Stephen Savage
Professor of Piano
PhD, LRAM, ARCM
Email: [email protected]
Stephen Savage is one of the most widely experienced and enduring teaching and performing pianists working in the UK. He became assistant to his teacher, Cyril Smith, following his graduation from the RCM, and was soon appointed the youngest professor of piano there at a time when he was also becoming established as a concert pianist, with frequent performances at the Wigmore and Queen Elizabeth Halls, throughout the country, and for the BBC.
He was later appointed Head of Keyboard to the Queensland Conservatorium in Brisbane. In Australia he became established as a distinguished performer, appearing with most of the state Symphony Orchestras, at leading festivals, and on ABC radio. He worked closely with Tippett and Lutoslawski, who suggested he play the first Australian performance of his Concerto, with the Sydney Symphony. He has championed much new music, as pianist and conductor. His recordings of major works by Beethoven,Tippett,Mousorgsky, Liszt and Debussy, have ben received with acclaim. He is the dedicatee of major works by Justin Connolly and Roger Smalley. He has been active for many years as a conductor of student ensembles for new music at the RCM and Queensland Conservatorium
Stephen Savage has performed, and taught at leading Schools in Australia, Canada, China, Hong Kong, Korea, Japan, Singapore, Malaysia, the UK and Ireland. He established the original piano programmes for the Australian National Academy of Music. He has been Visiting Artist to the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts for many years, and was appointed Visiting Professor to the Wuhan Conservatory in China. In 2009 he was awarded PhD for his thesis, Behind the Text, Beyond the Sound, investigations into creative musical interpretation. In the same year he joined the staff at RNCM.
Stephen Savage undertakes a wide range of activity. He was for many years annual visiting artist to the the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts, to Singapore’s NAFA and to the Queensland Conservatorium, Griffith University. His Australian visits also include teaching engagements at the Sydney Conservatorium and the University of Queensland and he will be judging the Australian National Piano Award in 2020.
Stephen has had a wide-ranging performing career both in solo and concerto appearances throughout the world. In the UK he is prominent as a teacher of piano and undertakes masterclass engagments, including annual courses for Jackdaws Music Education Trust. He has been active as a consultant for the Australian Music Awards in the UK.
