Hereford
	String
	Orchestra

CHARLES OWEN

CHARLES OWEN began his musical studies at the Yehudi Menuhin School with Seta Tanyel and continued at the Royal College of Music under the guidance of Irina Zaritskaya. While at the RCM he won all the major piano prizes before completing his studies with Imogen Cooper. He received the silver medal at the Scottish International Piano Competition (1995) and was a finalist in the 1996 London Philharmonic/Pioneer Young Soloist of the year competition. In 1997 he won the prestigious Parkhouse Award in partnership with violinist Katharine Gowers.

Charles's concert activities are diverse and extensive, encompassing solo, concerto and chamber music appearances. He has performed in many of Britain's leading concert halls including the Barbican, Queen Elizabeth Hall, Wigmore Hall and Symphony Hall, Birmingham. Internationally, he has appeared in the Carnegie Hall and Lincoln Center, Vienna Musikverein, Paris Louvre and St Petersburg Philharmonic. As a recitalist and chamber musician he has played for numerous concert societies and established festivals: Bath, Cheltenham, Chester, Harrogate and the Worcester Three Choirs amongst others. He has collaborated with many outstanding artists, including Sarah Chang, Antje Weithaas, Renaud Capucon, Chloe Hanslip, Michael Collins and Natalie Clein.

Charles broadcasts for Radio 3, Classic FM and ABC Australia. He has performed with celebrated British orchestras including the Philharmonia, the Royal Scottish National, the English Symphony and the London Philharmonic. Recent festival appearances include the Perth International Music Festival Western Australia, Oxford Chamber Music Festival and the "Homecoming Festival" held at the Moscow Conservatoire.

Charles has recorded for both the Dorian and Somm labels. His most recent disc for Somm, featuring the piano music of Leos Janacek, was highly acclaimed in the July 2003 edition of Gramophone record magazine. Further recordings of works by Poulenc and Albeniz are planned.