2019 - Piano & Instrumental
13 April (strings), & 15-18 April (Piano) : Adjudicated by Susan Smith (Strings), Sarah Watkins (Piano)
Venue: Brian Gerrard Theatre, Birkenhead College, 140 Birkdale Rd., Birkenhead
Convenor: Ms Mi Jin Park. Email piano@nspas.nz
RulesSyllabusProgramme and resultsResults
Dr. Sarah Watkins, Piano
Sarah’s lifelong love for accompanying and chamber music has led to an impressive career as a performer and recording artist. She is perhaps best known to New Zealand audiences as a founding member of NZTrio, one of this country’s most dynamic and indispensable music ensembles. After 16 years, Sarah left the group in June 2018 to actively pursue other musical collaborations and passions, which includes the mentoring and coaching of young New Zealand musicians.
In addition to NZTrio, she has been an official pianist for the Michael Hill International Violin Competition since its inception in 2001 and the Gisborne International Music Competition since 2008, and has performed as a freelance player in the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra, the Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra, and the Auckland Chamber Orchestra. Sarah has also appeared as concerto soloist with St. Matthew’s Chamber Orchestra, ACO, and the APO, and in 2014 recorded Chris Watson's "sing songs self" for solo piano and orchestra with the NZSO, a composition which was awarded the prestigious 2015 SOUNZ Contemporary Award. Her numerous CD recordings with NZTrio and other artists have been widely praised by audiences and critics alike; ‘Sway’ (NZTrio, 2017) and ‘Gung-ho’ (2009, with NZSO principal trombonist David Bremner) were both winners of the Vodafone NZ Music Award for best Classical album.
Sarah is a graduate of the University of Canterbury (NZ) and the Juilliard School in New York City, where she earned both Master of Music and Doctor of Musical Arts degrees in collaborative piano. While living in the US, Sarah worked as a staff pianist at Juilliard, Yale University, and the Aspen Music Festival. She also served as coordinator of the collaborative piano program at the Music Academy of the West in Santa Barbara, California, and spent several years on the music faculty of Purchase College, New York. During the period 2004-2009 NZTrio was ensemble in residence at the University of Auckland, where Sarah taught collaborative piano and chamber music.
Ms Susan Smith (adjudicating the Strings classes in 2019)
After gaining both LRSM and FTCL, Susan completed her formal studies in London studying Piano with Phyllis Sellick and Accompaniment with Ivor Newton. Returning to New Zealand in the 1970's she was involved in music education as Director of Music at Avondale College and in enjoying her love of accompanying. She became involved with adjudication at many of New Zealand's competitive festivals and with Seminars for the NZ Institute of Registered Music Teachers. In 2003, Susan returned to private teaching and also took up an active role with the Music Department of Diocesan School for Girls.
In 1991 Susan was appointed to the International Examining Panel of the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music and in this role has travelled widely both within New Zealand and in Europe and Asia. In 2004 Susan received an ONZM for services to music.