Hailed by The New York Times as an “especially impressive fine pianist,” RICHARD DOWLING appears regularly across the United States and throughout the world in orchestral performances, solo recitals and chamber music collaborations. He has been acclaimed by audiences for his elegant and charismatic style of pianism which earns him frequent return engagements. He has received reviews that praise him as a “master of creating beautiful sounds with impeccable control of colors and textures,” as “a musician with something to say, the skill to say it and the magnetic power to make you want to listen” and for giving “a superb recital that left the audience craving for more at the end.” Works of Chopin, Gershwin, American ragtime and French Impressionism figure prominently in his repertoire.
On April 1, 2017, the exact centennial date of Scott Joplin’s death in New York City, Richard Dowling became the first pianist in history to perform publicly the complete cycle of the composer’s piano works (in a pair of sold-out recitals in Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall). He continues to be presented in classical, all-Joplin and classical/ragtime programs throughout the United States.
In the United States, Richard Dowling has received nationwide attention for recitals seen on the PBS program Debut and has been heard on NPR’s Performance Today, while in New York City, he has performed with orchestra at Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts’ Alice Tully Hall and Damrosch Park, at Merkin Concert Hall, and in Central Park and presented recitals at Carnegie Hall’s Weill Recital Hall, 92nd Street YM-YWHA, Steinway Hall, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Union Club of the City of New York, Dahesh Museum, Kosciuszko Foundation, Liederkranz Foundation, Tenri Cultural Institute, Museum of the City of New York, Christie’s, 54 Below, St. Bartholomew’s Church, Trinity Church, Metropolitan Club, Brooklyn Conservatory, Concordia College and The Rainbow Room at Rockefeller Center.
Richard Dowling celebrated the 1998 centennial of the birth of George Gershwin by performing his complete solo and orchestral works for piano. In 2001, he released Sweet and Low-Down, a Klavier Records CD containing virtually all of the solo piano works by Gershwin. He has also recorded two albums of popular piano works by Chopin for Piano Productions Recordings and, with his duo-partner, cellist Evan Drachman, three CDs of cello and piano works: A Frog He Went a-Courting, Pairs of Pieces; Infinity; Romance and Revelation. In 2004, Klavier Records released World’s Greatest Rags, followed, in 2007, by Rhapsody in Ragtime, two discs of Mr. Dowling’s favorite American ragtime, novelty, stride and jazz piano solos. In 2010, Museum Music issued Music of Old New York - Ragtime Music & Songs from Turn-of-the-Century New York. His most recent recordings on the Rivermont label are Cocktails for Two, a collection of piano duets of the art deco era, and Gershwin for Two Pianos, featuring Rhapsody in Blue and other beloved Gershwin works, both with fellow pianist Frederick Hodges.
While studying at Yale University, Richard Dowling was honored with the Lockwood Award for performing the best recital and the Bruce Simonds Award for outstanding solo and ensemble playing; subsequently, he earned a Doctor of Musical Arts degree in piano performance from The University of Texas. His principal teacher was Abbey Simon.
In addition to his regular concert performances, Richard Dowling is frequently heard as a member of the artist roster of The Piatigorsky Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to bringing live classical music to audiences across America. Since 1994, he has performed well over 1000 recitals under its auspices.
Richard Dowling makes his home in New York City.
www.richard-dowling.com