Beethoven's Last Piano Sonatas (Op. 109, Op. 110, and Op. 111)

ABOUT CHRIS AU: Hong Kong-born Australian pianist Chris Ka Long Au, renowned for his sensitive playing and lyrical tone, has performed worldwide – including at New York’s Carnegie Weill Recital Hall, Japan’s Rexxam Hall, Ireland’s Royal Dublin Society Hall, Los Angeles’ Zipper Hall, and Toronto’s Koerner Hall.

He began his international studies at the Colburn School, and is a graduate of the Glenn Gould School of the Royal Conservatory of Music where he studied with John Perry and David Louie, and was fully supported by the Jerry and Joan Lozinski Scholarship. He made his Carnegie Hall debut (2023) with the New York Chamber Players and has collaborated with the London Symphony Orchestra (2025), the Hart House Strings Orchestra (2025), and the Central Texas Philharmonic (2023).

After finishing his Masters at the University of Montréal with Jean Saulnier, he began pursuing administrative roles in addition to his teaching and performing, and currently serves as the Academy Assistant at the Orford Music Academy. As Artistic Director of The Joy of Music Inc., Chris manages the Artistic Team, programs the 2025/2026 season alongside Peggy Baker, and collaborates with the musicians and dancers alike.

With a huge passion for chamber music, he has recently performed with highly acclaimed musicians such as violinists Timothy Chooi, Nikki Chooi, Isabella Perron, Amy Hillis, violist Laurence Schaufele, cellist Amahl Arulanandam and Joanne Yesol Choi of the Dior Quartet, and baritone Jamal Al Titi. He has also had the fortune of working with legendary pianists and musicians such as Leon Fleisher, Marietta Orlov, Menahem Pressler, Robert McDonald, Steven Isserlis, and many others in masterclasses. Thanks to the Joy of Music, he has had the immense joy of performing alongside incredible dancers such as Tanya Howard, Chelsy Meiss, Jera Wolfe, Miyeko Ferguson, Sonja Boretski, Katherine Semchuk, Nio Hirano, and is looking forward to collaborating with many more this upcoming 2026/2027 Season.

Currently, he is also pursuing his PhD in Piano Performance at the University of Montréal with Jean Saulnier and Jimmy Brière. In his spare time, Chris enjoys reading (he and his wife share a 2-person book club), cooking with and for friends, and photography.

-

-

Pianist Alexander Malikov performs extensively across Canada and the United States both as a soloist and a chamber musician. Most recent highlights include solo recitals in Austin, Texas, at Vancouver’s Müzewest Concerts, Toronto’s Arts & Letters Club and Concerts @100. In 2021, he recorded Beethoven’s Cello Sonatas Nos. 2 & 5 with Joseph Johnson, principal cellist of the Toronto Symphony Orchestra. He is a prize winner of the Knigge, Shean, Orchestre Symphonique de Montréal, Toronto Symphony Orchestra, Manhattan International and Carl E. Baldassare Composer-Performer Competitions.

Alexander has worked with renowned conductors such as Michael Tilson Thomas, Boris Brott, Gaddiel Dombrowner, and Michelle Merrill, among others, and as recitalist has performed at esteemed venues and institutions such as the Richard Bradshaw Amphitheater in Toronto and at Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity for its inaugural Banff International String Quartet Festival. He was also selected as a Montague Artist at Heidelberg University in Ohio and featured as part of the Rising Star series at Texas State International Piano Festival, as well as Minnesota Public Radio, where he was an Artist-in-Residence.

Mr. Malikov is a graduate of the Juilliard School (MMus), Oberlin College (BMus), and the Cleveland Institute of Music. Upon completing a Doctor of Musical Arts (DMA) degree at the University of Texas, Alexander went on to receive an Artist Diploma at the Glenn Gould School of the Royal Conservatory of Music in Toronto. His principal teachers have been Dmitry Nesterov, Sergei Babayan, John Perry, James Anagnoson, Angela Cheng, Julian Martin and Anton Nel.

An avid advocate of new music, Mr. Malikov has collaborated with composers Howard Bashaw and Minho Yoon to create new works. As pianist-composer himself, Alexander gave the world premiere of his own Piano Concerto with Orchestra in 2016 with the M.U.S.i.C International Chamber Orchestra in Cleveland, Ohio.

Alexander is currently based in Toronto, Canada where he maintains a private piano studio and also coaches chamber music at the Taylor Performance Academy for Young Artists at the The Royal Conservatory of Music.

Please note: This is a scent-free facility.

These concerts are best suited for adults that can sit quietly for 30+ minutes at a time. If you would like to bring youth attendees, please check with the organizer before purchasing tickets.
If you or your guest have mobility challenges, please communicate with the organizer before purchasing tickets.

This is the 64th Clearly Musical Home Concert hosted by Joanna Grace Music.

Know what’s Happening Next — before everyone else does.

Get App

Host or Publisher Joanna Grace