Events Calendar

NICOLA MELVILLE

US-based New Zealand pianist Nicola Melville has been described as “having an original and intelligent musical mind” (Waikato Times) and “the sort of advocate any composer would love” (Dominion Post).

Her live performances and recordings have been broadcast on Canadian, U.S., New Zealand, South African and Chinese radio, and she has been involved in numerous interdisciplinary projects with dancers, filmmakers and visual artists, including a performance at the Kennedy Center, Washington DC and Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall.

Nicola attended Victoria University School of Music, Wellington, where she studied with Judith Clark, and then earned her Master's and Doctorate degrees from the Eastman School of Music in the US.

She is a founding member of the cross-cultural ensemble, Intersection, and plays in the Veblen Trio.

Nicola is Associate Professor at the top-ranked liberal arts institution, Carleton College, Minnesota, and is a Co-Director of the Chautauqua Summer Festival Piano Program in New York.

This programme includes new works written by composer friends in the memory of Nicola’s teacher and friend, Judith Clark. In Nicola's own words “Judith was a truly deep lover of music, a fierce champion of the music of our time, with an unflagging energy and desire to seek out the treasures of the piano repertoire. I could think of no better way to  celebrate her life than to bring new pieces to the repertoire in her honour."

Also in the programme is the quirky and humourous “Body of Your Dreams”  a work by Dutch avant-garde composer, Jacob ter Veldhuis (Jacob TV). It uses sound bites from an American exercise equipment infomercial as the impetus for an amusing commentary on modern society”.

Complementing these new works will be exquisite dance miniatures by Schubert and Chopin, and Debussy’s wonderfully exotic and colourful Estampes.

The programme is rounded out by William Albright's selection of rag-time pieces.

PROGRAMME

Schubert | German Dances D. 783

In Memory of Judith Clark (1931-2014) | Newly commissioned works by New Zealand composers

Ross Harris | Eve de Castro-Robinson | Gareth Farr | Christopher Norton

Debussy | Estampes Pagodes ; Soirée dans Grenade ; Jardins sous la pluie

Chopin |Mazurkas, Op.17

Jacob TV |The Body of your Dreams for piano and boombox

William Albright | Selection of rag-time pieces

Nicola Melville opens the 2015 Central Otago Chamber Music Series on Thursday 26th February at the Cromwell Memorial Hall, Melmore Terrace, Cromwell at 7.30pm. Tickets: Adults $25; Supergold $20; Student/child $5 are on sale at the Cromwell & Alexandra iSites  (eftpos available)and  at the door (cash only).

Location

Cromwell Memorial Hall

Melmore Terrace, Cromwell adjacent to the Melmore Terrace/Monaghan Street intersection