Venue: Australia Piano World Gold Coast (Southport QLD) Date: 13/07/2019-21/07/2019
WORLD TOP PIANISTS
Performances and Master classes by WORLD TOP PIANIST almost everyday!
Gain a deeper understanding and appreciation of their approaches to music performance and technique
1. Eugene Mursky
Eugene Mursky received his first piano instructions when he was six years old at a youth music school. Two years later, he was admitted to the class of the famous piano pedagogue, Tamar Popovich, at an institute for highly talented children.
At the age of twelve, Mursky made his first trip to Moscow to study with Professor Lev Naumov. The following year, at age 13.
In 1989 Mursky was awarded the First Prize at the Piano Competition of Uzbekistan.
In 1990, he won the “Grand Prix” at the fifth Frunze International Piano Competition.
In 1994, the high point in Mursky’s artistic career came when he was awarded First Prize in the World Piano Competition of London under the auspices of Princess Diana. In addition to the first prize, Mursky was awarded a special prize for the best interpretation of Chopin
In 1997 and 1998, Eugene Mursky continued his studies with Professor Einar Steen-Nokleberg at the State College of Music in Hannover, Germany. He then graduated with honors with his advanced degree (Ph.D. Music equivalent) in Solo Performance.
In the following years he won First Prize at several competitions: the “Concours Grieg 2000” in Oslo, the Bremen International Piano Competition 2001 and “.Denza” International Piano Competition in Naples 2002. From 1998 to 2003, Eugene Mursky studied in Salzburg and received the “Mozarteum Award.”
2. Natasha Vlassenko
Head of Keyboard at the Queensland Conservatorium Griffith University
Vlassenko was a graduate of Moscow Central Music School under Eleonora Musaelyan.
In 1977, she won third prize at the International Beethoven Competition in Vienna.
In 1985, she went on to win third prize at the Ferruccio Busoni International Piano Competition in Bolzano, Italy.
3. Rita Reichman
Concert Pianist, Chamber Musician and Teacher
Rita studied with the legendary Rudolf Serkin at the Curtis Institute and she became the Institute’s youngest graduate at 17, winning the highest award for the most promising and outstanding pianist. Four years later she received her Master’s degree from the Julliard School.
A child prodigy, Rita made her first public appearance when she was three, playing Beethoven’s Pathetique Sonata on television in Australia. At 10 she made her American debut with the Detroit Symphony Orchestra and gave a solo performance at 11 with the Philadelphia Orchestra.
Rita has performed with many of the world’s leading conductors and in recital in France, Italy, America, Poland, Sweden, Austria, Canada, Israel, South Africa, Belgium, China and Australia, twice performing in the White House for the President of the USA and was invited to perform for Prince Charles and the late Princess Diana.
4. Konstaintin Shamray
Russian pianist Konstantin Shamray studied in Moscow at the Russian Gnessin Academy of Music with Professors Tatiana Zelikman and Vladimir Tropp, and the Hochschule fur Musik in Freiburg, Germany with Professor Tibor Szasz.
In 2008, Konstantin won First Prize at the Sydney International Piano Competition. He is the first and only competitor to date in the 40 years of the competition to win both First and People’s Choice Prizes, in addition to six other prizes.
He partnered with the Australian String Quartet for their 13-concert National Subscription Tour of 2009 and recorded CDs for the labels Naxos, ABC Classics and Fonoforum. He has performed with the Russian National Philharmonic, the Mariinsky Theatre Orchestra, Moscow Virtuosi, Orchestre National de Lyon, Prague Philharmonia, Belgrade Philharmonic Orchestra and the Sydney Symphony among others under the baton of distinguished conductors including Vladimir Spivakov, Dmitry Liss, Tugan Sokhiev, Nicholas Milton and Alexandr Vedernikov.
5. Alexander Schimpf
Since winning a series of major competitions in Germany, Austria (2009 International Beethoven Competition in Vienna), and the United States (2011 Cleveland International Piano Competition), the German pianist Alexander Schimpf started an international career with regular appearances at important music centers around the world, including the Vienna Konzerthaus, Berlin’s Konzerthaus, Carnegie Hall’s Zankel Hall in New York, the Marinsky Concert Hall in St. Petersburg, and the Munich and Cologne Philharmonic Halls.
In 2016 Alexander Schimpf was appointed professor for piano at the Hanover University of Music, Drama and Media.
6. Tamara Smolyar
From 1994 to 2018, Tamara was a Senior Lecturer in Music Performance and from 1998 to 2018 was a Coordinator of Piano at the Sir Zelman Cowen School of Music at Monash University, Melbourne, Australia.
Currently, Tamara is a Piano staff member at Melbourne Conservatorium of Music, University of Melbourne, Australia
7. Stephanie McCallum
Associate Professor in piano at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music, University of Sydney.
Stephanie McCallum was born in Sydney. She has appeared extensively as a soloist in the United Kingdom, France and Australia, has toured Europe with The Alpha Centauri Ensemble. Recently she presented lecture recitals at the Royal College of Music and the Purcell School, London.
8. Quang Hong Luu
Australian International Conservatorium of Music (Sydney)Teacher
He graduated from the Australian International Conservatorium of Music under full scholarship in 2012.
Since 2008, Mr. Luu has won awards in competitions in Australia including a spot as finalist for the Allison/Anderson Piano scholarship and 1st prize of the Lev Vlassenko Piano Competition in Brisbane.
2010 Hanoi International Piano Competition (3rd Prize)
2008 Val Tidone International Music Competition (2nd Prize)
2006 International Chopin Piano Competition in ASIA (4th Prize)
National Young Pianists Competition details:
Age group 13-16 years (play one piece by your own choice, within 10 minutes)
Prizes
First place: $3,000 cash reward and $3,000 Voucher
Second place: $2,000 cash reward and $3,000 Voucher
Third place: $1,000 cash reward and $3,000 Voucher
Best performing award: $2,000 Voucher
Most popular: $2,000 Voucher
Most potential award: $2,000 Voucher
Age group 9-12 years (play one piece by your own choice, within 7 minutes)
Prizes
First place:$800 cash reward and $2,000 Voucher
Second place:$500 cash reward and $2,000 Voucher
Third place:$300 cash reward and $2,000 Voucher
Best performing award:$1,000 Voucher
Most popular:$1,000 Voucher
Most potential award:$1,000 Voucher
Age group 5-8 years (play one piece by your own choice, within 5 minutes)
Prizes
First place:$500 cash reward and $1,000 Voucher
Second place:$300 cash reward and $1,000 Voucher
Third place:$200 cash reward and $1,000 Voucher
Best performing award:$500 Voucher
Most popular:$500 Voucher
Most potential award:$500 Voucher
*All winners will receive certificates and trophies.
