York Bowen

English pianist and composer York (or "Yorke") Bowen was one of the dominant figures in English music before World War I, though his celebrity began to fade not long after it concluded. Bowen was born in the Crouch Hill section of London to a prominent local distiller; his mother provided his first piano lessons and further encouragement. Bowen made his debut as pianist at age 8 and studied at local conservatories before entering the Royal Academy of Music on an Érard scholarship at 14. Bowen introduced his first piano concerto at age 19, earning the admiration of Camille Sain...