Stephen Hough: Snaps up Jean Gimbel Lane Prize in Piano Performance

Pianist Stephen Hough has been named winner of Jean Gimbel Lane Prize in Piano Performance. The yearly distinction, which was set up in 2005 by the Northwestern University School of Music, honours “pianists who have achieved the highest levels of national and international recognition”. Next to receiving a monetary bonus of $50.000, Stephen Hough will also be given the chance to give master classes, chamber music coaching and lectures at the Northwestern University School of Music, as well as performing himself during a public recital. For Stephen Hough, the latter aspects seemed to weigh in even more than the cash injection: “I am deeply honored to have been chosen for this prestigious prize. I am especially excited to have the opportunity to work with Northwestern students during the next couple of years, and to be involved in the life of one of the great American universities.” The residency of Stephen Hough will start in November of 2008, leading up to the announcement of next year’s laureate.

There were several reasons for naming Stephen Hough as this year’s winner. For one, the faculty was impressed with his “interest in neglected 19th century as well as contemporary repertoire”. Other than that, there was a keen desire to engage in a dialogue with one of today’s most idiosyncratic and versatile pianists. “The School of Music looks forward to Stephen Hough’s residencies as part of the Jean Gimbel Lane Prize in Piano Performance” dean Toni-Marie Montgomery stated, “Our students and faculty will benefit from Mr. Hough’s distinctive and outstanding artistry. We look forward to welcoming him to the Northwestern campus.” Stephen Hough will follow in the footsteps of pianist Richard Goode, who secured the Jean Gimbel Lane Prize in Piano Performance in 2006.

The award is the culmination of an extremely busy and successful year for Stephen Hough. Only recently, he released two new CDs, one with the Takács Quartet and the other with Andrew Litton and the Dallas Symphony Orchestra and saw his "Mass of Innocence and Experience"
World-premiered at Westminster Abbey.

Homepage: Stephen Hough

Image by Eric Richmond

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