| Alan Kogosowski | |
| Birth Name: | Abraham Kogosowski |
| Birth Date: | 22 December 1952 |
| Birth Place: | Melbourne |
| Nationality: | Australian |
| Occupation: | Classical pianist |
Alan Kogosowski (born 22 December 1952) is an Australian classical pianist.
Abraham (Alan) Kogosowski was born in Melbourne to Hanna (née Prager) and Izio (Izzy) Kogosowski.[1] From the age of six he played the piano for ten hours a day. He won a number of competitions and prizes, including the Australian television talent quest "BP Showcase" in 1966, when aged only 13.[2] He made his first tour at age thirteen, including a performance on The Ed Sullivan Show in New York City.
Kogosowski studied with Roy Shepherd at the Melbourne University Conservatorium of Music and he was awarded a Churchill Fellowship, being the youngest person ever to receive this award. This enabled him to study in Paris at the École Normale de Musique, where his teacher was Blanche Bascourret de Guéraldi, a former student of Alfred Cortot. He then studied in London with Peter Katin and Michel Block, achieving a Licentiate from the Royal College of Music. He had further studies in Warsaw. His New York and London debuts, at Lincoln Center and the Wigmore Hall, were enthusiastically received.
At the age of 21, shortly after returning to Australia, he was involved in a car accident, breaking the bones of his right hand; there were fears he could even lose the hand. It was saved through the skill of Dr Frank Ham, a Melbourne plastic surgeon.[3] He was able to return to the concert stage after only a few months, playing Ravel's Concerto for the Left Hand, with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra under Leonard Dommett. After 18 months he had regained full use of the right hand.
Kogosowski has developed a method of helping people affected by carpal tunnel syndrome. After many years of study of the anatomical aspects of piano technique, he has adapted his knowledge of the positioning of the hands and posture at the keyboard to the prevention and remedy of this condition. He has also designed a computer keyboard and mouse that encourage hands and fingers to droop in a natural curved pose over the workstation instead of stretched flat in a tension-producing deportment.[4] He also published a book on the subject, How to Prevent RSI: a pianist's perspective for everyone.[5]
Alan Kogosowski has a special affinity with Frédéric Chopin:
He conceived and for ten years hosted a series of musical evenings in London, known as "Schubertiades at Sotheby's", with guest artists from all over the world. Members of the British royal family including Diana, Princess of Wales and the Queen Mother often attended, and he performed on many occasions for them after he became friends with Princess Diana.
In 2001 he became Artistic Advisor to the Palm Beach Symphony in Florida, which he has conducted on various occasions.[10]
Kogosowski has orchestrated Sergei Rachmaninoff's Piano Trio in D minor (Trio élégiaque), Op. 9, as a piano concerto, called Concerto Élégiaque in D minor, Op. 9b.[11] This has also been recorded by Neeme Järvi and the Detroit Symphony, with Kogosowski as soloist. The recording, on the Chandos label, was named Best Recording of the Year in 1994 by the American Record Guide.
In 1999, Alan Kogosowski was honored by the Polish branch of the Order of the Knights of Malta with a special decoration in recognition of his many all-Chopin recitals in London, and series of Chopin concerts to raise funds for medicines to be sent to Poland.