Pianist Jonathan Biss joins Glenn Gould School faculty this fall

Renowned pianist Jonathan Biss Joins Glenn Gould School Faculty This Fall

The Royal Conservatory’s Glenn Gould School (GGS) has announced that acclaimed pianist and educator Jonathan Biss will join its piano faculty this September. A celebrated performer, writer, and musical thinker, Biss brings a deep well of artistic insight to the Ihnatowycz Piano Program, enriching an already world-class roster of instructors.

A global artist and communicator

Biss is internationally recognized for both his commanding performances and his thoughtful commentary on music. The Boston Globe has praised him as “a superb pianist and also an eloquent and insightful music writer,” while The New Yorker noted his “impeccable taste and a formidable technique.”

He has appeared as a soloist with many of the world’s most prestigious ensembles, including the New York and Los Angeles Philharmonics; the Boston, Chicago, San Francisco, Cleveland, and Philadelphia Symphonies; and Europe’s Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, Philharmonia, Gewandhausorchester Leipzig, and London Philharmonic, among others.

Familiar to Canadian audiences

Koerner Hall audiences may recall Biss from his recent appearance with the Brentano String Quartet and bassist Joseph Conyers in a performance of Schubert’s Trout Quintet—a standout in The Royal Conservatory’s 2023–24 season. Just last month, he performed Schubert’s final two piano sonatas in a solo recital at the Rockport Chamber Music Festival, receiving an enthusiastic reception.

In addition to his affinity for Schubert, Biss continues to champion new music. His most recent recital program paired Schubert with contemporary works by Alvin Singleton, Tyson Gholston Davis, and Tyshawn Sorey. He has also collaborated with Mitsuko Uchida on Schubert’s lesser-known piano four-hand works.

A deep connection to Beethoven—and to GGS

Biss’s lifelong exploration of Beethoven has made him a leading interpreter of the composer’s music. He has recorded the complete Beethoven piano sonatas, written the eBook Beethoven’s Shadow, and spearheaded the Beethoven/5 project, commissioning five new piano concertos inspired by Beethoven’s originals.

That artistic lineage traces directly to Leon Fleisher, the legendary pianist and teacher who mentored Biss and was the inaugural Ihnatowycz Chair in Piano at GGS. Fleisher’s influence continues to resonate in Biss’s playing, teaching, and musical philosophy.

“I cannot overstate Leon's importance in my musical life; I think of him nearly every day, never more so than when I teach,” said Biss. “It will be very meaningful for me to spend so much time at a place that he loved, and that owes so much to his total musical integrity.”

Welcoming a remarkable teacher

James Anagnoson, Dean of The Glenn Gould School, expressed his excitement at Biss’s appointment:

“Jonathan Biss embodies The Glenn Gould School’s tradition of artistic excellence and intellectual curiosity. His profound insights, shaped by his mentorship under Leon Fleisher, alongside his collaborative spirit and pedagogical passion, make him an extraordinary addition to our faculty.”

As co-artistic director of the Marlboro Music Festival and a former professor at The Curtis Institute of Music, Biss brings a rare blend of performance experience and teaching acumen. His arrival promises to be a transformative moment for GGS and a new chapter in a distinguished musical legacy.