Biography
David Neil Jones - Concert Pianist
David Neil Jones began playing the piano at the age of ten. After a year of study in Austria he was awarded a place at the Royal College of Music in London, where his teacher was Peter Element.
A seminal influence upon his musical development has been recordings of great virtuosi from the past: Horowitz, Rachmaninov, Cortot, Art Tatum, Milstein, Szigeti, to name but a few. Combining the joyful freedom of expression they showed possible with elements of the contemporary movement for authenticity, David Neil Jones’ performances are strongly crafted, virtuoso, yet pervaded with colour and above all, a singing tone. He plays a wide range of repertoire, embracing a particular love of French and Russian music.
David has given recitals in London at the Royal National Theatre and Barbican Centre. In 1997 an invitation to play before the eminent French composer Dutilleux during his 80th. birthday celebrations in London lead to subsequent performances of the composer’s Piano Sonata. More recently, David has been recitalist aboard cruise liners touring the world for Cunard, P & O and Olsen Lines. This has resulted in invitations to play in the United States and for Polish television in Warsaw. Many people who have heard concerts given by David have commented on his ability to put his audience at ease and welcome them to his world of music and yet communicate his passion for his art.
An experienced concerto player, David Neil Jones performed Rachmaninov’s first concerto at the Queen Elizabeth Hall. In September he will perform Mozart’s Concerto in E flat, K.449 with the London Mozart Players. As an orchestral pianist, he recently performed Copland’s Appalachian Spring for the newly formed Chamber Orchestra Anglia. David’s début CD, ‘Piano Variations’ was released in November 1995 on the Amphion label. A second CD, ‘Piano Interpretations’ was released in January 2000.
As an accompanist he has collaborated extensively with soprano, Sheila Barnes with whom he shares a special interest in French and Spanish song repertoire, recently performing a recital at Dartington Summer School. He is a regular performer at the annual Norfolk County Music Festival where he is an official accompanist and recently he has worked with the London Jewish Male Choir.
Now based in Norfolk, David freelances as piano soloist and accompanist and teaches piano students at the University of East Anglia and Wymondham College.
