Sir Stephen Hough combines a distinguished career as a pianist with those of a composer and writer. Named by The Economist as one of Twenty Living Polymaths, Sir Hough was the first classical performer to be awarded a MacArthur Fellowship. Since taking first prize at the 1983 Naumburg Competition, Sir Stephen has appeared in recital and as a soloist with most of the world’s major orchestras. Many of his catalogue of over 60 albums have garnered international prizes including the Deutsche Schallplattenpreis, Diapason d’Or, Monde de la Musique, several Grammy nominations, eight Gramophone Awards including ‘Record of the Year,’ and the Gramophone ‘Gold Disc’ Award. As a writer, he has contributed articles for The New York Times, The Guardian, The Times, Gramophone, BBC Music Magazine and The Telegraph and has published four books. He resides in London as a visiting professor at the Royal Academy of Music. He holds the International Chair of Piano Studies at his alma mater, the Royal Northern College in Manchester and is a faculty member at The Juilliard School.  In 2014 he was made a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) and was knighted in the Queen’s Birthday Honours in 2022.