Julian Clef, pianist and composer
“When I first heard Julian Clef playing Beethoven’s Appassionata, his performance moved me profoundly.”
Sir András Schiff
Julian hails from Kerala, India and started playing the piano when he was six. He was self-taught until he commenced formal piano studies at the age of sixteen at Chetham's School of Music in Manchester. He subsequently studied at the Royal Northern College of Music for his Bachelor's and Master's degrees. Thereafter he received a full scholarship to study at the Guildhall School of Music. He has also been mentored by internationally renowned artists such as Peter Donohoe, Andrei Gavrilov and András Schiff.
Sir András Schiff selected Julian to be in his series for young pianists, which featured recitals in Berlin, Brussels, Weimar and New York. Julian has performed in many venues in the UK and abroad, including Buckingham Palace, the NCPA in Mumbai and the Dvořák Prague International Music Festival. He has appeared as a soloist with the Philharmonia Orchestra at the Royal Festival Hall and with the Guildhall Symphony Orchestra at the Barbican.
Julian has won many prizes including the RNCM Gold Medal, the Concerto Competition at the RNCM, and the EPTA Piano Competition.
His EP Pictures from India was featured on ABC Classic in Australia and on Radio New Zealand this year. He has also played his own works live on BBC Radio 3, in association with the release of his EP Childhood.
Julian is currently working on new recording projects and upcoming concert engagements in the UK and abroad.
“A musical and pianistic maturity well beyond his years.”
Benjamin Frith, concert pianist
Tuition
Julian teaches at every age and every level, from complete beginners to professional pianists. He works with children taking a first lesson, with grade and diploma candidates, with applicants to specialist schools and conservatoires, and with adults returning to the instrument or beginning it late, a route he knows from the inside.
Lessons take place at students' homes across London, at his own piano, or online. They run weekly or in intensive blocks around an audition, a diploma or a recording, and he travels beyond London for residencies and intensives by arrangement. Enquiries are welcome with the student's age, current level and aims.
Enquire about lessonsWho Julian teaches
Children and adults at any stage: a first lesson, graded exams, diplomas from DipABRSM to FRSM, specialist school and conservatoire preparation, and professional pianists coaching repertoire.
Audition preparation
Preparation usually begins twelve to eighteen months ahead and covers programme choice, technical work, mock panels with written feedback, and the interview.
Starting late, or starting from nothing
Julian was self-taught until sixteen, then went from a first formal lesson to the RNCM Gold Medal. Adults learn differently from children, and the teaching is built around that difference rather than against it.
Online lessons
Online tuition works at every level, given a good microphone and a camera angle that shows the hands and the pedals. Beginners usually get more from an in-person lesson or two at the start. Julian teaches students in Europe, India and North America this way.
Contact
We look forward to receiving your concerts, tuition, recordings and press enquiries.