The London Ensemble - Prize-winning Pianist

Winner of the First Prize at the 2002 Maria Canals International Piano Competition in Barcelona, Viv McLean has performed at all the major venues in the UK as well as in France, Spain, Germany, Poland, Sweden, Finland, Malta, Israel, Cyprus, Japan, Australia and the USA.

His concerto work includes appearances with the Philharmonia Orchestra, London Philharmonic Orchestra, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, BBC Concert Orchestra, London Concert Orchestra, Scottish Concert Orchestra, National Musicians' Symphony Orchestra, and he has performed chamber music with leading groups such as the London Ensemble, the Ysaye String Quartet and the Leopold String Trio. He has performed in festivals including the Cheltenham International Festival and Harrogate Festival in the UK, the Festival de Saintes in France and the Musik vid Kattegatt Festival in Sweden.

Viv studied at the Royal Academy of Music where he held the Hodgson Fellowship and received financial assistance from the Hattori Foundation and the Countess of Munster Musical Trust. He made his Wigmore Hall recital debut through winning the Friends of the Royal Academy Wigmore Award. Whilst studying at the Academy, Viv was the piano winner at the Royal Overseas-League Music Competition and was selected as one of three winners of the National Federation of Music Societies' Young Artists Competition, leading to various recitals and concerto appearances throughout Great Britain.

Viv has recorded regularly for BBC Radio 3 since making his recital debut through the BBC Radio 3 Young Artists Forum scheme and has also recorded recitals for radio in Germany and Poland. His commercial releases include recordings for such labels as Sony Classical Japan and Naxos, as well as a recent recording of Gershwin's 'Songbook' for Piano and Orchestra with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra.

Future plans include concerts in France, Norway, Japan and the UK.

The pianist Viv McLean seemed exceptional to me; he astonished

us with his musical maturity and extraordinary sonority.

Le Monde (Paris)

Viv McLean revealed extraordinary originality, superb simplicity, and

fingers of steel hidden behind muscles of velvet. He is an otherworldly

young man - he plays with the genius one finds in those who know how

to forget themselves, naturally placing themselves at the right point to

meet the music, this mystery of the moment.

Le Monde (Paris)

...the pianist Viv McLean, spewing molten lava.

The Times

Viv McLean performed with his mind as well as his hands.

The Sunday Times

The fluent technique and brilliance of the interpreter were impressive.

McLean played with insight and the greatest sensitivity.

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