With his rare musical sensitivity, Murray Perahia ranks amongst the world's favourite pianists. Highlights this season include recitals throughout Europe and North America.

Perahia is Principal Guest Conductor of the Academy of St Martin in the Fields. Recent appearances with the Academy include a triumphant performance at the Edinburgh Festival in August and a brilliant tour of the United States in October. Forthcoming tours with the Academy include visits to Italy and Switzerland in March 2004.

Signed exclusively to Sony Classical, Perahia recently recorded a well-received disc of Bach's Italian Concerto, Brandenburg Concerto No.5 and Concerto for Flute, Violin and Piano with the Academy of St Martin in the Fields. Other notable Bach recordings include his English Suitesand Goldberg Variations, which both won Gramaphone awards as did his recent recording of Chopin's Etudes.

Born in New York, Perahia started playing the piano aged four, and later studied conducting and composition at Mannes College. Leeds International Piano Competition winner in 1972, Perahia gave his Aldeburgh Festival debut in 1973, working closely with Britten and Pears. He became co-artistic director of Aldeburgh Festival in 1981 and subsequently developed a close friendship with Vladimir Horowitz, whose perspective and personality were an abiding inspiration.

Having received the 1997 Instrumentalist Award from the Royal Philharmonic Society, he was awarded an Honorary Fellow of the Royal College and Academy of the Music.