Konstantin Shamray
Russian Australian pianist Konstantin Shamray, known for his impeccable technique and commanding presence on the piano, thrives on the international stage alongside leading orchestras and concert organisers. His notable achievements include winning the First Prize at the Sydney International Piano Competition in 2008, and clinching the First Prize at the Klavier Olympiade in Bad Kissingen, Germany, in 2011, along with the esteemed Luitpold Prize. With a prolific recording career encompassing labels like Naxos, ABC Classics and Fonoforum, Konstantin has graced stages worldwide, collaborating with renowned conductors and orchestras including the Russian National Philharmonic and the Mariinsky Theatre Orchestra. Embracing chamber music fervently, he engages in partnerships with esteemed ensembles and artists, while also contributing to music education as a lecturer at the Elder Conservatorium of Music, University of Adelaide.

Vatche Jambazian
Sydney-born pianist Vatche Jambazian, a Juilliard graduate, has performed globally since his debut in Armenia, earning accolades including the 2MBS Young Performer of the Year award. He’s played at renowned venues like Carnegie Hall and collaborated with notable musicians like David Greco. Despite the pandemic, he maintained an active performance schedule participating in digital concerts and holds key positions at The Piano Institute and Omega Ensemble while serving as an academic lecturer at the Australian Institute of Music.

Grace Kim
Grace Kim, a Winston Churchill Fellow, concert pianist and music educator, advocates for accessible live music. She has performed worldwide, receiving prizes like the Bellini International Piano Competition and Symphony Australia Young Performers Award. With two Master of Music degrees, she’s performed for dignitaries and directed concerts at prestigious venues. She’s active as a performer, teacher and advocate for music education, founding Sensory Concerts® for neurodivergent communities. Currently undertaking a PhD, she also teaches at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music and conducts research on music’s calming effects.

Lee Dionne
Praised by major publications, Lee Dionne leads an innovative career, performing in prestigious venues like Carnegie Hall. In 2023, he co-founded Sydney’s Hayes Street Studio, promoting local talent alongside flautist Rosie Gallagher. Formerly part of Merz Trio, Lee earned recognition showcasing his creative flair and collaborative spirit. With global collaborations and recordings, Lee demonstrates his versatility while also contributing to music education through teaching roles.

Arrive in Sydney on suggested Qantas flights. Renaissance Tours or your travel agent can assist you with your flights and other travel arrangements, including pre-tour accommodation and a private transfer from the airport.

Meet tour leader Phillip Sametz and fellow travellers at a Sydney CBD hotel (venue to be confirmed) at 8:45am. Depart Sydney to Bathurst, stopping for a light lunch in the Blue Mountains.

Arrive in Bathurst and check in to the hotel. In the late afternoon, transfer to Blackdown Farm, the venue of the festival, and once home to the Australian artist Tim Storrier and a fine example of Australian heritage architecture. Enjoy a welcome dinner served al fresco in Blackdown Farm’s olive grove followed by the opening concert of the Out West Piano Fest entitled Night Music, featuring a diverse range of nocturnal moods from the fantastical to the atmospheric, with a blend of romanticism and impressionism.

PROGRAM:
Felix Mendelssohn – Overture from A Misdummer Night’s Dream Op.21 (8 hands, 2 pianos)
Maurice Ravel – Ondine from Gaspard de la nuit M.55
Modest Mussorgsky/Nikolay Artsybushev – Night on Bald Mountain (4 hands)
Franz Liszt – from Études d’exécution transcendante S.139 No.11 Harmonies du soir
Komitas – Nocturne
Frédéric Chopin – from Nocturnes Op.37 No.2 in G major
Nikolay Medtner – Piano Sonata Op.25 No.2 in E minor Night Wind

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After breakfast, join Phillip for a pre-performance talk, before departing for Blackdown Farm for a morning concert entitled Bells Across Europe, representing a journey across Central Europe with its intricate melodies and complex harmonies.

PROGRAM:
Franz Liszt – from Années de pélerinage II S.161 No.1 Sposalizio
Olivier Messiaen – from Visions de l’amen (2 pianos) No.7 Ammen de la Conommation
George Enescu – from Suite No.3 for Piano Op.18
Maurice Ravel – from Sites auriculaires M.8/13 (2 pianos)
Richard Wagner/Karl Klindworth/Konstantin Shamray – Excerpts from Parsifal Act I WWV 111 (4 hands)
Maurice Ravel – from Miroirs M.43
Sergei Rachmaninoff – from Suite No.1 Op.5 (2 pianos)

After the concert, enjoy a long table lunch under the canopy of the farm’s magnificent crab-apple tree walk before attending an afternoon concert entitled En Plein Air, with pieces celebrating the elements and the outdoors.

PROGRAM:
Johann Sebastian Bach – Capriccio on the departure of a beloved brother BWV 992
Francis Poulenc – Promenades FP24
Maurice Ravel – Jeux d’eau M.30
Béla Bartók – Out of Doors Sz.81
Robert Schumann – Waldszenen Op.82
Sergey Prokofiev – 3 Pieces for Piano Op.59
Claude Debussy – L’isle Joyeuse

After the concert, return to the hotel and enjoy the evening at leisure.

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After breakfast, join Phillip for a pre-performance talk, followed by a morning concert entitled Two by Four exploring the world of rhythm and dance.

PROGRAM:
Sergei Prokofiev – Train (8 hands)
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart/Ferruccio Busoni – Duettino concertante BV B 88 (2 pianos, 4 hands)
Franz Schubert/Sergei Prokofiev – Waltzes (2 pianos, 4 hands)
Antonín Dvořák – 4 Slavonic Dances Op.46 (2 pianos, 8 hands)
Igor Stravinsky/Achilleas Wastor – The Firebird Suite (2 pianos, 4 hands)

After the concert, enjoy lunch before attending the final concert entitled Printemps, with a collection of pieces celebrating the essence of spring’s beauty.

PROGRAM:
Pyotr Tchaikovsky – from The Seasons Op.37a
Franz Liszt – from 12 Lieder von Franz Schubert S.558
Franz Liszt – Frühlingsnacht, Lied von Schumann S.568
Sergei Rachmaninoff/Earl Wild – from 12 Romances Op.14
Igor Stravinsky – The Rite of Spring K015 (2 pianos)

Following the concert, return to the hotel and enjoy the evening at leisure.

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Check out of the hotel and transfer to the Blue Mountains for a farewell lunch before continuing to Sydney where tour arrangements conclude upon arrival in the CBD (venue to be confirmed) around 4:30pm.

Renaissance Tours or your travel agent can assist you with your flights and other travel arrangements, including airport transfers, travel insurance (strongly recommended) and additional nights’ accommodation either before or after the tour.

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