BIOGRAPHY

Maggie Cole enjoys a richly varied musical life with performances on harpsichord, fortepiano and piano. Born in the USA, she began playing the piano from an early age. A keen interest in early keyboards led her to England where she now makes her home. Maggie's teachers were Jill Severs and Kenneth Gilbert and she is pleased to be part of this harpsichord "family tree" which began with Wanda Landowska. Best known in Britain through numerous recitals on BBC Radio 3 and appearances at leading festivals, abroad she has performed in venues from Seattle to Moscow, and from Finland to India. In addition to solo recitals - with Bach's 'Goldberg Variations' a speciality, given in London, Paris, Cologne, Basel, Mallorca and Chicago - she frequently performs in duos with partners including Nancy Argenta soprano, Michael Chance counter tenor, Philippa Davies flute, Catherine Mackintosh violin and Steven Isserlis cello. She is also particularly devoted to the Classical chamber music repertoire and explores this with her fortepiano trio, "Trio Goya" (Maggie, Kati Debretzeni, violin and Sebastian Comberti, cello). Trio Goya will be releasing a CD of Haydn trios in 2009.

From the 20th century, Maggie plays concertos by Falla, Poulenc and Gerhard. Gavin Bryars has written 'After Handel's Vesper' for her, and she takes every opportunity to programme works by Dodgson, Hallgrimsson, Ligeti and Andriessen. She gave first performances in 2006 of new harpsichord concertos by Tansy Davies and Peter Child.

Maggie performs frequently in the USA on fortepiano and harpsichord with the chamber ensemble, "Sarasa". With the group, she takes performances and workshops into areas where classical music is not often heard - facilities for young offenders, hospitals, prisons and geriatric homes. This work has become of increasing interest to her as an amplification of her extensive private teaching practise. Maggie is harpsichord and fortepiano teacher on the annual "Cursos Manuel de Falla" in Granada, Spain.

Alongside her activities as a player, Maggie is active as a promoter of concerts. Focusing on her immediate neighbourhoods, she has run a 5 year series of charity concerts at London Lighthouse, raising a considerable sum of money for this AIDS/HIV facility. She currently promotes concerts at Bush Hall with the aim of bringing this hall's exceptional charm and acoustic to a growing audience.

Recordings of a recital on various harpsichords on Hyperion and of Scarlatti on Saydisc, have been followed by several on Virgin Classics: a Bach recital, his 'Goldberg Variations' (a top selection in various CD surveys), Soler keyboard sonatas, Boccherini sonatas with Steven Isserlis, and Poulenc 's Concert Champjtre with the City of London Sinfonia conducted by Richard Hickox. With Catherine Mackintosh she has recorded the complete Bach sonatas for Chandos, and a solo recital of music by Handel, Scarlatti, Arne, JC Bach and Gavin Bryars has been released on Droffig. Her most recent recordings are "Mozartiana" - music for cello and fortepiano with Sebastian Comberti, and JS Bach flute sonatas with Philippa Davies.

Short Biography

American born, MAGGIE COLE enjoys an international musical life playing and recording on harpsichord, fortepiano and modern piano. Resident in England, she is best known through numerous recitals on BBC Radio 3 and appearances at leading British festivals. Abroad, she has performed in venues from Seattle to Moscow, and from Finland to India. In addition to a busy solo career, she enjoys duo partnerships with Nancy Argenta (soprano), Michael Chance (counter tenor), Mark Padmore (tenor), Philippa Davies (flute, with whom she has recorded JS Bach flute sonatas), Steven Isserlis (cello) and Catherine Mackintosh (with whom she has recorded the complete JS Bach sonatas for violin and harpsichord). She also performs frequently with The Nash Ensemble, Britten Sinfonia and her Cambridge USA - based group The Sarasa Ensemble. With Sarasa she has been able to extend her love of teaching to the development of a program which brings music, improvisation and poetry into facilities for youth offenders.

Maggie's recordings for Virgin Classics include Bach's Goldberg Variations, Soler Keyboard Sonatas, Poulenc's Concert Champetre and Boccherini Sonatas with Steven Isserlis. With Trio Goya, Maggie will be recording a double CD of Haydn trios to be released in 2009.