Julian Jacobson

The British pianist, conductor, composer and teacher Julian Jacobson, the younger son of composer Maurice Jacobson, was born in Peebles, Scotland, and studied piano with Lamar Crowson, John Barstow and Louis Kentner, and composition with Arthur Benjamin and Humphrey Searle.

As a pianist, his repertoire includes the complete Beethoven sonatas, which he presents regularly as a cycle. In October 2003 he was the first pianist in the UK (and probably only the second anywhere) to perform all thirty two sonatas in a single day. He has appeared as soloist with the London Symphony Orchestra, the London Mozart Players and the London Sinfonietta, playing for conductors including Simon Rattle and Jane Glover, and has recorded at least twenty CDs.

As a conductor he has worked with the European Community Chamber Orchestra, the London Philharmonic and the RTÉ Orchestra.

Jacobson's compositions include songs, piano and chamber music, Hip, hip Bourrée (commissioned by Steven Isserlis for cello and piano) and The Orang-u-Tango for violin and piano.

He gives masterclasses internationally, was artistic director of the Paxos International Music Festival in Greece until 2004, and has also been head of keyboard studies at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama. He is currently professor of piano and chamber music at the Royal College of Music in London.

Further information: julianjacobson.com

M&V articles about Julian Jacobson

Quite Superb - Julian Jacobson plays Beethoven, heard by Bill Newman

Consummate Artists - Malcolm Troup reports on the BPSE Summer Festival at London's Regent Hall, where for the first time Music, not consumerism, called the shots

New Contexts - Malcolm Miller reports on a recent Symposium on Beethoven's Diabelli Variations

Ensemble. Much to Enjoy - Johannes Goritzki and Julian Jacobson at London's Royal College of Music, heard by Robert Anderson

Ensemble. Superb Pianism - A London recital by Julian Jacobson, heard by Robert Anderson

Ensemble. Better Late than Never - The BPSE Late Summer Festival, attended by Malcolm Troup

Linear Clarity - Julian Jacobson's Wigmore Hall recital impresses Malcolm Miller

Ensemble. Splendidly Imaginative - Julian Jacobson and Meng Yang Pan celebrate Valentine's Day and Chinese New Year, enjoyed by Mary Isaac

World-ranking Pianism - Malcolm Troup marvels anew at the artistry of Julian Jacobson

Ensemble. Unity of Conception - Malcolm Troup was at the BPSE Summer Festival in London

Ensemble. Refreshing Contrasts - Malcolm Miller reports from the 2009 BPSE Chamber Music Competition

Ensemble. Force of Nature - The Matsumoto/Jacobson Duo and The Art of Falconry, by Malcolm Troup

Julian Jacobson - No longer one of British music's best-kept secrets! As reported by Malcolm Troup

A Pianistic Firecracker - A lunchtime recital by Tali Morgulis, enjoyed by Malcolm Troup

Ensemble. A Valentine Extravaganza - Julian Jacobson in the first of his orchestral Valentine Extravaganzas, enjoyed by Malcolm Troup

Ensemble. Thirty-two sonatas a day - Malcolm Miller attends Julian Jacobson's Beethoven marathon

Music & Vision articles by Julian Jacobson

Julian Jacobson reports on the Beethoven Piano Society of Europe's Beethoven Senior Intercollegiate Piano Competition

Thomas Hicks wins first prize in the Beethoven Piano Society of Europe's annual Junior Competition

Jacques Rouvier's Debussy Préludes. '... the performances lack a degree of intensity and personal involvement.'

Julian Jacobson was at the 2010 Beethoven Intercollegiate Piano Competition

Simon Watterton gives a lunchtime recital in London

Stephen Savage plays Beethoven

Julian Jacobson reports from the 2009 Beethoven Intercollegiate Piano Competition

Beethoven in E flat and friends

A recital by Evelyne Berezovsky

Andrejs Osokins at London's St Martin-in-the-Fields

The sixteenth Beethoven Intercollegiate Piano Competition

Malcolm Troup plays Bloch's Piano Sonata

Taneyev string trios. '... a performance of real commitment and assurance ...'

The 2007 Beethoven Junior Intercollegiate Piano Competition

Malcolm Troup's recital at St Martin-in-the-Fields

Julian Jacobson reports on the fourteenth BPSE Beethoven Intercollegiate (Senior) Piano Competition

Julian Jacobson attended the Beethoven Piano Society of Europe's Summer Celebrity Festival