Biographical Info

Norma Fisher was born in London of Russian-Polish parents. Soon recognised as ‘a rare musical talent’, she was awarded a Junior Exhibition to study with Sidney Harrison at the Guildhall School of Music. At fourteen she was heard by the celebrated Greek pianist Gina Bachauer who became her mentor, introducing her to the distinguished Hungarian teacher Ilona Kabos, with whom she subsequently studied. A period was also spent in Paris studying French music with Jacques Fevrier.

Her highly acclaimed early performances for the BBC led to an invitation by RIAS (Berlin) to make her debut with the Berlin Symphony Orchestra – which launched her career in Europe. Success in the Busoni International Piano Competition as a top prize-winner followed and in 1963, when she shared the much-coveted Piano Prize in the Harriet Cohen International Music Awards with Vladimir Ashkenazy, her international reputation was sealed. That same year she made her debut at the Proms in the Royal Albert Hall and became a favourite soloist with all the leading British orchestras.

Norma Fisher is known for her versatility as a performer, receiving international acclaim as one of Britains leading pianists. This versatility extends to chamber music, which she plays with leading musicians throughout the world.

Her reputation as a teacher is widely established and many of her prize-winning students are well known on the international concert circuit. In addition to her working as a professor at the RCM, Norma also teaches at the RNCM and is invited to give master classes throughout the world. She is also much in demand as an adjudicator and is regularly invited on the Jury of many major international piano competitions.

She is Artistic Director of London Master Classes http://www.londonmasterclasses.com whose courses at the Royal Academy of Music attract major talent from around the world to work intensively with top performers/teachers in London. London Master Classes celebrated its 22nd Anniversary in 2010.