Woodward, Roger (1942-…), an Australian pianist, is one of the world’s finest concert pianists. Woodward is also a composer and conductor.
Woodward’s performances of the traditional classical repertoire have received worldwide critical acclaim. He has performed the complete works of the Polish composer Frédéric Chopin as well as all 32 piano sonatas and 5 piano concertos by the German composer Ludwig van Beethoven. Woodward has also gained recognition for performing contemporary works and experimental piano pieces from the 1900’s by such composers as Pierre Boulez, John Cage, and Karlheinz Stockhausen.
Roger Robert Woodward was born on Dec. 20, 1942, in Sydney. He began piano lessons at the age of 5. He began studied piano and composition at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music. In 1964, he won the Australian Broadcasting Corporation’s Concerto and Vocal Competition. He then began postgraduate studies at the Chopin National Academy for Music in Warsaw, Poland. He went on to win major prizes in Poland and France before establishing himself as a professional concert pianist.
Woodward has received many awards, including the Order of the British Empire (OBE) for his services to the arts and community in 1980 and the Companion of the Order of Australia in 1992 for his services to music. In 1993, he received the Commander Cross of the Polish Order of Merit for his services to human rights. Woodward is a fellow of the Fryderyk Chopin Institute in Warsaw and director of the Australasian Academy for New Music. Woodward also founded and has directed the Sydney Spring Festival of New Music.
