scholarship. His most influential mentor was the American pianist Eugene List, and he was also strongly influenced by his post graduate work with Claude Frank and Karl Ulrich Schnabel.

Mr. Anagnoson and his wife Julia Young live in Toronto with their 16-year-old son, Alexander.