Christopher Janwong McKiggan, Piano

Biography

Hailed as a pianist with "astounding technique… startling poise and control" (Kansas City Star) and "astonishing virtuosity and piano coloration" (The Citizen), Christopher Janwong McKiggan won a top prize at the prestigious 12th UNISA International Piano Competition (WFIMC) 2012. He has won numerous other awards including the Gold medal in the Seattle International Piano Competition, second prize in the solo division and third prize in the senior concerto division at the Kingsville International Music Competition, first prize in the Bradshaw and Buono International Piano Competition, and finalist in the World International Piano Competition. He is also the recipient of the Presser Award, providing a grant to create an upcoming international relations project titled “Resonance of Hope.” His upcoming solo CD titled “Paganimania” will be released by Albany Records in Fall 2014.

After being introduced to contemporary music by his teacher Bennett Lerner, Mr. McKiggan has been heavily involved with contemporary music, leading to the performances of world premieres including works by Robert Beaser, Howard Shore, Hans Jürgen von Bose, Viktor Ekimovsky, Atsuhiko Gondai, Ryo Kunihiko, Thomas Larcher, Emile Naoumoff, Peteris Vasks, Stewart Wallace and Harald Weiss. In 2012 he opened the Beijing Modern Music Festival performing the Asian premiere of Robert Beaser's Piano Concerto with the National Center for Performing Arts Orchestra under Lv Jia in the National Center for Performing Arts Concert Hall. He also performed the Asian premiere of Norbert Palej’s Piano Concerto in 2013. He has shared the stage with many famous artists including Clive Greensmith, Richie Hawley, and the Dover Quartet, among others. He has a contemporary music group, Vicennium Void, which is dedicated to performing music of the last twenty years.

Mr. McKiggan has been a guest artist at multiple music festivals including the Thailand International Contemporary Music Festival, the Geneva Music Festival and Electronic Music Midwest. He has performed at numerous venues including Weill Recital Hall, Salle Cortot, The Egg Beijing, and Le Poisson Rouge. He is the founding pianist of the Bangkok Piano Trio and Eon Piano Trio, in addition to being a founding member and a producer of the “JEEB” ensemble, based in Bangkok, Thailand. Their concerts have gathered an enormous following both on the concert stage and through social media.

His performance of "Three Minds" by Thai composer Narong Prangcharoen has been hailed as "Evocative" (The Daily Sound).  He recorded the piece for Albany records in the album "Phenomenon".

Born in Christchurch, England, Mr. McKiggan began piano studies at age six with his father. He moved to Thailand at seven, residing with his British father and his mother, a Thai citizen of Chinese heritage. He graduated Magna Cum Laude from the University of Missouri-Kansas City with a Bachelor’s degree and a Master’s Degree from Rice University where he currently pursues a doctoral degree with Jon Kimura Parker.