Pianist Sarah Beth Briggs – an artist of extraordinary magnetism (Daily Telegraph) – is a leading recitalist, concerto soloist, and chamber musician. A long-standing pupil of the late Denis Matthews, she gained a Hindemith Scholarship to study chamber music in Switzerland with celebrated violist, Bruno Giuranna, and remained in Lausanne for further studies with renowned Arrau pupil, Chilean pianist Edith Fischer.
Her professional career was launched at the age of eleven when she became the then youngest-ever finalist in the BBC Young Musician of the Year and a recipient of a Dame Myra Hess Award. Four years later she gained international recognition as joint winner of the International Mozart Competition in Salzburg.
Sarah’s musical interpretations have been broadcast internationally on radio and television, while recital and concerto performances have taken her to Austria, Germany, Switzerland, France, Italy and the USA. In the UK she has performed with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Royal Northern Sinfonia, the Hallé, London Mozart Players, London Philharmonic Orchestra, English Chamber Orchestra, Scottish Chamber Orchestra, Ulster Orchestra, Manchester Camerata, Royal Liverpool Philharmonic, English Symphony Orchestra and BBC Concert Orchestra. She has been the featured soloist at major British venues including St George’s, Bristol, Manchester’s Bridgewater and Stoller Halls, Nottingham’s Royal Concert Hall, Queen’s Hall, Edinburgh and London’s South Bank and Barbican Centres.
Sarah is a celebrated artist at societies and festivals throughout the UK, acclaimed by promoters and critics for her performances and for her engaging and informative introductions to recital programmes.
She gave the world premiere of Britten’s Three Character Pieces (which feature in her wide-ranging discography) at the request of the late Richard Hickox in 1989. The critical acclaim for her recordings includes both Gramophone Editor’s and Gramophone Critic’s Choice Awards, and her eleven albums to date notably include the world premiere of Hans Gál’s Piano Concerto with the Royal Northern Sinfonia and conductor Kenneth Woods. In December 2023, Sarah made a warmly reviewed German concerto debut playing the Gál Concerto with the Hofer Symphoniker and Enrico Delamboye.
Sarah enjoys balancing a successful solo career with numerous chamber music engagements, and has worked with many renowned soloists over the years including the late soprano Kathryn Harries, clarinettist Janet Hilton, and ex Lindsay violist Robin Ireland. Her most regular current partnerships are with violinist David Juritz and as part of the Briggs Piano Trio (in which Sarah and David are joined by cellist, Kenneth Woods) as well as a four hands piano duo with James Lisney. She has also enjoyed collaborations with the Emperor and Carducci String Quartets.
Sarah taught keyboard for many years at the University of York. She gives regular masterclasses and chamber music tuition in the UK, and has also taught in Switzerland and the USA. Away from the concert platform, she loves the theatre, good food and wine, and walking in the countryside with her cocker spaniels.
