British pianist Samantha Ward has performed extensively around the UK and in Europe and has appeared on British television and radio several times. In October 2007, she gave her solo debut recital at London's Wigmore Hall and has given solo recitals in such venues as St Martin in the Fields, St John's Smith Square, St David's Hall Cardiff and Manchester's Bridgewater Hall, as well as in concert halls around Europe.
She has won first prize in a number of competitions, starting in 2004 when she won the Making Music Philip and Dorothy Green Award for Young Concert Artists. She also won the Beethoven Society of Europe's Intercollegiate Piano Competition (2006), The Hastings International Concerto Competition as well as the Sir Philip Ledger Prize for the best Mozart or Beethoven Concerto (2006) and the Worshipful Company of Musicians' Maisie Lewis Young Concert Artists Fund Award (2007). Her debut recital at St John's Smith Square in 2009 was chosed to be recorded by 'Slow Down London', to be featured in their 2010 festival. Also in 2010, Samantha was shortlisted for a 'Woman of the Future' Award in Arts and Culture in association with Shell and as a result, she was invited to give an interview for Stylist Magazine in March 2011.
Samantha was awarded a fellowship from the Guildhall School of Music for the year 2007/8, where she studied under the Senior Professor Joan Havill and was awarded a major educational award from the Musicians' Benevolent Fund to continue her postgraduate studies at the school. She previously studied at Chetham's School of Music in Manchester with the Polish pianist Alicja Fiderkiewicz. She has also recently been awarded a scholarship from the Dartington International Summer Festival where she took masterclasses with Stephen Bishop-Kovacevich. In November 2011, Samantha recorded both solo and duet albums (with Maciej Raginia) for Schott Music Publishers.
Future engagements in 2011/12 include recital and concerto engagements around the UK, as well as a concerto recording of the Dora Bright Piano Concerto in A minor with the Morley Chamber Orchestra under Charles Peebles. In August 2012, Samantha will record the piano works of Rory Freckleton at the Wathen Hall, St Paul's School.
