James Anagnoson

Mr. Anagnoson’s students have repeatedly won prizes in International Competitions such as the Gina Bachauer, the Maria Canals, the International Franz Liszt, the AXA Dublin International, Germany's ARD Competition for Duos, and the Toronto International Piano Competition, and are consistent prizewinners in Canada’s National Competitions such as the Canadian Music Competition and the Toronto Symphony Competition. He has been invited to give master classes in  various parts of Europe, North America, and Asia, and he has been a juror for competitions such as the Hong Kong International Piano Competition, the Canadian Chopin Competition, Japan’s PTNA Competition, Canada’s JUNO Awards, Spain’s Marbella International Piano Competition, the AXA Dublin International Piano Competition, the Prix d'Europe, Yamaha’s International e-Competition, South America’s Concurso International de Piano, and the Toronto International Piano Competition.

In 1976, James Anagnoson formed a piano duo with Canadian pianist Leslie Kinton, and since that time the duo Anagnoson & Kinton has gone on to give "outstanding concerts...with formidable precision and panache" - to quote the New York Times - across Canada, the United States, Europe, and Asia, receiving unanimous acclaim from both critics and audiences.

Anagnoson & Kinton's numerous recordings, with repertoire ranging from Beethoven and Schubert to Dvorak, Poulenc, and Gershwin, are heard regularly on America's National Public Radio, various European Radio networks, and both the BBC and CBC. Their highly acclaimed release of the Schubert f – Fantasy and other classical works on the Opening Day label received the distinction of being chosen by New York’s WQXR as a weekly feature when first released. Reviews of their previous recordings include “…this is a singular performance of great lucidity and power, flawlessly integrated” from Fanfare Magazine and “…performances by both soloists and orchestra are virtuoso and exciting…” from the American Record Review. Currently the duo’s CD recordings are all available online.

The Anagnoson & Kinton duo has performed in more than 1500 concert appearances around the world, including concerto appearances with Canada's leading orchestras, and in addition has performed radio recitals for the BBC, CBC, Czech National Radio, Hong Kong Radio, Hilversum Radio in Holland, and Radio Suisse Romande.

Recital highlights of their 50-year career include appearances in London’s Wigmore Hall, Toronto’s Roy Thomson Hall and Koerner Hall, Vancouver’s Orpheum and Queen Elizabeth Theatres, and Calgary’s Jack Singer Hall. They also performed at the Shanghai International Festival, in Martinu Hall in Prague, and in Glazunov Hall in St Petersburg, Russia.

Anagnoson and Kinton have commissioned, premiered and recorded many original works for two pianos, piano four hands, and two pianos and orchestra. They also commissioned and gave the Canadian Premiere of Ray Luedeke’s Into the Labyrinth, a work for two pianos and narrator, in collaboration with the internationally renowned actor Colin Fox.

Their interest in the works of Stravinsky led to their performing the North American premiere of Stravinsky’s two piano version of his Dumbarton Oaks Concerto, a work they later recorded on a CD that includes their performances of the Francis Poulenc and Roger Matton Concertos for two pianos and orchestra.  They have also performed Stravinsky’s four hand versions of Petrushka and The Rite of Spring numerous times, both in concert and onstage in collaboration with innovative choreographers of dance companies such as Ballet BC.

Over the years, while balancing his time between his extensive duo career, his teaching career, and his academic responsibilities as Dean of the Glenn Gould School, Mr. Anagnoson also found time for various chamber music collaborations with colleagues in universities and festivals. Some collaborative highlights include performances of Beethoven Cello Sonatas with cellist Tom Wiebe and Schubert's Die Schoene Mullerin with Kevin MacMillan at Western University, the Dvorak E Flat + Piano Quartet with members of the Gryphon Trio, and various Poulenc Songs with soprano Rosemarie Landry at the Festival of the Sound.

As Dean of the GGS Mr. Anagnoson also performed with bassoonist Frank Morelli in Schuman's Fantasiestucke Opus 73, the Metropolitan Opera’s Associate Harpist Mariko Anraku in Salzedo’s Sonata for Harp and Piano, and fellow keyboard colleagues Anton Nel and Robert McDonald in works by Brahms and Beethoven.  

James Anagnoson has been heard nationally on CBC radio, as a guest host on This Is My Music and The Arts Tonight, and as a piano commentator for both the Esther Honens International Piano Competition and the CBC Young Performer's Competition.

Mr. Anagnoson received his Master's degree from The Juilliard School, and his Bachelor's degree from the Eastman School of Music, which he attended on scholarship.  His most influential mentor was the American pianist Eugene List, and he was also strongly influenced by his post graduate work with Claude Frank and Karl Ulrich Schnabel.

In recognition of their international artistic achievements as performers, Anagnoson & Kinton were awarded an Honorary Fellowship by the Royal Conservatory of Music in 2019.