Malcolm Bilson, born on October 24, 1935, in Los Angeles, California, was an American pianist and musicologist. He graduated from Bard College in 1957 and obtained his DMA from the University of Illinois in 1968. Bilson's career shifted in 1969 when he encountered the fortepiano, leading him to specialize in playing historical pianos. He co-founded the Amadé Trio in 1974 and was appointed to the Frederick J. Whiton chair at Cornell University in 1990. Bilson retired from teaching in 2006 but remained active as a performer and educator. In 2011, he organized the first fortepiano competition in the United States. Throughout his career, Bilson made significant contributions to the understanding and performance of 18th- and 19th-century music, releasing notable recordings such as Mozart: Sonatas Vol. 1 (1989) and Beethoven : Fortepiano and Cello Sonatas (1991) with Anner Bylsma.
