Kendall Taylor


Edgar Kendall Taylor CBE, FRCM, Hon FRAM was a British pianist, who had an international career as a solo concert pianist. In the United Kingdom, he was well known for his concerts, which were broadcast on the BBC. He was also known for his recitals and broadcasts to the troops during World War II through the Entertainments National Service Association. He also had a career as a teacher and pedagogue.

Early life

Kendall Taylor was born in Sheffield, England. He made his concert début at the age of 6 accompanying his father, Maurice Taylor, a well-known cellist. His debut with a professional orchestra was at the age of 12 with a rendition of Mozart's D minor concerto, K.466. He was a pupil of Vera Dawson, who in turn was a pupil of Iwan Knorr, who studied with Johannes Brahms. In 1923, he won an open scholarship to the Royal College of Music. There he studied piano with Herbert Fryer, composition with Gustav Holst, and conducting with Adrian Boult and Malcolm Sargent.

Professional career

While a student at the RCM, he performed concertos with leading British orchestras which were broadcast on the BBC.
In 1926, he made his first professional performance at a Promenade Concert conducted by Sir Henry Wood. This was the first of 26 appearances as a solo pianist at a Promenade concert—in two of which he was soloist for the 'Last Night of the Proms.' Later in 1929 he was appointed Professor of Piano at the RCM where he continued teaching there for a record 63 years until his retirement in 1993.
In 1938 he joined the Grinke piano trio with violinist Frederick Grinke and cellist Florence Hooton. He also performed duos with both Grinke and Hooton.
During World War II, he gave numerous broadcasts and recitals for troops with the Entertainments National Service Association. He travelled often, and frequently performed at multiple locations daily.
After the war, he performed in frequent overseas tours in the United States, Canada, Australia, and Southern Africa where he performed with many of the world's leading orchestras, and often including works by 20th century composers. He performed in Britain and around Europe with conductors including: Klemperor, Barbirolli, Boult, Sargent and Colin Davis. He was Barbirolli's chosen concerto soloist at concerts in Vienna with the Vienna Philharmonic orchestra. He gave recitals in all of the countries he visited, and often premiered new work, including works by British composers.

Teaching

Taylor worked as a professor at the RCM from 1929 to 1993. He also gave lectures in many venues around the world, and sat on competition juries and award panels Many of his pupils had distinguished careers, some of his successful pupils include: Rose Goldblatt, Ireneus Zuk, Jan Latham-Koenig, Yu Chun Ye, Dusan Trbojevic, Yonty Solomon, Tony Hewitt, Michael Redshaw, Carl Rütti, Enloc Wu, Vanessa Latarche, Andrew Ball, Rudi Martinus van Dijk, Kathryn Stott, Piers Lane, Howard Shelley, Paul Stewart and Hilary Macnamara.
In later years he gave many lecture-recitals, focusing particularly on the life and work of Beethoven. He established a Beethoven prize for pianists at the RCM.
After his death a scholarship, the Kendall Taylor Award, was established in his memory to sponsor British pianists studying at the RCM.

Personal life

Taylor was married twice. He met his second wife, Mirjana, while on a concert tour of the Balkans in 1947. They were married for nearly 50 years until his death in 1999. Kendall Taylor had a daughter and a step-daughter, both of whom studied at the RCM. His two grandchildren are both professional musicians.

Death

Kendall Taylor died on 5 December 1999 in Wimbledon, England.

Honors