Piers Adams
Encyclopedia
Piers Adams is a British recorder player and member of baroque
group Red Priest
.
After attending Reading Blue Coat School
Adams trained as an astrophysicist, but turned professionally to the recorder at age 21. Known as the "modern day pied piper" his performing career has taken him all over the world to countries such as South America, Australia, Japan, Russia and Europe.
Adams has received numerous awards for his recorder playing, including first prize in the inaugural Moeck International Recorder Competition (1985) which led to debuts in the premier London venues such as the Wigmore Hall
and Royal Albert Hall
As a concert soloist, Adams performs with orchestras including the BBC Symphony Orchestra
s, the Philharmonia
, the Academy of Ancient Music
, Guildhall Strings, the English Sinfonia, the City of London Sinfonia
, London Musici and the Singapore Symphony Orchestra
.
CD recordings range from his award-winning debut of Vivaldi Concertos (Cala) to David Bedford’s heroic Recorder Concerto (NMC) – one of many major works written for him. CDs available include Recorder Bravura (romantic showpieces), Shine and Shade (20th century sonatas) and five Red Priest CDs: Priest on the Run, Nightmare in Venice, The Four Seasons, Pirates of the Baroque and Johann, I'm Only Dancing.
Piers Adams has been actively involved in education over the years and has held professorships at a number of UK music colleges. Alongside fellow Red Priest
member Howard Beach
on harpsichord
, Adams regularly gives "Recorder Roadshows" which include master classes and workshops for children combined with a concert performance of specially written works.
Baroque
The Baroque is a period and the style that used exaggerated motion and clear, easily interpreted detail to produce drama, tension, exuberance, and grandeur in sculpture, painting, literature, dance, and music...
group Red Priest
Red Priest
Red Priest is a British Baroque instrumental group that was formed in 1997, originally with eleven members. Currently it is composed of four performers: Piers Adams - recorder, Julia Bishop - violin, Angela East - cello and Howard Beach - harpsichord. On 18 January 2011 it was announced that Howard...
.
After attending Reading Blue Coat School
Reading Blue Coat School
Reading Blue Coat School is a boys' independent school in Holme Park in the village of Sonning, in the English county of Berkshire, to the east of the town of Reading...
Adams trained as an astrophysicist, but turned professionally to the recorder at age 21. Known as the "modern day pied piper" his performing career has taken him all over the world to countries such as South America, Australia, Japan, Russia and Europe.
Adams has received numerous awards for his recorder playing, including first prize in the inaugural Moeck International Recorder Competition (1985) which led to debuts in the premier London venues such as the Wigmore Hall
Wigmore Hall
Wigmore Hall is a leading international recital venue that specialises in hosting performances of chamber music and is best known for classical recitals of piano, song and instrumental music. It is located at 36 Wigmore Street, London, UK and was built to provide London with a venue that was both...
and Royal Albert Hall
Royal Albert Hall
The Royal Albert Hall is a concert hall situated on the northern edge of the South Kensington area, in the City of Westminster, London, England, best known for holding the annual summer Proms concerts since 1941....
As a concert soloist, Adams performs with orchestras including the BBC Symphony Orchestra
BBC Symphony Orchestra
The BBC Symphony Orchestra is the principal broadcast orchestra of the British Broadcasting Corporation and one of the leading orchestras in Britain.-History:...
s, the Philharmonia
Philharmonia
The Philharmonia Orchestra is one of the leading orchestras in Great Britain, based in London. Since 1995, it has been based in the Royal Festival Hall. In Britain it is also the resident orchestra at De Montfort Hall, Leicester and the Corn Exchange, Bedford, as well as The Anvil, Basingstoke...
, the Academy of Ancient Music
Academy of Ancient Music
The Academy of Ancient Music is a period-instrument orchestra based in Cambridge, England. Founded by harpsichordist Christopher Hogwood in 1973, it was named after a previous organisation of the same name of the 18th century. The musicians play on either original instruments or modern copies of...
, Guildhall Strings, the English Sinfonia, the City of London Sinfonia
City of London Sinfonia
The City of London Sinfonia is an English chamber orchestra based in London. In London, the CLS performs regularly at Cadogan Hall and St Paul's Cathedral. It is also the resident orchestra at Opera Holland Park. The CLS has annual residencies in four towns in Southern England: Ipswich, King's...
, London Musici and the Singapore Symphony Orchestra
Singapore Symphony Orchestra
The Singapore Symphony Orchestra is a 96 members professional symphony orchestra. Its main performing venue is the Esplanade Concert Hall in Singapore although it has also toured widely in Asia, Europe and the United States...
.
CD recordings range from his award-winning debut of Vivaldi Concertos (Cala) to David Bedford’s heroic Recorder Concerto (NMC) – one of many major works written for him. CDs available include Recorder Bravura (romantic showpieces), Shine and Shade (20th century sonatas) and five Red Priest CDs: Priest on the Run, Nightmare in Venice, The Four Seasons, Pirates of the Baroque and Johann, I'm Only Dancing.
Piers Adams has been actively involved in education over the years and has held professorships at a number of UK music colleges. Alongside fellow Red Priest
Red Priest
Red Priest is a British Baroque instrumental group that was formed in 1997, originally with eleven members. Currently it is composed of four performers: Piers Adams - recorder, Julia Bishop - violin, Angela East - cello and Howard Beach - harpsichord. On 18 January 2011 it was announced that Howard...
member Howard Beach
Howard Beach (harpsichordist)
Howard Beach is a British harpsichord player and previously a member of baroque group Red Priest.Howard has performed and recorded extensively on both harpshichord and piano as a continuo player and concerto soloist...
on harpsichord
Harpsichord
A harpsichord is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It produces sound by plucking a string when a key is pressed.In the narrow sense, "harpsichord" designates only the large wing-shaped instruments in which the strings are perpendicular to the keyboard...
, Adams regularly gives "Recorder Roadshows" which include master classes and workshops for children combined with a concert performance of specially written works.