Canberra, Monday 18 January 2002

World famous fortepianist joins the ANU

One of the world’s finest exponents of the fortepiano and the performance practices of Earlier Music, Dr Geoffrey Lancaster, has joined the Australian National University as a member of the full-time staff at the Canberra School of Music.

Dr Lancaster is a highly sought after performer, nationally and internationally, having just returned from a highly successful concert tour of Europe.

“To have a musician of Geoffrey’s standing on the full time staff is a real coup in terms of developing the possibilities inherent in the music of this period, from both the performance and academic points of view,” said
Professor Nicolette Fraillon, Director of the School of Music, National Institute of The Arts.

“The study of authentic performance practices in earlier music, especially music from the 17th and 18th centuries, is absolutely essential to the education of classical musicians. This is an area that has been vigorously pursued in Europe for the last twenty years. Australia lags behind in this, and students have been forced to look overseas in order to develop their skills and knowledge as performers.”

“One of my main aims has been to remedy this problem and institute a program of early music studies at the School of Music. Geoffrey is the Australian expert in this field, with important contacts to leading practitioners overseas. He is also an outstanding educator and as the HC Coombes Creative Arts Fellow in 2000, and a visiting artist in 2001, has had an enormous impact already at the School,” Professor Fraillon said.

John Luxton, Deputy Director of the School and Head of the Piano Department, is equally enthusiastic about Dr Lancaster’s arrival.

“Geoffrey adds another important, and up until now underdeveloped facet to the existing expertise of the Piano Department. His knowledge of the stylistic mores of the Classical period will extend the range of musical directions and opportunities at both the undergraduate and graduate levels,” Mr Luxton said.

Dr Lancaster will conduct a special open rehearsal of Bach’s Brandenburg Concerto No.3 for Strings for Canberra Media tomorrow.

When: 10.45am Tuesday 19 February 2002
Where: Rehearsal Room 3, School of Music

Dr Lancaster will be available for interview during a break in the rehearsal at 11.15am.

For more information contact:
Nicolette Fraillon, Director, School of Music on 02 6125 5732
or Genevieve Turville on 02 6125 6125

19/2002

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The Australian National University.
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Last Modified Tue, July 16, 2002