“Unlike a high-wire walker, I don't think any musician strikes the wires of a piano or draws a bow across a violin's strings primarily for the kick of an adrenalin fix. There is danger on stage, but dropped notes are not broken bones; a memory lapse is not a tumble to the ground.”

British and Australian classical pianist, composer and writer

Sir Stephen Andrew Gill Hough is a British and Australian classical pianist, composer, and writer. He is known for a career that spans performance, composition, and writing, with work rooted in the classical music tradition. Hough’s public reputation comes from his activity across several musical roles rather than from a single field. He performs as a pianist, composes music, and writes, making him a distinctive figure in contemporary classical culture.