Famous Canadian Pianists

Glenn Gould was a Canadian classical pianist, counted among the most celebrated pianists of the 20th century. He was also an interpreter of the keyboard works of Johann Sebastian Bach. He was known for his remarkable technical proficiency and unorthodox musical interpretations. He was a writer and composer as well. The Glenn Gould Foundation was established in his honor.   

Diana Krall is a Canadian jazz singer and pianist. With several gold and multi-platinum albums under her belt, Krall is regarded as one of the best-selling artists of her generation. In 2009, Billboard called her the second-greatest jazz artist of the 2000–09 decade. In 2004, she was inducted into Canada's Walk of Fame.

Corey Hart is a Canadian singer-songwriter best known for his hit singles, Never Surrender and Sunglasses at Night. In a career spanning over 35 years, Hart has released successful albums like Boy in the Box which peaked at number one on the Canadian Albums Chart. He has been inducted into the Canada's Walk of Fame and Canada's Music Hall of Fame.

Richard Manuel was a Canadian singer, composer, and multi-instrumentalist. He is best remembered as a pianist and singer in the musical group The Band. He was a versatile singer famous for his soul-influenced baritone and delicate falsetto. Unfortunately, he fell victim to alcoholism and drug abuse that threatened his career and life. He died by suicide in 1986. 

Emily Haines is a Canadian singer and songwriter who is the lead singer, songwriter, and keyboardist of the rock band Metric. She is a member of the indie rock band Broken Social Scene as well and also performs solo. She is the daughter of the poet Paul Haines and was encouraged to pursue her musical passion from childhood.  

Hélène Mercier-Arnault is a pianist and chamber musician. She has performed at various famous avenues, including the ‘Théâtre des Champs-Elysées’ and the ‘Théâtre du Châtelet’ in Paris. She often collaborates with artists, such as Cyprien Katsaris, Vladimir Spivakov, and Zubin Mehta. She is married to businessman Bernard Arnault, who is one of the richest men in the world. 

Cœur de pirate is the stage name of Béatrice Martin, a Canadian singer-songwriter and pianist. She is a francophone and sings mostly in French. She began to study music as a child and started her professional career while still in her teens. She has since released several albums, including her super hit eponymous album that was certified platinum. 

Canadian singer Daniel Powter soared to fame with his single Billboard-charting track Bad Day. His childhood was spent battling dyslexia and training in the violin and the piano. He once also opened up about being sexually abused by his babysitter as a child and then resorting to drugs.

The lead vocalist and songwriter of the Christian rock band Relient K, Matt Thiessen is known for albums such as Mmhmm. He formed the band as a high-schooler in Canton, with Matt Hoopes and Brian Pittman. Apart from dating Katy Perry in the past, he has also written songs for her.

Paul Bley was a jazz pianist who played a key role in the development of the free jazz movement of the 1960s. He loved music from a young age and became part of several bands as a teenager. He collaborated with a few other musicians to tour and perform across USA, becoming famous in the process. 

Daniel Lavoie is best known for his track Ils s'aiment and for his portrayal of the priest Frollo in the musical Notre-Dame de Paris. He sings in both in French and in English. He has also penned poetry books and appeared in several films such as The Book of Eve.

Born to an Ottawa-based choirmaster, Angela Hewitt began learning the piano at age 3. She is best known for her award-winning interpretations of Bach’s works. She later became the first female performer to win the City of Leipzig Bach Medal and launched the Trasimeno Music Festival in Umbria, Italy.

Mostly a self-taught pianist, Alberto Guerrero was a legendary Chilean composer who is also remembered as the mentor of Canadian classical pianist Glenn Gould. In Search of Alberto Guerrero, penned by his student John Beckwith, was his first detailed biography, as Guerrero himself left little written record about himself.