 He won 4th Prize in the 1994 Dublin International Piano Competition and 3rd Prize in the 1996 Montreal International Piano Competition.He was awarded 1st Prize, and the Beethoven and Chopin Prizes, in the 1998 José Iturbi International Piano Competition in Spain, 1st Prize in the 1999 Concours Prix Mozart in Lausanne, and 1st Prize in the 2000 Maria Callas Grand Prix de Piano in Athens.Gifford has performed with orchestras and in recitals throughout Europe, Russia, Japan, Australasia, and in the United States where he gave his Carnegie Hall debut recital in 1999.