Christopher Duigan

BIO

South African concert pianist CHRISTOPHER DUIGAN has been recognised as a 'South African piano icon' (Classic Feel June 2009). He has performed extensively with all leading South African orchestras in a repertoire of more than 25 works for piano and orchestra. In recital he has developed a popular following through his innovative presentation and programming of a broad and eclectic taste in music.

Recent major projects include a six concer tour with GIO Orchestra in Spain in April 2016 and March 2017. This featured Duigan's own compositions, stemming from a highly productive collaboration with Spanish virtuoso saxophonist David Salleras, INDIGO (2015) and MIDNIGHT BLUE (2016). In December 2018 Salleras and Duigan were soloists in Yoshimatsu's 'Cyberbird' for solo saxophone, piano and percussion with the Orquestra des Valles at the Palau de la Musica in Barcelona, one of the world’s most prestigious concert venues. They repeated this performance at the Endler Hall for the Woordfees in Stellenbosch in February 2019 with a national broadcast on KykNet TV.

In recent months Christopher has established a massive online presence with twice-weekly livestream sessions during the COVID-19 lockdown. Since March 2020 he has reached unprecedented audience locally and internationally with recitals and informative performance sessions detailing his interest in the vast piano repertoire and his enthusiasm for the instrument. These can be followed at his website www.musicrevival.co.za

Christopher Duigan developed a large following in South Africa through the broadcast of his recordings which are frequently aired on ClassicFM (Johannesburg) and Fine Music Radio (Cape Town). In 2010 he became one of only six pianists in South African history to be invited to be a 'Steinway Artist', joining an exclusive company of renowned international musicians.

Based in the KwaZulu-Natal Midlands he is committed to promoting concert performance, both his own and those of others. As producer and director of the widely acclaimed MUSIC REVIVAL (established in 1997) he presents and collaborates on more than 100 concerts annually. Major projects now include a monthly KZN-tour of concerts plus the annual Classic Music Festival in Franschhoek, performances at various venues in Cape Town and Johannesburg and occasional regional concerts in association with the KZN Philharmonic Orchestra .

As soloist Christopher has appeared in performances with orchestra including Rachmaninoff Concerto No. 2 (Cape Philharmonic Orchestra- Cape Town City Hall), Liszt Piano Concerto No. 1 and Totentanz (Johannesburg Philharmonic Orchestra - Linder Auditorium) and Gershwin's Rhapsody in Blue and (KZN Philharmonic Orchestra - Durban City Hall).

Major recent recital engagements include those at the Brooklyn Theatre in Pretoria, Casa Labia in Cape Town, Steinway Hall in London, in Mexico City and at the National Arts Festival (Grahamstown) and Hilton Arts Festival.

Christopher Duigan began piano studies with Anette Kerkovius in Pietermaritzburg at the age of seven. He continued his studies at the University of Natal with Italian concert pianist Isabella Stengel from age 14, graduating with a B.Mus (cum laude). He furthered his studies at the University of Cape Town with Lamar Crowson and Albie van Schalkwyk, graduating with an M Mus (Performance) in 1994, and later at the Royal Northern College of Music (RNCM) in Manchester with Brazilian virtuoso Arnaldo Cohen. At the RNCM he was awarded the Professional Performer's Diploma (PPRNCM) and won first prize in the prestigious RNCM Recital Prize for Pianists. In addition he received the UNISA Overseas Scholarship Competition (1994), Crossly/Kramer Scholarships for International Study from UCT, 1st prize and Gold Medal in the Adolph Hallis Piano Competition (1996), awards for the best South African pianist in the UNISA International Piano Competition (1996), Gold Medal in the Pan-African Concours de Musique, and the Cape Town Symphony's prestigious Joseph Lan Award for his performance of the Bartok Piano Concerto No 3 (1994). He has participated in master classes at Dartington Summer School with Stephen Kovacevich and at the Mozarteum, Salzburg.

Christopher Duigan is a Steinway Artist.