John Owings
Praised for his exciting pianism and sensitive artistry, John Owings’ versatile career has ranged from solo and chamber music recitals to concerto appearances at major venues in the United States, Latin America, Europe, and Asia. His critically acclaimed CD recordings include piano music by Samuel Barber, Aaron Copland, Elliott Carter, Robert Casadesus, and Julius Reubke, as well as chamber music by Eric Ewazen, Richard Lavenda, Quincy Porter, and Elena Sokolowski.
A native of San Antonio, Owings received his formal training at the University of Texas, The Royal College of Music in London, and The Juilliard School, where his teachers were Rosina Lhevinne and Martin Canin. His other teachers have included Géza Anda, Dalies Frantz, Karl Leifheit, and Wilhelm Kempff, as well as mentors Claude Frank and Menahem Pressler.
Gold medalist of the Robert Casadesus International Piano Competition in Cleveland, Owings also won the Vianna da Motta International Competition in Lisbon, the London Liszt Society Competition, and the Musical Arts Competition in Chicago.
An active proponent of chamber music, John Owings has collaborated with many distinguished musicians, including members of the Borromeo and Miró string quartets, violinists Nicholas Kitchen, Michael Shih, Stefan Milenkovich, and Fritz Gearhart, and cellists Yeesun Kim, Carlos Prieto, Stephen Balderston, Emilio Colón, and Misha Quint. In 2001, he and his colleagues Misha Galaganov (viola) and Gary Whitman (clarinet) formed Trio Con Brio, an ensemble that has commissioned and premiered new works by over a dozen living composers.
A dedicated teacher, Owings’ students have won national and international competitions and enjoy successful careers as performers and educators. He has given master classes in the United States, England, Italy, Colombia, Peru, China, Korea, and Japan, and has been a guest artist at InterHarmony, MusicFest Perugia, Bucaramanga, the Round Top Festival, and PianoTexas International Academy and Festival.
From 1990 to 2023, John Owings was the Herndon Professor of Music and Chair of the Piano Division at Texas Christian University, where he received the school’s highest honor – the Chancellor’s Award – in recognition of his performances of the 32 Beethoven Piano Sonatas. Six sonatas from these live performances have been issued on a CD recording.