Kemp English

Dr Kemp English is one of New Zealand’s leading concert performers and recording artists. Highlights of recent solo appearances include the Hong Kong Cultural Centre, Sydney Town Hall, Westminster Central Hall London, Tewkesbury Abbey, Chester Cathedral, Hull City Hall, Montpellier Cathedral, National Centre for Early Music (UK), Auckland, Wellington and Dunedin Town Halls, Scots’ Church Melbourne, University of York, University of Glasgow and the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts. His impressive list of recordings feature 23 internationally acclaimed CDs on the Naxos, Decca and Ode record labels, playing organ, modern piano, fortepiano and harpsichord. His 12 CD cycle of the complete Kozeluch keyboard sonatas (on the Naxos Premium Grand Piano label) recently gained a five star review from Germany’s most important review site www.klassik.com.

After a distinguished and prizewinning studentship at London’s Royal Academy of Music, Kemp was invited to become a tutor in the RAM’s Junior Academy. Following posts in schools and tertiary education in the UK and Switzerland he immigrated to New Zealand in 1994. From 1994 – 2005 Dr English was University Organist and Executant Lecturer in Piano, Organ, Fortepiano and Harpsichord Performance at the University of Otago and conjunctly Organist at St Joseph’s Cathedral and Knox College. In 2005 he relinquished his university, cathedral and private teaching posts and moved to the Tasman region to concentrate on his increasingly hectic international performing and recording career. In recent years he has given Masterclasses in the UK, China and Australia. These rewarding experiences have rekindled his commitment to support the next generation of up-and-coming keyboard players.

Most recently one of Dr English’s students won the New Zealand Organist Association National Performance Award as part of the NZOA’s annual conference.

NCMA is thrilled that Dr English will be taking time out of his busy performing and recording schedules to join our dedicated team of teachers as the Visiting Fellow in Keyboard.

Lessons will be tailored to the specific needs of each student.