Shamray donates fee towards new Steinway

Pianist Konstantin Shamray.
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Wednesday, 12 May 2010

Outstanding pianist Konstantin Shamray will be doing more than just performing for Adelaide audiences at this Saturday's opening concert of the 2010 Evenings at Elder Hall Concert Series.

Russian-born Shamray will be donating his performance fee to help the University of Adelaide's Elder Conservatorium of Music purchase a new Steinway grand piano.

The piano, valued at more than $250,000, is a much-needed instrument for Elder Hall performances as well as teaching in the Conservatorium. Steinway pianos are highly regarded throughout the world for their quality, with each grand piano requiring up to one full year to hand craft.

The Conservatorium of Music has been raising money since 2008 to purchase a new Steinway, which is due to arrive in Adelaide later this year.

"I have valued my past concerts in Adelaide, especially in Elder Hall, and Adelaide has become like a second home to me," says Shamray, who is arguably one of the most exciting pianists to have won the Sydney International Piano Competition.

"I feel very strongly about assisting the Elder Conservatorium in its purchase of a new Steinway. Such a piano can give great pleasure to so many people. It will offer students at the University the quality of instrument they need for both their studies and public performances."

"We are very grateful to Konstantin for his generous donation, and for all of those people who have donated towards this worthy purchase," says the Director of the Elder Conservatorium of Music, Associate Professor Carl Crossin OAM. "We very much look forward to Konstantin returning to Adelaide and playing on our Steinway once it has arrived."

The Evenings at Elder Hall season opens at 6.30pm on Saturday 15 May.

The concert features the Elder Conservatorium Symphony Orchestra and Konstantin Shamray, who will perform Rachmaninov's much-loved 3rd Piano Concerto.

Other works on the program include Dvorák's Symphony No.9, From the New World - voted Australia's most popular symphony on ABC FM's Classic 100 Symphony Countdown - and a tribute to Australian composer Richard Meale, who was Reader in Composition at the University of Adelaide from 1969-1988. The tribute will feature a performance of his Three Miro Pieces, which was inspired by Spanish artist Joan Miró.

Tickets are $25 adult; $20 concession; $15 student. Special Family Ticket deals are also available.

Please call the Manager for ticket bookings on (08) 8303 5925 or email: claire.oremland@adelaide.edu.au

For a full program, visit: www.elderhall.adelaide.edu.au

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