TEAM OF PIANISTS

1- C & C Rigg Bequest Classic Music in Historic Venues - Series 2022 - 2024

We're pleased to announce a new two-year series of Classic Music in Historic Venues 2022 - 2024, supported by the Colin and Cicely Rigg Bequest, which is adminstered by Equity Trustees. With the conclusion of Pianomania! and our 2020 - 2021 Rigg Bequest Concert Series, we are now working hard on this exciting new project! Recitals and events will feature outstanding artists and attractive concert programs in a range of metropolitan and regional historic venues. With the first concerts in forthcoming months, including a long-awaited performance by pianist Kevin Suherman and cellist Ye Jin Choi (scheduled initially for July 2020), keep an eye on our website and email notifications as this project takes shape!

2- Pianomania! The Team's Tribute to Max Cooke

This special event last month was a resounding success, with a large audience in the Ballroom at Rippon Lea. Team partners Robert Chamberlain, Darryl Coote and Rohan Murray plus special guest artist Kevin Suherman, performed a showcase of works for 2, 4 and 8 hands at one and two pianos. Special thanks to our sponsors for the evening: the Friends of the Team of Pianists Committee, Bernies Music Land, who supported the supply and transport of the Schimmel K213 and K219 grand pianos, Ion Teska of Teska Carson, as well as to the National Trust, Showtime Entertainment Group, the Rigg Bequest and donors through the Australian Cultural Fund.

Several spoken tributes were delivered in honour of our Founder, Max Cooke: a touching tribute from Mr Bernie Capicchiano, Managing Director of Bernies Music Land, a welcome by Mr Mario Anders on behalf of FOTOPS President Dr Deborah Jackson, plus Darryl Coote's launch of the limited edition Brahms CD recording from 1983. It was wonderful to share the evening with members of Max Cooke's family: his daughter Jenny and son-in-law Duane, plus three of Max's grandchildren. You can find some photos from the evening on the Team of Pianists' Facebook page!

3- By Arrangment - Duo Varie on Saturday June 18 at 2pm

While we work on the upcoming Rigg Bequest series, the Team partners are all very busy in individual capacties also. Next Saturday, you can hear one of the Team's favourite guest artists Robert Schubert (clarinet) in recital with Team partner Robert Chamberlain (piano) in an eclectic and varied recital for clarinet and piano, based around stunning arrangements of music from the Baroque to the present-day (some Facebook information is here).

Composers and works include:

• Pauline Viardot - Adagio from Sonatine (cl & pno)
• Scriabin arr. Elliot - Seven Preludes (cl & pno)
• Prelude and "Fugue" after J S Bach by acclaimed Melbourne composer Julian Yu (clarinet solo)
• French Baroque character pieces by Couperin, Daquin and Rameau (piano solo)
• Glinka/Yu - Nightingale Variations (cl & pno)
• Suite Colette by Australian composer Lawrence Whiffin (1930 - 2012) arr. Julian Yu (cl & pno)

Saturday June 18 at 2pm
Diamond Creek Uniting Church
32 Wensley Street
Diamond Creek, VIC, 3089

For bookings: contact Graham Ford - Tel: 0419 361 487 or email gford@bigpond.net.au

4- The Australian National Piano Award (ANPA) - October 10 to 15, 2022

The final item in our winter news is that Board President and co-founder of ANPA, Team partner Darryl Coote, is working hard toward this year's exciting Australian National Piano Award in Shepparton. With performers from most states, thirteen of Australia’s most brilliant pianists aged between 21-35, will contest this valuable Award boasting a first prize of $27,000. They will be adjudicated by Stephanie McCallum, Kristian Chong and Ian Munro over a week, with the Award providing a wealth of exciting repertoire and performances at the Eastbank Centre in Shepparton from October 10 to October 15 (see www.australianpianoaward.com.au).

We look forward to seeing you at some events in our upcoming series 2022 - 2024!