Margaret Fingerhut
Margaret Fingerhut has performed in many different countries and has become well-known for her imaginatively designed recital programmes 'Piano Themes' in which she explores the highways and byways of the piano repertoire. As a concerto soloist she has appeared with the London Symphony Orchestra, London Philharmonic Orchestra, Philharmonia Orchestra, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, BBC Philharmonic, BBC National Orchestra of Wales, BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra and the London Mozart Players, in venues such as the Royal Festival Hall, Royal Albert Hall and the Barbican. She is often heard on BBC Radio 3 and Classic FM and many radio stations worldwide.
Her extensive and eclectic discography on the Chandos label has received worldwide critical acclaim, and her numerous discs reflect her long-standing fascination with exploring lesser-known repertoire, including works by Bainton, Bax, Berkeley, Bloch, Dukas, Falla, Grieg, Howells, Leighton, Moeran, Novák, Stanford and Suk. Many have been selected as the Gramophone’s Critics’ Choice, and two of her Bax recordings - the Octet with the Academy of St Martin-in-the-Fields Chamber Ensemble and the Concertante for Piano Left Hand and Orchestra with Vernon Handley and the BBC Philharmonic - were short-listed for Gramophone awards. Her recent disc of solo piano music by Alexandre Tansman was picked as a “Diapason D’Or” in Diapason magazine. She was also the soloist in the world premiere recording of Percy Young’s arrangement of Elgar’s sketches for his Piano Concerto slow movement, with the Munich Symphony Orchestra conducted by Douglas Bostock.
Before joining Birmingham Conservatoire, Margaret Fingerhut taught piano at the Royal Northern College of Music for several years; she has given masterclasses in the USA, Canada and China. Summer schools include at Chetham’s International Summer School for Pianists and Dartington International Summer School. She has been an adjudicator for many competitions, including the BBC Young Musician of the Year.