Piano Festival 2025 - Masterclasses and Seminars

This event is presented as part of the 2025 Piano Festival at the Conservatorium

Pianists at both the pre-tertiary and tertiary level are invited to spend the weekend with our Keyboard Area staff at the Melbourne Conservatorium of Music. The festivities will culminate in a gala concert on Saturday 11 October titled An Evening of Song and Dance. This program will include an eclectic array of solo and duo repertoire and features the Conservatorium Keyboard Area staff. These pianists are amongst the most distinguished in Australia and include Jerry Wong (Head of Keyboard), Caroline Almonte, Kristian Chong, Kenji Fujimura, Coady Green, Olga Kharitonova, Andrea Lam, Tristan Lee, Igor Machlak, Elizabeth Mitchell, Glenn Riddle, Konstantin Shamray and Tamara Smolyar.

The festival also includes masterclasses given by Jerry Wong, Glenn Riddle, Konstantin Shamray and Andrea Lam. Selected participants will perform in these classes and observation of any class is available via registration.  Please indicate interest in performing in a masterclass via the registration form and include the necessary audition materials. Selected participants will be notified via email by Friday 12 September.

Lastly, there will also be a roundtable discussion with the staff on Sunday 12 October. Topics will include successful practise tools, taking auditions and choosing repertoire. There will be time for questions and answers between participants and teaching staff.

When registering for tickets, please select the day and events you would like to attend via the registration form. Further details are below.

On Saturday 11 October, the day will wrap up with An Evening of Song and Dance, a gala performance featuring Conservatorium Piano staff. Please register for a ticket for the performance here. 

If you wish to perform in a masterclass, please fill out this form here. The deadline to apply is Monday 1st September, 2025. Notification will occur by Friday 12 September, 2025.

Schedule

Saturday 11 October, 9.30AM - 5.30PM

9.30AM - 10AM: Registrations
10AM - 10.15AM: Welcome with Jerry Wong
10.15AM - 12.30PM: Masterclass 1
12.30PM - 2PM: Lunch Break
2PM - 3.30PM: Masterclass 2 
3.30PM - 4PM: Break
4PM - 5.30PM: Masterclass 3 
7.30PM - 9.30PM: An Evening of Song and Dance Concert [Get Tickets] 

Sunday 12 October, 9.30AM - 2PM

9.30AM - 10AM: Registrations
10AM - 11AM: Panel Discussion
11AM - 12PM: Morning Tea
12PM - 2PM: Masterclass 4

Event information

Observer/Parent/Guardian Passes

Observer passes are available to those who wish to attend the day without participating in the rehearsals and concert performance.

Parent/Guardian passes are available for those who wish to attend the day alongside a participant aged 17 years and younger. Attendees aged 14 and under are required to have a parent/guardian or teacher attend with them.

ACCESSIBILITY

All venues at the Southbank campus are wheelchair accessible. To read more about access services available at our venues, please visit:  https://finearts-music.unimelb.edu.au/access-our-events.  

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

• Please stay home if you feel unwell, even with mild symptoms. Face masks are welcome in all settings for community and personal safety.  

• In order to account for drop-off in attendance, we overbook a select number of free events at the Faculty. If you have not arrived by the start of the performance, your ticket may be released to any waiting patrons at the door. Please arrive at the venue at least 15 minutes before the performance to secure your seat.  

• Admission to any of our concerts and events is strictly at the discretion of Front of House. We have zero tolerance for any disrespectful behaviour.