Kawai Piano Series to Be Showcased at QPAC This August

Queensland Performing Arts Centre (QPAC) proudly presents two special concerts within the annual Kawai Piano Series that will be literally 'music to the ears' of piano music lovers in QPAC's Concert Hall this August.

The first concert showcases one of Australia's best pianists, with a special ballet accompaniment, and the second will star the just announced winner of the Sydney International Piano Competition.

Head of Piano Studies at the Australian National Academy of Music, Timothy Young will perform the first concert in the series on Tuesday 7 August.

Young will challenge the audience with the virtuosic demands of Rachmaninoff's Études-Tableaux, followed by a piece from Stravinsky's Petrushka that will feature dancing by Australian Ballet rising star, Ipswich born Rudy Hawkes, choreographed by Lucas Jervis.

The second concert on Tuesday 14 August will showcase the brilliance and mastery of this year's winner of the Sydney International Piano Competition, Canadian pianist Avan Yu, who comes to QPAC fresh from winning the first place, after an exciting final round at the Sydney Opera House on Saturday 21 July.

Born in Hong Kong, 25 year old Yu was named winner of the competition, selected from 36 young international musicians in the 16 day contest. A piano student since the age of five, Yu was described as a consistent, polished and refined performer by contest commentator Gerard Willems, Associate Professor of Piano at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music.

The Kawai Piano Series offers audiences the opportunity to be part of a thrilling range of musical encounters showcasing pianos and piano playing at the highest level. The music presented is diverse and rich in its depth and technique.

Befitting the occasion of these two concerts, both recitals will be held in the Concert Hall in reverse mode where the audience is seated in close proximity to the performers.

Experience some of history's most seminal works for piano performed by exciting young national and international talent as part of the Kawai Piano Series. Book now at www.qpac.com.au or phone 136246.

Presented by QPAC in association with Queensland Conservatorium Griffith University

Kawai Piano Series Timothy Young and Rudy Hawkes

When: Tuesday 7 August 2012, 6.30pm
Where: Concert Hall, QPAC, Cultural Centre, South Bank, Brisbane
Tickets*: $16.50 to $26.50
Groups of 8+: $12/pp
Bookings: www.qpac.com.au or phone qtix 136 246

*Ticket price includes GST and Booking Fee. Please note transaction fees apply.

Program:
Stravinsky
Three pieces from Petrushka

Rachmaninoff
Études-Tableaux Op.39

Presented by QPAC in association with Queensland Conservatorium Griffith University

Kawai Piano Series Sydney International Piano Competition Winner's Recital

*Ticket price includes GST and Booking Fee. Please note transaction fees apply.

Program: Program to be announced shortly

Timothy Young – piano

For over ten years Timothy has been a Resident Artist and Faculty member at the Australian National Academy of Music and is currently Coordinator of Piano. In a wide-ranging repertory he performs regularly in recital as a soloist and in partnership with leading Australian and international musicians and ensembles. He is also a founding member of Ensemble Liaison, which is Ensemble in Residence at Monash University, Melbourne.

Timothy received his Bachelor of Music at the University of Melbourne with first class honours as a student of Ronald Farren-Price and Mack Jost. He then continued his studies in Europe with Lidia Baldecchi-Arcuri, receiving his Diploma with a rarely awarded distinction from the Ministry of Education and as dux of his year at the Nicolò Paganini Conservatorium in Genova, Italy.

A first prize winner of piano and chamber music competitions including the Premio Kawai-Tortona, the Palma d'Oro-Finale Ligure and the 1st Chamber Music Competition of Liguria, Timothy has performed in Italy for almost a decade. He was invited to perform works by Luciano Berio in the composer's presence and was a member of the contemporary Orfeo and Aulodia ensembles. He performed in numerous festivals including Chiavari, Bordighera, Ravello and the Accademia Chigiana in Siena.

Timothy is a Melba Artist, and has recorded many CD's. His most recent releases have received international critical acclaim and include a solo CD of the piano works of George Frederick Boyle, duos with violist Roger Benedict, violinist Ray Chen, soprano Cheryl Barker, and chamber works with Ensemble Liaison. He has also recorded with Darryl Poulsen, David Pereira and Ensemble Liaison for the Tall Poppies CD label- also to critical acclaim. For the radio Timothy has recorded for the RAI in Italy and in Australia for the MBS networks and ABC-Classic FM.

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