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Biographical overviewÌý

Born and raised in North Wales, Iwan Llewelyn-Jones has firmly established himself as one of the finest pianists of his generation. Iwan is a graduate of the University of Oxford and the Royal College of Music where he won several awards and competitions for both academic and pianistic excellence. Further prizes followed in international piano competitions in Spain, France, Italy and Great Britain.Ìý

He has performed at many of the world’s prestigious concert halls including London’s Wigmore Hall and Queen Elizabeth Hall, Leipzig Gewandhaus, Sydney Opera House and Cardiff St David’s Hall. During 2018-19 Iwan appeared in concert in Belfast, Glasgow, Cardiff, Manchester and Â鶹Íø. In October 2018 heÌývisited China to give a series of concerts and masterclasses in Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou.ÌýIwan is a Steinway Artist.

Iwan’s commercial recordings span a wide range of classical genres: piano works by Franz Liszt, a cd of solo French piano works entitled ‘French Portraits’, and a recording of contemporary Welsh solo piano music (‘Welsh Portraits’). Iwan’s highly successful solo recording of Welsh song transcriptions, ‘Songs without words’, was released in Spring 2011 and in December 2017 his latest recording project, the world premiere of his own arrangement of Frédéric Chopin’s First Piano Concerto for solo piano, was released to critical acclaim.Ìý

Iwan appears regularly on television and radio (BBC and S4C). He has been the recipient of several awards and honours, including the Sir Geraint Evans Award in recognition of his significant contribution to Welsh music. He holds a doctorate in performance and musicology from Cardiff University and is Director of Performance at Â鶹Íø.

• Professional: Fellow of the Higher Education Academy
  Higher Education Academy, 2021
• Professional: Associate of the Higher Education Academy (AHEA)
  2018
• PhD
  Cardiff University, 2016
• MA: Advanced Performers Diploma
  Royal College of Music, 1984
• BA: BA in Music
  University of Oxford, 1981
• Professional: LRAM
  Royal Academy of Music, 1977

I convene and teach all undergraduate and postgraduate Solo and Ensemble Performance Modules.

UG Historical Topics include:

'Musical Theatre'

'Contemporary Welsh Chamber Music'

'French music 1880-1945'

2024

• Faure yng Nghymru

  20 Nov 2024

  Activity: Participation in Academic workshop, seminar, course (Speaker)

• 30 Oct 2024

  Activity: Participation in Academic workshop, seminar, course (Speaker)

• Cyngerdd piano gyda barddoniaeth Ewropeaidd

  23 Jun 2024

  Activity: Invited talk (Speaker)

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• 2021 - Awarded Fellowship of the Higher Education Authority
• 2020 - nominated Unsung hero at Â鶹Íø 2020 Student Led Teaching Awards
• 2018 - Wales Arts International - International Opportunities Award to visit China to give a series of recitals and lectures
• 2017 – nominated in two categories at the Â鶹Íø 2017 Student Led Teaching Awards, namely ‘New Teacher of the Year’ and ‘Award for Welsh Medium Education’Ìý
• 2014 - Erasmus Award for study at Universite de Paris IV (Sorbonne)
• 2011 - Cardiff University School of Music Scholarship to pursue doctoral studies
• 2007 – Creative Wales Award (Arts Council of Wales) to pursue performance studies into contemporary Welsh music
• 2006 - Wales Arts International – International Opportunities Award to give a series of chamber music performances in Quebec, Canada
• 2005 - Sir Geraint Evans Award (Guild for the Promotion of Welsh Music) – awarded for a significant contribution to Welsh music
• 1999 - Admitted to the Gorsedd of the National Eisteddfod of Wales (white robe)
• 1991 - 3^rdÌýPrize at Mavi Marcos International Piano Competition, ItalyÌý
• 1989- 3^rdÌýPrize at Epinal International piano Competition
• 1986 - Semi-finalist Concurso Busoni, Bolzano, Italy
• 1985 - Finalist - Royal Overseas League Piano CompetitionÌý
• 1984 - 4^thÌýprizewinner, Premio Jaen International Piano Competition, Italy
• 1984 – 3^rdÌýPrizewinner at the Dudley International Piano Competition
• 1983-5 - Awarded scholarships from Ian Fleming Charitable Trust, Countess of Munster Music Trust, Welsh Arts Council, Geoffrey Crawshay Trust (University of Wales), Pantyfedwen Trust and Gwynedd County Council.

IWAN LLEWELYN-JONES

REVIEWS OF PERFORMANCES OF FRENCH SOLO PIANO MUSIC

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Cesar Franck: Prelude Choral et Fugue -Ìýhis playing had breadth and power and succeeded in bringing to the contrapuntal arguments a flair and a sense of instinctively realised keyboard colour which reinforced both the music’s strength and its detailed effect.ÌýWigmore Hall, London (Daily Telegraph)

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Gabriel Fauré: Theme and VariationsÌýOp.73 -Ìýthe power and clean-cut precision of his playing brought out by sparing and beautifully-judged pedalling had all the more impact for being so regularly set against daringly gentle pianissimos of jewelled clarity.ÌýWigmore Hall, London (The Guardian)

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Maurice Ravel: SonatineÌý- the lovely liquidity of sounds which characterises Iwan Llewelyn- Jones’s approach to French music flowed abundantly with some delightful coloristic effects.ÌýStÌýDavid’s Hall, CardiffÌý(Musical Opinion)

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Olivier Messiaen: Le baiser de l’Enfant-JésusÌý-Ìýa continuously sustained concentration of outstanding technique and thought.ÌýÌý

Ravel: ScarboÌý(Gaspard de la nuit)Ìý-Ìýan impressive command of the keyboard, from a fine feathering of the fingers in crossover hands to a sinister sonority of chords.ÌýWigmore Hall, London (The Times)

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Henri Dutilleux: Sonate -Ìýis a much darker work and the first of the evening to demonstrate a level of virtuosity by Llewelyn-Jones that was jaw dropping.Ìý(Aberdeen Evening Express)

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