BIOGRAPHY

Jill Richards is a South African pianist specialising in new music. Versatile and dynamic, her interests range from Bach to free improvisation.

Her career includes collaborations with numerous composers around the world. She has a longstanding working relationship with Kevin Volans who has written many solo works and piano duos for her. These she has performed with the composer as partner. Jill has worked with Jörg Schäffer, François Sarhan, Rudiger Meyer, Michael Blake, and many others. Her collaboration with Philip Miller has been extensive, touring with of live performances of his music to artist William Kentridge's films; including the Kentridge festival "Playing on Image" in Johannesburg.

Jill improvises with sound artist João Orecchia, composer-percussionist Lukas Ligeti and visual artist Marcus Neustetter (including a very successful series of performances last year). She also worked with the late Zim Ngqawana. 2013 will include collaborations with composer-drummer Christophe Fellay, sound artist Francisco Lopez, as well as teaching with dancer Esther Haeusler at the Zurich University of the Arts.

She has performed and been broadcast in the UK, Europe, North America and Australasia. Among these were the BBC broadcasts of the premières of solo and duo works of Kevin Volans. She has released five CD's, including the Grammy-nominated "Cicada" of Volans, as well as the complete piano music of Michael Blake.

Jill is a also a founder of SoundMindLab, a Johannesburg-based project which will provide a regular platform for innovative contemporary, electronic and experimental music and contemporary sonic and interdisciplinary practice.

Jill Richards is a Steinway Artist.

Curriculum Vitae