Finghin Collins - pianist
Since winning first prize at the Clara Haskil International Piano Competition in Vevey, Switzerland in 1999, Dublin-born pianist Finghin Collins enjoys a flourishing international career that embraces Europe the USA, Hong Kong and Korea. He has performed with such prestigious orchestras as the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Houston Symphony Orchestra, Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra, Orchestre de la Suisse Romande, Gulbenkian Orchestra, Hong Kong Sinfonietta, the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, and collaborating with conductors include Christoph Eschenbach, Hans Graf, Emmanuel Krivine, Nicholas McGegan, Sakari Oramo, Tadaaki Otaka, Heinrich Schiff, Vassily Sinaisky and Leonard Slatkin.
He has performed throughout Europe in venues including Symphony Hall, Birmingham, Wigmore Hall, the Concertgebouw Amsterdam (both halls), Théâtre du Châtelet and Salle Cortot Paris, Salle Molièr, Lyon, Liederhalle, Stuttgart, Palao de la Musica Valencia, Gulbenkian Hall Lisbon, Philharmonic Hall Warsaw, and the Auditorium Stravinski Montreux. He has also performed at Carnegie Hall, New York, as well as at both the Ravinia and Gilmore Festivals in the USA.
European Festival appearances include the Klavier-Festival Ruhr and Schleswig-Holstein Musik Festival (Germany), Lockenhaus Festival (Austria), Delft International Chamber Music Festival (Holland), Chopin Festival (Poland), Musical Olympus Festival (Russia), Festival de Bellerive (Switzerland), Bergen International Chamber Music and Elverum Festival (Norway) as well as Harrogate, Chichester and Chester International Music Festivals (England) and the Septembre Musical de l'Orne (France).
In his home country he regularly plays with all the Irish orchestras and at major festivals. He performs on a regular basis with the RTE National Symphony Orchestra and the Ulster Orchestra and has collaborated with ensembles such as London Winds and the Aviv, Shanghai, Skampa, St Petersburg, Vanbrugh, Vertavo and Vogler String Quartets, recording regularly for both RTE and BBC Radio and Television.
In May 2005 Lyric fm released his début solo CD album; entitled 'Impromptu', featuring 19 sparkling piano classics. In May 2006 Claves Records in Switzerland released a double CD set of Schumann receiving high praise in the international press, including "Editor's Choice" in Gramophone Magazine, 4 stars in BBC Music Magazine and 5 Diapasons in "Diapason" Magazine in France. A further double album is scheduled for release in autumn 2008.
Engagements in 2006/07 included performances with the RTE National Symphony Orchestra, the Orchestra of St. Cecilia, the Busan Philharmonic, the Chilingirian, ConTempo and Callino Quartets as well as a début recital at the Kumho Art Hall in Seoul and recitals in Daegu and Anyang. During summer 2007 he mad his début at the Barbican Hall in London, performing with the Manchester Camerata/Douglas Boyd. He also performed at the Piano Festival at La Roque d'Anthéron, the Piano Festival "Ars Terra" and the Festival de Musique de Wissembourg in France as well as the West Cork Chamber Music Festival, the New Ross Piano Festival and the Festival of Music in Great Irish Houses in Ireland.
In 2007/8 he will give recitals in Milan (Grande Sala G. Verdi), Vienna (Konzerthaus, Mozartsaal), Switzerland (Théâtre de Vevey), Spain (Madrid and Valencia), Estonia, Dublin and Washington DC (Kennedy Center). He will also perform with the Ulster Orchestra/Kenneth Montgomery, the RTE National Symphony Orchestra/Oleg Caetani, the RTE Concert Orchestra/Laurent Wagner and the Prague Sinfonia/Christian Benda. 2008/9 includes performances in Japan with the Nagoya Philharmonic and his debut at the Wigmore Hall.
Finghin Collins studied at the Royal Irish Academy of Music with John O'Conor and at the Geneva Conservatoire with Dominique Merlet. As well as being Musician in Residence at South Dublin County Council, he is Artist in Residence at Waterford Institute of Technology and Artistic Director of the New Ross Piano Festival.