Adam Heron
A multidisciplinary pianist and composer of Nigerian-Filipino ancestry, Adam Heron is the winner of the 2020 Harriet Cohen Bach Award. Born in Hong Kong, then adopted by his Irish mother, Adam achieved widespread recognition in 2018 following his television debut as a BBC Young Musician category finalist. Through his cosmopolitan heritage, coupled with a flair for storytelling, he strives to become a leading ambassador for classical music.
Adam commands a thrilling diary of international concerts, collaborations, and outreach engagements, having performed at distinguished venues including Wigmore Hall, St Giles’ Cathedral, and Hampton Court Palace. A keen linguist and traveller, his musical endeavours have led to solo recitals at the International Center for Arts in Cairo and the National Centre for the Performing Arts in Mumbai, in addition to festival appearances at the Aegean Arts International Festival and the Cayman Arts Festival. Adam also enjoys regular collaborations with leading media broadcasters including BBC Radio 3 and BBC Four, having worked alongside eminent presenters including Katie Derham and Sean Rafferty.
A devoted ensemble pianist, he has joined forces with numerous fellow musicians including saxophonist Amy Dickson, double-bassist Chi-chi Nwanoku CBE, violinist Antal Zalai, soprano Francesca Chiejina, and cellist Laura van der Heijden. As part of the 2017 Cheltenham Music Festival, Adam became one of the first ever soloists to play with the Chineke! Orchestra, having partnered with esteemed conductors including Jonathon Heyward, David Curtis, Dwight Pile-Gray, Pete Harrison, and Timothy Carey.
A laureate of both the Stefano Marizza and HRH Princess Lalla Meryem international piano competitions, Adam studied with Christopher Elton at the Royal Academy of Music before gaining his postgraduate degree from the University of Cambridge, where he spearheaded research on the sociology of Algerian Raï music. Generously supported by Irish Heritage, The Keyboard Charitable Trust, The Hattori Foundation, and The Talent Unlimited Foundation, he has participated in masterclasses with renowned pianists including Imogen Cooper, John Lill, Paul Lewis, and Stephen Hough. Following a recent posting in Paris, where he worked as an English Language Assistant in collaboration with the British Council, Adam joined Live Music Now Scotland in 2025. Currently, he is a PhD Researcher for the University of Glasgow, where he holds the James McCune Smith scholarship.
What They Play
Adam Heron – original compositions for the piano
Frédéric Chopin – Andante spianato et grande polonaise brillante
Johann Sebastian Bach – Overture in the French Style
William Bolcom – The Garden of Eden: Four Rags for Piano
Chevalier de Saint-Georges – Selections from the Vauban Manuscript