In these times when the livelihood of our musicians is at risk, we are launching this series to support the careers of our prizewinners and will be paying them a performance fee.
The concerts are free to view, but viewers will be able to make a voluntary donation to Hastings International Piano engagement fund or choose to join as a friend.
Join us this Friday, May 1 for “An Evening In With the 2019 Hastings International Piano Concerto Competition Prizewinner Alexander Yau”.
Programme :
Schubert/Liszt- Der Muller und der Bach
Liszt- La Leggierezza (Concert Etude no.2)
Chopin- Barcarolle in F sharp major Op.60
Watch on our Facebook page or on our website
Alexander Yau, an eminent Australian pianist, has developed himself as a versatile musician incorporating his many musical talents as a chamber musician, vocalist, clarinettist, conductor, composer and music arranger.
Alexander has been awarded numerous prizes such as 6th prize at the Hastings International Piano Concerto competition, 1st prize of Sydney Kawai Piano Scholarship, 2nd prize at the Australian National Piano Award, 3rd prize at the Lev Vlassenko Piano competition and special prizes in the Australian International Chopin Piano competition.
Major concerto appearances
His major concerto appearances as a soloist include with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra with Rachmaninoff’s Concerto no. 3, the Queensland Symphony Orchestra with Rachmaninoff’s Concerto no. 1, and a major tour with the SBS Youth Orchestra in Australia, with Rachmaninoff’s Concerto no. 2.
He was the winner of Sydney Conservatorium concerto competition, which led him to perform the mighty Brahms’ Piano Concerto no. 2 with Eduardo Diazmunoz at the Conservatory Gala Concert to a huge reception. He has been invited to perform in the Canberra International Music Festival, and in prestigious and unique venues such as the National Gallery of Australia, Government House, the Polish Embassy in Australia. and the City Recital Hall in Sydney.
Other international prestigious venues he has performed in include Troldhaugen at Grieg’s home in Norway, Alice Tully Hall in NYC, Yamaha Ginza in Tokyo and Villa Mosconi Bertani on the outskirts of Verona.
He has performed on the ABC Radio News in Canberra, featured on ABC Classic FM with clarinetist Deborah de Graaff, featuring Australian works and his own compositions. Outside of Australia, he has performed solo and chamber music concerts in USA, Italy, Germany, Norway, Hong Kong, China and New Zealand.
Now studying in New York
Now based in New York for his masters degree at the Juilliard School, studying with Matti Raekallio, he has performed recitals and chamber ensembles at the Alice Tully Hall in the Lincoln Centre with the Juilliard AXIOM and last year performed at the FOCUS Festival 2019: ‘On the Air’ held in the Peter Jay Sharp Theatre, and has been invited to perform again in 2020 with a piano sonata by Grete von Zieritz.
He completed his Bachelor of Music piano performance at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music, University of Sydney, with first class honours studying with Daniel Herscovitch and Elizabeth Powell.
Other than the piano, Alexander Yau is a fine clarinettist, conductor, vocalist, composer and music arranger. He obtained his AMusA music diploma for clarinet performance and studied with Deborah de Graaff at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music. He has played numerous chamber concerts on clarinet and worked with Australian conductor Richard Gill and many others.
Conducting and composing as well
He studied conducting with Christopher Seamens and Eduardo Diazmunov in Australia, and is currently studying with Jeffery Milarsky at the Juilliard School. He has made conducting appearances with the Conservatorium High School, Voces Caleastium and ENCORE at the Sydney Opera House with a composition with young Australian composer, Emma Greenhill.
He studied composition with Dr. Trevor Pearce and was awarded the James Easton Memorial Award for composition. His work ‘Grand Passacaglia for Clarinet and Piano’ is performed and recorded by his teacher Deborah de Graaff. He studied voice by himself and sings in home concerts and for leisure, and he has made several appearances as a vocalist at Australian relief bushfires concerts in NYC.
He is an active music arranger of all sort of musical styles. His arrangement of themes from the movie La La Land is scheduled to be performed at several upcoming piano duo concerts. He is working on a transcription of Strauss dance of seven veils for piano solo.
Source: Hastings International Piano Concerto Competition
Image Credits: Hastings International Piano Concert Competition .