Trevor Pinnock Harpsichordist and Conductor
Trevor Pinnock was a chorister at Canterbury Cathedral before taking up a scholarship to the Royal College of Music in London, where he studied the harpsichord and the organ, winning numerous prizes for his performances.
He is probably best known for founding The English Concert in 1972, an orchestra at the forefront of the period-performance movement, and helped to revitalise the baroque repertoire. The English Concert rapidly achieved world-wide acclaim, and he remained its director for more than 30 years. His contribution to music during this period was recognised by the award of a CBE in 1992, and by the French Ordre des Arts et des Lettres in 1998.
He has also been awarded honorary degrees by the universities of Ottawa, Kent and Sheffield. His discography includes solo works for the harpsichord and collaborations with many of the world’s greatest musicians and singers in a wide range of chamber music, orchestral and operatic settings.
He now divides his time between solo and chamber concerts and conducting. He works regularly with the Chicago Symphony and Royal Concertegebouw orchestras and is Principal guest conductor of the Salzburg Mozarteum Orchestra.
At the Royal Academy of Music he is Principal conductor of the Concert Orchestra as well as undertaking operas and working with the RAM Soloists Ensemble.