Andrew Wolf Chamber Music Award

Established in 1986, the Andrew Wolf Chamber Music Award honors the memory of Andrew Wolf, co-founder of Bay Chamber Concerts and a leading chamber music pianist, who died in 1985 at the age of 42.

The $25,000 award recognizes a pianist under the age of forty who has made a serious commitment and contribution to the landscape of chamber music. Nominations for the award, which come from leaders in the world of chamber music, are not made public. In the final round to determine the winner, judges attend live performances anonymously to hear the finalists play.

2025 Award Recipient

Conrad Tao

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Luminary pianist and composer Conrad Tao is the 2024 winner of the prestigious Andrew Wolf Chamber Music Award.

Tao is known for his brilliant interpretation of the classical repertoire, lithe and earthshaking turns around the keyboard that have been praised by critics worldwide. A U.S. Presidential Scholar in the Arts and a Davidson Fellow Laureate, the 30-year-old is renowned for his genre twisting, improvisational work in the chamber space. He often plays with The Junction Trio, a piano, violin, cello collaboration, which debuted at Carnegie Hall in May. Tao will perform at Bay Chamber next year as part of its Summer Concert Series.

“A truly remarkable pianist, Conrad Tao exemplifies the artistic vision and innovation that Bay Chamber and the Andrew Wolf award seek to honor,” says Manuel Bagorro, Bay Chamber’s artistic director. “Conrad blends technical virtuosity with profound emotional depth, making him a transformative artist of our time.”

“Conrad Tao is one of the most compelling musicians on the classical scene.”

— New York Classical Review

History of the award

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2022 Michelle Cann

2019 Orion Weiss

2016 Gilles Vonsattel

2013 Alessio Bax

2011 Anna Polonsky

2008 Inon Barnatan

2005 Max Levinson

2003 Natalie Zhu

2001 Jonathan Biss

1999 Jeremy Denk

1995 Anne-Marie McDermott

1993 Wu Han

1991 Christopher O’Riley

1989 Lydia Artymiw

1987 Jeffrey Kahane