Jannali-based classical musician Hank Xiang has been selected out of only 14 pianists in Australia to participate in the National Piano Awards next month.
Hank, 26, graduated from the Sydney Conservatorium with a Bachelor of Music (Honours) in 2012.
Taking keen interest in Russian music, his honours dissertation examined Mussorgsky’s Pictures at an Exhibition.
He is now furthering his studies at the Rimsky-Korsakov State Conservatory in Saint Petersburg.
Hank always enjoyed classical music at school and when he was accepted into the Sydney Conservatorium the prospect of doing music professionally opened up before him.
“With the support of my professor and fellow students, I began to realise that this is the lifestyle that I want,” he said.
Hank also used to play the trumpet and had a small jazz group several years ago.
He said his aim is to become a better musician and to share what he has with others, through teaching and concerts.
The Australian National Piano Award competition is a held every two years.
There are 14 finalists, aged between 21 and 30 years, who are chosen by a trio of international adjudicators.
The pianists perform two concerts each prior to the Semi-finals and then the top three make it into the Grand Finals.
The musicians cover masterworks by Chopin, Beethoven, Bach, Schubert, Debussy and many others.
They perform Baroque, 19th Century Romantic and French Impressionist eras, as well as music written after 1950.
They are all playing for up to $68,000 in cash and prizes and it puts their name on the music map.
The competition is held over a week and audiences are engaged and can involved by voting for their favourite pianist leading up to the Grand Finals which is recorded and aired by Radio 3MBS.
The Australian National Piano Awards will be held at Shepparton, Victoria from September 3 to 8.
Tickets Monday to Friday at $10 per session and $30 for the grand final, held Saturday, September 8 ($20 concession, $10, students).
Tickets and packages at Riverlinks reservations: 03 5832 9511.
