About Adam

Adam Swayne works with a vast range of musical media and styles that go beyond conventional labelling. He is just as at home giving a solo piano recital or conducting an orchestra as he is organising an interactive performance of Riley’s ‘In C’ or composing for mixed ensembles and electronics. He takes an inclusive, informative and innovative approach to his music making that is drawing an increasingly large audience.

Adam is a graduate of the joint course between Manchester University and the RNCM. He gained first class degrees from both institutions, and an MMus from the RNCM. Manchester University gave Adam their highest award (Sir Thomas Beecham Medal) along with other prizes including the Recital Prize. Prizes from the RNCM included the John Ireland Prize and an award for performances of contemporary music.

In 2003 Adam was awarded a Fulbright Scholarship to begin doctoral studies at Northwestern University, U.S.A. He graduated in 2006 with distinction, having presented several U.S. premières of works by British composers.

As a pianist, Adam takes a special interest in neglected works of the 19th, 20th and 21st centuries. He has performed on BBC Radio 3 at the BBC Proms (Composer Portrait 2004), and for capacity audiences at the Purcell Room, St James’ Piccadilly, St Martin In-The-Fields (London), the Bridgewater Hall (Manchester), Soundwaves Festival (Brighton) as well as in solo recitals that he has given all over the U.K. and in America. He has worked as piano soloist with conductors Victor Yampolsky, Mallory Thompson, Clark Rundell and Baldur Brönnimann. He also plays harpsichord: at ‘Harpsichordfest 2006’ he presented the UK première of Steve Reich’s ‘Harpsichord Phase’ with harpsichordist Jane Chapman.

Research projects that Adam has undertaken include a new edition of Ferdinand Ries’s Piano Concerto in C# minor; he presented the new edition in a performance that he conducted from the piano. Adam also directed the multi-piano ensemble ‘88X’ from the keyboard, having founded this Chicago-based contemporary music group. He is also no stranger to the podium, and frequently conducts orchestras and new music ensembles. In 2007 he was guest speaker and conductor at the CoMA conference ‘Changing Dynamics’, and in 2008 he became music director of CoMA Sussex.

Adam also has a growing reputation as a composer. He has received commissions from the RNCM, Project Keyboard: EXCEL, and the Ebony Duo with funds from the Scottish Arts Council and Hope Scott Trusts. His recent piece for Manchester University Wind Orchestra was featured at the International Wind Festival 2007 in Glasgow. Adam has benefited hugely from collaborations with composers including Sir Harrison Birtwistle, John Corigliano, John Casken, Graham Fitkin, John Adams and Gary Carpenter, and works have been composed especially for him by Kevin Malone, Gareth Parry and Geoffrey Poole. Adam attracted funds from Arts Council England through the National Lottery to commission Ailis Ni Riain’s Beautiful Cracked Eyes.

Adam Swayne is a Park Lane Group Young Artist 2008.

Short version
Pianist and composer Adam Swayne studied at the University of Manchester and the RNCM before completing his doctorate as a Fulbright Scholar in the USA. His principal teachers were Ursula Oppens, John Gough and John Casken. Alongside first class degrees he has been awarded several prizes for performance and the Sir Thomas Beecham Medal for all-round achievement in music.

He now combines his performing and composing work with teaching posts at the Royal Academy of Music, Lancing College and as an Associate Lecturer at Chichester University. Recent concert appearances have included the BBC Proms, Lutoslawski’s ‘Piano Concerto’ on both sides of the Atlantic, and solo performances at London’s Purcell Room, St Martin in-the-Fields and St James’ Piccadilly. He has received commissions for compositions funded by the Scottish Arts Council, Hope Scott Trust and Arts Council England through the National Lottery. His latest work for wind orchestra was featured at the International Wind Festival 2007 in Glasgow. He is also the Music Director for CoMA Sussex and regular pianist for Talkestra.

Adam is a Park Lane Group Young Artist 2008. At his debut recital The Times described him as ‘a pianist of formidable technique and high intelligence’ and the Evening Standard as ‘an ideal blend of panache and subtlety’.