John Wilson, piano
“He brings a wide spectrum of touch and dynamics to the three quasi improvisatory tableaux of Michael Tilson Thomas, which lend their collective title – Upon Further Reflection – to the album. … appealing gravity and circumspection” - Gramophone
“another of the year’s excellent piano albums … celebrates both [Michael Tilson Thomas] and his influences” - The Arts Fuse, reviewing the world premiere of Michael Tilson Thomas Piano Suite “Upon Further Reflection”
In 2019, John premiered a portion of Upon Further Reflection that was broadcast live on Medici.TV to an audience of over 50,000. Later in 2022 John released his solo debut album on Avie Records, which featured the premiere of MTT’s three-movement suite for piano, Upon Further Reflection.
A “marvelous musical mad scientist” (Music Critics Association of North America) with a repertoire ranging from the Baroque to the Contemporary, American pianist John Wilson has performed extensively in North America, with highlights including his recent solo debut at Carnegie Hall with the Chamber Orchestra of New York playing Mozart’s Piano Concerto No. 9, “Jenamy”, and at the San Francisco Symphony, playing solo works by Debussy and the Martinu Double Concerto for Piano, Strings and Timpani. His playing was described by the San Francisco Classical Voice as “having all the beauty and delicacy one would expect from Debussy”.
Wilson has had the pleasure of being a part of numerous world premieres, performing including those by Michael Tilson Thomas, John Adams, Samuel Adams, Timo Andres, Judith Lang Zaimont, Steve Reich and many others.
As a soloist he has performed with the San Francisco Symphony, Chamber Orchestra of New York, New World Symphony, Classical Music Institute Orchestra of San Antonio, Napa Valley Symphony Orchestra, and both the New Amsterdam Symphony and Orchestra Camerata Notturna in New York, NY. He most recently won 1st prize in the 2019 International Respighi Prize Competition.
He recently performed on the 2023 European tour with the San Francisco Symphony performing chamber and orchestral works under Esa-Pekka Salonen. A devoted chamber musician and collaborator, he has appeared in chamber ensembles with musicians of the San Francisco Symphony, San Diego Symphony, Orchestre Symphonique de Montréal and, and has appeared in recital with violinist Joshua Bell, cellist Johannes Moser, violinist Anthony Marwood and sopranos Audra McDonald and Bernadette Peters.
John has recorded for Avie Records, Affetto, MSR Classics, and performances can be heard on BBC 3 Radio, Medici.tv and WQXR. Future recordings to be released are another solo album featuring works and transcriptions of Rachmaninoff and Gershwin, on Avie Records, Brahms and Schubert ensemble works on Delos Productions, and the complete works for flute and harpsichord by J.S Bach on Affetto Records. He has performed as guest Principal Keyboard with the Chicago Symphony, is Principal Keyboard of the Marin Symphony, a keyboardist with the San Francisco Symphony, and the San Diego Symphony.