John Kofi Dapaah is a pianist crossing the boundaries of the classical and jazz world. John has performed in recitals and concerts in Japan, Austria, and throughout Canada. He has played in recital series such as the Ottawa International Chamberfest, Cathedral Arts Series, Jugend am Klavier and L’Oasis Musicale to name a few. John made his orchestral debut with the Gatineau Conservatory Orchestra in a concert playing Mozart’s Piano Concerto no. 23. Most recently, he performed Tchaikovsky’s Piano Concerto no. 1 with the Georgian Bay Symphony. John has also performed for dignitaries such as the former Governor Generals of Canada; Michaëlle Jean and the David Johnston, and numerous Ambassadors to Canada. John’s composed work for string quartet was performed with choreography at Ottawa’s National Arts Centre. The 2024/2025 season will feature a series of solo recitals, collaborative performances with the Ensemble Obiora, the John Dapaah trio and quartet.
Music has taken John on a voyage through many parts of the world. It has brought him to reflect on a range of styles including classical, jazz and gospel piano. John began his classical piano studies with Tabuchi Masako in Muroran, Japan; where his father was completing his graduate studies. Upon his family’s relocation to Canada, John continued his studies independently. He then went on to obtain his Bachelor’s in music at Carleton University. At Carleton, he studied with classical pianists Verna Jacobson and Nicole Presentey as well as jazz pianists Steve Boudreau and Mark Ferguson. Dapaah pursued the final year of his undergraduate music studies at the Kunstuniversität Graz in Graz, Austria. While in Graz, he studied with Dr. Eike Straub. In the summer of 2012 John graduated with high honours from Carleton. He then obtained his Master’s at the Schulich School of Music of McGill University. At Schulich, he studied with Marina Mdivani, who was a pupil of Emil Gilels. John has played in master classes for Minsoo Sohnn, Kyoko Hashimoto, and Corlenia Herrmann among others.
John runs an active studio in Ottawa and concertizes throughout Canada. His debut solo album “Reflections”, was released in February 2018 with works by Schubert, Schumann, Chopin and Bach/Petri. John released his second record – a Christmas jazz album with his trio along with Michael Curtis Hanna and Roxanne Goodman entitled “Have Yourself A Jazzy Little Christmas” in 2019.
Highlights of the 2024 – 2025 season will consist of Dapaah’s debut solo concert in Mexico City (CENART), engagements with his new quintet, and performances with the Obiora Ensemble.