Yamaha Education Projects

Birmingham International Piano Academy

Pictured here: Internationally acclaimed pianist, Oxana Yablonskaya, pictured with organiser David Quigley (right) and Robert Markham from Birmingham Conservatoire's keyboard department. (Photo: Bill C Martin)

A Report on the 2009 Birmingham International Piano Academy Event

by David Quigley, Artistic Director, BIPA

The fifth Birmingham International Piano Academy took place at Birmingham Conservatoire at the end of July 2009, once again supported by Yamaha who provided a CFIIIS concert grand piano for all the concerts and masterclasses, enhancing a week of wonderful piano playing from artists and students from all over the world.

The packed BIPA week included individual lessons with the conservatoire's expert teaching staff, Malcolm Wilson, John Humphreys, Philip Martin and David Quigley, workshops, recitals and masterclass by visiting artists, Oxana Yablonskaya, Steven Osborne, Peter Donohoe, with Christopher Elton, head of keyboard at the Royal Academy of Music.

A new feature for BIPA 2009 was the 'Young Artist Platform Concert', a lunchtime concert given by the gifted young Irish pianist, Sophie Cashell. Cashell was the overall winner of the BBC Classical Star award and has recently released a debut CD with Universal Classics. After her wonderful recital she worked with a group of young local pianists in an informal masterclass setting.

The level of piano playing during BIPA was outstanding. The breath-taking performances from all the visiting artists and wonderful performances from the students led one of the students to sum up the event: "What a week - so intense, rewarding and uplifting. I don't want it to end!"

The Birmingham International Piano Academy is now preparing for the 2010 event. Full details will be posted soon on our website, www.bipa.info.

David Quigley, Artistic Director, BIPA

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(posted: October 2009)