Ethan was born in 2004 and diagnosed completely blind since birth. As a toddler, he would explore the piano for hours imitating his first inspiration, Rowlf the piano-playing dog from the Muppet Show. His other inspiration, the DVD "Horowitz in Vienna", he played relentlessly.
His formal piano lessons began at age 4 with his mother, but he now studies with Fali Pavri (Royal Conservatoire of Scotland). He has been composing since early childhood and loves to tell imaginative stories in his compositions.
Ethan's first major concert was at a Music in Lanark event where he also debuted his first major composition work, "Wallace at Lanark" illustrating the life of Scottish hero William Wallace. Videos here and here.
Ethan was the focus of a BBC radio documentary called 'Batman and Ethan' about the freedom a blind child can experience through working with the talented teacher of the blind, Daniel Kish.
In 2016 Ethan was awarded his first major International award at the Vatican. He received the Premio Asoluto prize at the 15th International 'Giuseppe Sciacca' awards in Rome, for his ability to create music "full of colours" as an inspiration to all.
In 2017 Ethan won the 7th James Waterhouse Loretto Piano Competition "Advanced" class. As part of that prize, he performed at Steinway Hall in London.
Ethan has twice participated in the wonderful Festival of Chopin in Mazovia, Poland. He won the 3rd and then the 4th categories. He performed at Chopin's house and later for the Warsaw Music Society.
Ethan was a finalist in the EPTA Belgium International Piano Competition in 2018.
In 2019 Ethan received his ATCL (Associate of Trinity College London) with a mark of 92/100 at the age of 14.
In July 2019 Ethan won the Scottish International Youth Piano Competition as part of the Moray Prize at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland.
Over covid lockdown 2020, every Saturday at 8PM Ethan showcased a short 15-minute concert on his YouTube channel. He recorded 44 concerts over the year.
In 2022, after a year of competing Ethan won the 2022 BBC Young Musician Keyboard Category Final, performing Chopin's Piano Concerto No. 2 with the BBC Philharmonic conducted by Mark Wigglesworth. The judges said, "Ethan found orchestral colours on the piano like no-one else can." The final was won by percussionist Jordan Ashman.
In 2023 Ethan was a prize winner at the Verbier Academy in Switzerland.
Later in 2023 Ethan won second place at the first ever Nashville International Chopin Piano Competition. Nashville International Chopin Piano Competition Final 2023.
Ethan was featured on The List, Top 100 People to Watch in 2022. Link to article
Ethan was featured in a wide ranging interview in the Music Teacher Magazine which can be read here.
Ethan's first CD, 'Mysterious Pathways Volume One' was featured on Classic FM and on a Canadian Broadcasting Corporation radio documentary featuring his collaboration with Canadian artist Tony Luciani who painted the cover image.
His second album, Mysterious Improvisations 2020, is a collection of one-shot, single-take classical improvisations.
He has made several TV appearances. The first was on the One Show, and the second in May 2018 on the ITV show Little Big Shots where he enjoyed chatting to Dawn French and performing both on his own and as a duet with young Romanian singer and harpist Daria. His third appearance was on the BBC Young Musician 2022 competition.
Following BBC Young Musician, Ethan performed with leading orchestras across the UK, including the Royal Scottish National Orchestra, BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra, Manchester Camerata, the National Youth Orchestra of Scotland, and a series of sold-out performances with the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra.
Ethan made his debut recital at Kings Place, London, performing original compositions alongside classical works.
His Piano Quintet was performed in concert with principals of Manchester Camerata.
In 2024, BBC Scotland aired Ethan Loch: Making Music Talk, a documentary following his journey as he composed a new concerto.
In 2026, BBC One aired Our Lives: Seeing with Sound, a documentary about Ethan's life as a blind pianist and composer, and his family's contemplation of whether he needs to move to London to progress in the music industry.
Ethan graduated from the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland in 2026. Upcoming highlights include performances as part of the Ryedale Festival's Young Artist Platform, opening James MacMillan's Cumnock Tryst in 2026, and a performance of Gershwin's Rhapsody in Blue with the Royal Scottish National Orchestra under Thomas Søndergård. He is also developing Earth, Wind and Fire, a new chamber music production combining his own compositions with choreography by Scottish Ballet and the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland. Please see the events page for details.