From Friday October 3 to Sunday October 5, WAAPA’s staff, students and guest artists present a three-day celebration of the piano.
Unforgettable concerts are joined by a free interactive exhibition, public lecture and research symposium in a packed program perfect for anyone passionate about the piano.
We’ve unpacked the full schedule below so you don’t miss out on any of the events.
Piano Panoply
Richard Gill Auditorium, October 3 – 5
Secure your tickets here. Registration is required for the free talks and exhibitions.
Friday, October 3
The festivities begin with a Symposium, featuring academic presentations and interviews, from 9am to 4pm. A Keynote Address discussing Romantic-era performance practice from renowned scholar Dr Andrew Snedden follows at 5pm.
That evening marks the first performance of the Piano Panoply, Romantic Piano Inspirations: Liszt and Company. The pieces will be performed on period instruments.
Saturday, October 4
Saturday sees master piano technician Dr Paul Tunzi share his expertise in a free Historical Piano Exhibition and Interactive Showcase, 1pm – 3:30pm. Attendees are even welcome to try their hand at the instruments on show!
“This is a wonderful opportunity for people of all ages to interact with historic pianos, to see them up close, to have a go for themselves.” – Associate Professor Jonathan Paget, WAAPA’s Associate Dean of Music.
The Australian Album: A Recital is the first performance of the evening at 5pm, in which Dr Tonya Lemoh invites the audience to rediscover Australian musical history with charming songs and poetic solo works from an authentic 1850s piano book.
Later that evening at 7pm is The Piano Reimagined. This performances marks the world premiere of a newly commissioned work for modern piano, historic piano, viola and electronics by Noongar composer Dr Aaron Wyatt. The works pay tribute to the ECU Mount Lawley Campus in light of the move to the brand-new ECU City Campus in the new year.
Sunday, October 5
The final performance of Piano Panoply is titled From The Drawing Room to the Pleasure Gardens. At 2pm, the audience will be transported back to the time of Jane Austen with a selection of English early Romantic pieces.
