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The American pianist and music pedagogue, John Owings, obtained his Bacheloe of Music degree from the University of Texas. He then studied at the Royal College of Music in London as a Fulbright Scholar. Later, his studies took him to Switzerland, Italy and The Juilliard School of Music in New York, where he obtained his Master of Music degree under the guidance of Rosina Lhevinne and Martin Canin. His other teachers have included Dalies Frantz, Karl Leifheit, Géza Anda, and Wilhelm Kempff. Gold Medalist of the 1st Robert Casadesus International Piano Competition in Cleveland in 1975, he was also the top prize winner in the Vianna da Motta International Competition in Lisbon, the London Liszt Society Competition, and the Musical Arts Competition in Chicago.
Since making his orchestral debut with the San Antonio Symphony at the age of 15, John Owings' performing career has ranged from solo and chamber music recitals in major cities in the USA, Latin America, Europe, and Asia, to concerto appearances with the symphony orchestras of Cleveland Orchestra, Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Dallas Symphony Orchestra, Denver Symphony, Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra, Houston Symphony Orchestra, the Boston Pops Orchestra, the English Chamber Orchestra, and the National Symphony Orchestras of Colombia and Peru. He has performed recitals in major cities in the USA, Latin America, Europe and the Far East and has been a guest artist at numerous music festivals.
John Owings consistently wins enthusiastic praise from audiences and critics for his exciting pianism and sensitive artistry. "Real spiritual elation" was how the London Daily Telegraph described his playing of Elliott Carter's Piano Sonata. The Cleveland Plain Dealer called his playing a "fine blend of technical brilliance with expressivity," and the Houston Post, reviewing his performance of the Ravel's G Major Concerto, said, "the audience was spellbound."
An experienced chamber music performer, John Owings has been privileged to collaborate with distinguished musicians, most recently members of the Miró String Quartet, cellist Carlos Prieto, and violinist Nicholas Kitchen of the Borromeo String Quartet. Together with his colleagues, violist Misha Galaganov, and clarinetist Gary Whitman, he performs in the ensemble Trio Con Brio, which has commissioned new works by over a dozen living composers.
His CD recordings on the Koch International Classics and Opus Millésime labels have received outstanding reviews, and include piano music by Robert Casadesus, Samuel Barber, Aaron Copland, and Elliott Carter, as well as chamber music by Eric Ewazen, Quincy Porter, and Elena Sokolowski. His newest CD, on the Pro Organo label, features the complete keyboard works of Julius Reubke.
Since 1990 John Owings has been a member of the faculty of Texas Christian University where he holds the Herndon Professorship of Music. A dedicated teacher, his students have won national and international competitions and have pursued successful careers as performers and educators. He has been invited to give master-classes at conservatories and universities in the USA, England, China, and Japan. He has served on the juries for major international competitions including the Casadesus, Cleveland, Gina Bachauer, Beethoven (Vienna), and and Ettlingen.
In 1993, Texas Christian University conferred upon him its highest honor - the Chancellor’s Award for Distinguished Research and Creative Activity – for his performances of the 32 , L.v. Beethoven Sonatas. Six sonatas from these live performances are available on CD. |
