THE MASTER’S CLASS
EVER wondered how music students learn or teachers teach?
This is your chance to watch a lesson unfold as internationally renowned pianist Daniel de Borah takes several leading piano students through a 90-minute masterclass.
The free public event is being held on Saturday at the Townsville Civic Theatre and is presented by the Australian Festival of Chamber Music in association with NAFA.
Daniel is recognised as one of Australia’s foremost musicians, consistently praised for the grace, finesse and imaginative intelligence of his performances.
His wide-ranging performance schedule finds him equally at home as concerto soloist, recitalist and chamber musician.
Since his prize-winning appearances at the 2004 Sydney International Piano Competition, Daniel has given recitals on four continents and toured extensively throughout the United Kingdom and
Australia. Daniel said he hoped those who attended the masterclass would benefit from his experience.
“To every class or lesson that I am involved in I bring my cumulative musical experience as a student, performer, collaborator and educator,” he said.
“So I guess you could say I’ve been preparing for this class for 30 plus years.
“That said, I would also like to ensure that I am familiar with the music that each student intends to present in the class.”
He said the beauty of any interactive class was that one never knew how things might unfold.
“How the performers will play, how the audience will react, what aspects of the playing I will choose to prioritise and so on – these things all unfold in the moment and things could go in any number of unexpected and fresh directions,” he said.
“My goal is to remain open and receptive to the performers’ expressive intentions and to try to isolate facets of their playing that I feel I can help them with in the short time we have together.
“I hope I might be able to suggest some new perspectives, insights and technical approaches that will help each student get closer to achieving their respective musical ideals in their playing.”
He said he hoped people who watched the masterclass would be in for a treat.
“First and foremost I expect the audience will hear some wonderful music from the talented and dedicated students performing on the day,” he said.
“Beyond that, if I am able to provide some further insights into the music and some of the ways in which professional performers approach musical study and performance, that will be an added bonus.”
As a concerto soloist, Daniel has appeared with the English Chamber Orchestra, London Mozart Players, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Australian
Chamber Orchestra and the Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide and Auckland Symphony orchestras.
An avid chamber musician, he has enjoyed fruitful collaborations with many leading soloists including Vadim Gluzman, Baiba Skride, Li-wei Qin, Nicolas Altstaedt, Umberto Clerici, Roderick Williams, Steve Davislim and Andrew Goodwin.
Daniel studied at the Liszt Academy of Music in Budapest, the St Petersburg State Conservatory and the Royal Academy of Music, London.
He now lives in Brisbane where he serves as Head of Chamber Music at the Queensland Conservatorium, Griffith University.
>> Free Public Masterclass with Daniel de Borah on Saturday October 17, C2 @ Townsville Civic Theatre, 10.30am. Registration required. Visit afcm.com.au