Alexander Soares

Following his London debut at the Royal Festival Hall, Alexander Soares has garnered a reputation as a pianist who combines “huge intensity” (The Telegraph) with “diamond clarity and authority” (BBC Radio 3). Rising to international attention in 2015 after winning the Gold Medal in the prestigious Royal Overseas League Competition – and his subsequent selection as a solo artist by City Music Foundation – he has performed in major venues and festivals across the U.K., Europe and United States, and is regularly broadcast on BBC Radio 3, France Musique and SWR2, Germany. 

Alexander is quickly gaining a reputation as a leading exponent of contemporary French repertoire. In 2019 he signed with Rubicon Classics to release his debut album Notations & Sketches. Praised for its captivating programme — the piano solo works of Boulez, Dutilleux and Messiaen — the disc was selected as ‘Editor’s Choice’ by Gramophone Magazine (May 2019) and received widespread critical acclaim for playing of “style and sophistication” (BBC Music Magazine), “virtuosity and exploratory curiosity” (International Piano Magazine) and “crystalline articulation and subtle dynamic expression” (SWR2).

Current and recent highlights include performances at The Wigmore Hall, St Johns Smith Square, and The Barbican Centre. He has collaborated with conductors Diego Masson, David Corkhill, Pierre-Andre Valade, and is a committed chamber musician, performing with musicians including Mihaela Martin, Alexander Baillie, and Boris Brovtsyn. A keen proponent of contemporary music, Alexander has given numerous premieres, and worked with Tristan Murail, Hugh Wood, Martin Butler. He has collaborated extensively with talented Portuguese composer Gonçalo Gato: Alexander recorded Gato’s solo piano works for KAIROS (CD release June 2020) and a new set of Études is forthcoming supported by the LSO Soundhub Scheme.

Alexander graduated with a first from Clare College, University of Cambridge, and subsequently gained a Master’s (Distinction) and a Doctorate at Guildhall School of Music & Drama, learning from Richard Goode, Stephan Kovacevich, Steven Osborne, Daniel Leech-Wilkinson, and his mentor Ronan O’Hora. As such, educational outreach is an increasingly important aspect of his career; in 2018, he launched an educational outreach project The Notation Project with support from YCAT, and combines a busy and varied performing schedule with supervision at Guildhall School of Music & Drama, teaching at City of London Girls and Highgate Schools, and lecturing and research of musical memorisation.