Prepare to be entranced by an evening of unparalleled musical finesse and enchanting harmonies. "The Impression of Romance" invites you to embark on a journey through the most exquisite piano duet works from the master composers Brahms, Debussy, Dvorak, Faure, and Schubert, where four hands become the vessel for profound emotions and profound storytelling.

Date: 15th October Sunday

Time: 7pm (Approximately 65min recital plus 10 min intermission)

Venue: Mosman Art Gallery

This is your exclusive invitation to "The Impression of Romance." Don't miss your chance to witness a performance that will linger in your heart and memory long after the final note has been struck. Secure your tickets today and prepare to be swept away by the magic of musical romance.

Program:

Brahms Hungarian Dance in F# minor, WoO.1 No. 5 (transcription for piano duet)

Schubert Fantasia in F minor, D940

-INTERMSSSION-

Debussy Petite Suite L. 65

Faure Dolly Suite Op. 56

Dvorak Slavonic Dance Op. 72 No. 2 (transcription for piano duet)

About the performers:

Agnes Kristianto

Previously based in Indonesia, Agnes Kristianto started her musical journey at the age of six. There, she studied piano while actively participating in various concerts and competitions all over Indonesia. Agnes has won several prizes including the first prizes and second prize in Riau’s Piano and Violin Competition (2009 and 2011), the third prize in Indonesia Piano Music Festival (2010) and Indonesia Open Competition (2010), as well as several other prizes in the cities of Surabaya and Semarang. In 2008, Agnes was invited by the mayor of Semarang to perform on the event of celebrating the 461st anniversary of the city. She has also received an invitation to perform at Indonesia Art Institute in Yogyakarta with which she received an award (2008). Agnes’ passion grew as she continued to perform in the 2009’s Indonesia Young Musician Marathon Concert in Jakarta, Surabaya, and Bali, receiving a feature in Indonesia’s music magazine “Staccato” that year.

Agnes gave her first solo recital in her hometown city of Pekanbaru at the age of seventeen before pursuing her degree in Bachelor of Music (Performance) at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music. She had studied piano with one of Australia’s finest pianists, Prof. Gerard Willems, and the Russian pianist Natalia Andreeva. Furthermore, Agnes has had the privilege to have private lessons with multi award-winning Australian concert pianist and composer Michael Kieran Harvey, Laura McDonald, and Rita Reichman. She completed her Master of Music Studies (Performance) degree under the guidance of internationally renowned pianist Dr. Bernadette Harvey and Erszi Marroszeky.

In 2022, Agnes won first place in the Sydney Eisteddfod Piano Competition, the category of 20th and 21st Century Music. She had also received numerous certificates of Commended Performance in other categories throughout her Eisteddfod competition last year. Agnes had recently performed at the Admiralty House on its open day in June 2023.

Li Qing Koh (Jacquelyn)

Malaysian born Li Qing Koh (Jacquelyn) graduated with Master in Music (Performance) at Sydney Conservatorium of Music, Sydney. Throughout her studies, she was taught by Australian concert pianists Prof. Gerard Willems AM and Lyall Duke, SONY Classical Pianist, Eugene Choi Dr Paul Rickard-Ford, Chee Su Yen and Yong Sue Yi; she had her thesis supervision under Dr Helen Mitchell. Jacquelyn has had chamber coaching with Dr Park Ji-Sook, Dr Kirill Monorosi, Dr Cheong Yew Choong, Ysan Suit Yin and attended chamber masterclass with Dr Julie Bee (The Orfeo Trio). She participated in solo masterclass with Sonya Lifschitz and collaborative piano masterclass with Dr Michael Bukhman. Recently, she also had the privilege to have in few one-on-one sessions with one of the greatest pianists, Prof. Lev Natochenny. In the past, Jacquelyn has completed Licentiate diploma from Trinity College London with Distinction.

Jacquelyn has been actively engaged as a solo performer, collaborative pianist, researcher and Kodaly educator in Malaysia, Australia and Indonesia. In 2019, she participated the Southeast Asia Music Exchange (SEAMEX) in Indonesia as a solo performer and also presented her Master’s thesis: Enhancing performance on one musical instrument by playing another at SEAMEX Conference. As collaborative pianist, she has been passionately involved in performances for studio concerts, recitals, auditions, and competitions; performing along with children to professional musician. Her most recent performance includes works by Prokofiev and Tchaikovsky; further along the year she will be collaborating with other musicians to perform in two recitals featuring works like Franck violin sonata and Jewish arias.

Sylvie Zhao

Sylvie Zhao is a multifaceted musician and dedicated educator with a profound love for music. Her journey in the world of music began with a deep commitment to both her own musical growth and passing on her knowledge to others.

Sylvie holds a Master of Performance degree from the esteemed Australian Institute of Music, where she honed her piano skills and developed a deep appreciation for the intricacies of music. Her commitment to education led her to pursue a Master of Teaching degree at the University of New South Wales, specializing in music education. Her ability to seamlessly complement other musicians and elevate their performances has made her a sought-after collaborator.

Sylvie is highly regarded as an accompanist for instrumentalists. Her piano skills are not only technically impeccable but also imbued with an intuitive sense of musicality. Her ability to seamlessly complement other musicians and elevate their performances has made her a sought-after collaborator. Beyond her teaching and accompaniment roles, Sylvie is committed to maintaining an active presence of performer, delighting audiences with her emotive and skilful piano playing. Her passion for music is not only evident in her teaching but also in her captivating performances on stage.