Renowned pianist leads masterclass

ASSOCIATE Professor and head of keyboard at the University of Melbourne Conservatorium, Jerry Wong, is heading to Ballarat next weekend to lead a masterclass.

The event is part of the annual Don Huntley Memorial Piano Recital where Wong will perform works of Bach, Liszt, Debussy, Rochberg, Hyde and Gershwin.

“The program is kind of an eclectic mix of a lot of different repertoires,” Wong said.

The masterclass is open to young Ballarat pianists at the Wendouree Centre for Performing Arts and entry is free. The event is sponsored by Ballarat Grammar.

“The student brings something to me, plays it for me and then I give my feedback,” Wong said.

“Some of that feedback will reiterate what they already do in their lessons with their teacher and some of it may be a new way of looking at the music.

“I’m looking forward to hearing students and I’m sure they’ll be wonderful.”

Wong has performed throughout the United States, Europe and Asia in prestigious settings such as the National Concert Hall of Taipei, the National Gallery of Art in Washington D.C, Opera City Hall in Tokyo, and the Weill Recital Hall in New York City.

He is a graduate of Indiana University, Peabody Conservatory and the Manhattan School of Music, and his teachers have included Menahem Pressler, Ann Schein and Byron Janis.

He relocated from the United States to Australia in 2019.

All proceeds from the concert will go to the Don Huntley Scholarship Fund.

The masterclass is on Sunday 4 May at 10am before the recital at 3pm.

For more information about the masterclass, call 5345 7522. To book a recital ticket,visit  bit.ly/42NQQ00 .