Arts subjects don’t always receive the recognition they deserve. We are constantly hearing about cuts within the arts and, in some cases, they are completely ignored altogether. But it’s not all doom and gloom. Studying music at a university or music college can be a smart move. Over the past few months, I’ve read some…
Tag: Festivals and Competitions
A Master Class given by Emanuel Ax
I enjoy highlighting workshops and master classes, and today’s post features a class given by distinguished American pianist Emanuel Ax. It was recorded in December 2014 and published in June 2015 by the Jerusalem Music Centre. This public lesson focuses on Mozart’s sublime Concerto in C minor K. 491 and it is played by Itai…
A master class with Andrei Gavrilov
I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas. As we say goodbye to 2015, I’m posting this master class given by Russian pianist Andrei Gavrilov. I interviewed Gavrilov in 2013. His interview is one of the most fascinating of all my 40 filmed interviews with eminent classical pianists. This class was recorded in Glasgow at…
A Master class with Jean-Efflam Bavouzet
Today’s post highlights an interesting chamber music master class given by French pianist Jean-Efflam Bavouzet. It was recorded live from the Daniel & Joanna S. Rose Studio at the Lincoln Center in New York on October 19th, 2015. Published by the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center, the class features students from Yale School of…
A master class with Jerome Lowenthal
Today’s post features a master class which I hope will be of interest. Jerome Lowenthal is an American classical pianist and noted pedagogue. He is a member of the piano faculty at the Juilliard School in New York. Additionally, he is on the faculty at the Music Academy of the West, located in Santa Barbara,…
A Master Class with Leon Fleisher
I’m off to Germany today for a weekend of piano workshops. I thought it appropriate for my Friday post to feature this master class. It was given by the late American pianist, conductor, and master teacher Leon Fleisher, and was recorded at the Music Academy of the West’s Summer Festival. After becoming the first American…
So You Want To Organise A Piano Competition?
Piano competitions are becoming increasingly popular around the world, whether amateur or professional. Sally Olson, an amateur pianist and competition planner, lives in Chicago in the USA. She is on the committee of the Chicago Amateur Piano Competition 2016. This competition began in 2010. It is steadily growing in popularity. Entrants hail from many countries….
The Piano at the BBC Proms 2015
The BBC Promenade concerts are upon us once more. This Spectacular Summer festival is celebrating its 120th anniversary, and it’s enjoyed by music lovers around the world. I’ve written about this inspiring concert series here on my blog for the past few years, and each year the variety, diversity and selection of music, concerts and artists expands significantly. Many question the idea of…
Dublin International Piano Festival and Summer Academy 2015
There are a plethora of Summer schools on offer around the world, many with superb faculty teachers and performance opportunities. The Dublin International Piano Festival and Summer Academy is in its third year, and boasts an excellent Summer School programme for advanced students plus a concert series all rolled into one. This year’s Academy (taking place from 25th July…
Training to be a Repetiteur
Kevin Thraves, who is a repetiteur, accompanist, and teacher, has enjoyed a highly successful career. Here he writes an illuminating article on the prerequisites of this demanding role. As Head of Music Staff in the School of Vocal Studies and Opera at the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester, one of my main responsibilities…
Variations for Judith: Contemporary Piano Music
This set of Contemporary pieces was a fascinating recent discovery. Entitled Variations for Judith for Piano, 11 short reflections on “Bist du bei mir” by G H Stölzel arranged by J S Bach. The collection was the brainchild of British composer Diana Burrell. She wanted to present a very special leaving gift to Judith Serota….
Orchids for piano by Ed Hughes
A blog can provide the ideal opportunity to highlight less familiar Contemporary music, and this interesting set of pieces by British composer Ed Hughes (born in 1968), employs the piano in all its glory. Orchids consists of six movements written between 1990 and 2002 for a collection of fine pianists; Benjamin Morison, Stephen Gutman, Robert Saudek, Nicolas Hodges, Michael…