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Home2024-11-14T03:16:19+00:00

About the Foundation

The Theme & Variations Foundation is a not-for-profit organisation dedicated to assisting exceptionally talented young Australian pianists to reach their potential.

2024 Award winners

The Theme & Variations Foundation is pleased to announce its 2024 award recipients. This year we have decided to give one award to Reuben Tsang from Queensland, one award to Kanon Ito from NSW and one award to Jasmine Lai from Victoria to assist them in their studies.

Each year, the Foundation seeks to assist young Australian pianists in their pursuits. We are always delighted to find, as we have this year, exciting, fresh talent coming through our teaching institutions.

Reuben Tsang

Kanon Ito

Jasmine Lai

In Memoriam Ara Vartoukian OAM
and Fraser Beath McEwing

We are deeply saddened at the passing of Ara Vartoukian and Fraser McEwing, our respected friends and colleagues.

Ara Vartoukian

In losing Ara, we have lost a gentle man with the biggest, kindest, most generous heart. Ara has always given his whole self to those around him, wanting everyone to share what he had to give.

His generosity to our next generation of musicians has been inspirational. It has been such an honour to be by his side, and by Nyree’s side, as together they inspire these younger pianists to have the confidence and joy in performing, to help them on their way.

Ara’s professional passions were always twofold. He wanted pianists, both professionals and young pianists, to be the best they could be, and he wanted the pianos he worked on to be the best they could be.

He was a world-renowned piano technician but relatively few people were fortunate enough to experience his outstanding personal qualities. Those, more than his public persona, are the legacy he leaves to those who knew him well and loved him.

Fraser McEwing

Fraser was involved as a Board member of our Foundation from the very beginning back in 2012 and was deeply involved in everything we have done. As an experienced author and journalist he helped write much of the copy for our brochures and publicity releases. As an experienced music critic we valued his input in helping select the finalists form the range of young applicants who submitted their recordings every year.

Fraser was an accomplished pianist himself, so he understood the technical skills pianists require as well as the essential talent needed if a young pianist is to become an outstanding young pianist. He had detailed knowledge of musical history and composition, and a deep appreciation of the special sound our world-class pianists create in the interpretation of the classics as well as more modern repertoire.

We are deeply appreciative of all that Fraser has done, and all the help he provided.

As there is already a considerable number of piano competitions and piano scholarships in Australia, the Foundation provides different sorts of financial and practical assistance to exceptionally talented piano students. They include – but are not confined to – tuition at recognised institutions, travel and participation in piano competitions, and opportunities for performance.  Each year a number of grants are made to young pianists who fit the Foundation’s criteria. Apart from outstanding talent, recognition and the need for financial assistance, applicants must be Australian citizens or permanent residents of Australia. Full details of applications can be found on this website under ‘apply for assistance’.

The Theme & Variations Foundation was formed by Ara and Nyree Vartoukian to encourage and support exceptional young Australian pianists. With the help of friends and colleagues who share a passion for piano music and performance, the Foundation took shape in late 2011 and was officially launched at the NSW Government House in the presence of Her Excellency Professor Marie Bashir and Maestro Vladimir Ashkenazy on 14th February 2012.

Prior to that, Ara and Nyree Vartoukian had been actively helping and supporting young pianists since opening their piano sales and service business “Theme and Variations” in 1985. They generously provided – and still do – practice facilities and performance opportunities for many promising young artists. They decided to establish the Theme and Variations Foundation so that their assistance could be formalised and extended, thus making it more effective. Besides sharing the workload, one of the benefits of forming the Foundation has been to attain deductible gift recipient (DGR1) status with the Australian Tax Office so all donations of $2.00 and over are tax deductible.

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Recent Events

Gala Memorial Concert in honour of Ara Vartoukian OAM

On 17 August 2024, a Gala Memorial Concert was presented by the Sydney Conservatorium of Music honouring the memory of Ara Vartoukian OAM, celebrating his legacy of kindness, generosity, and dedication to making a positive difference in the world of music. Many of the amazing young pianists contributing their talents were recipients of past Theme and Variations Foundation awards. They performed in Ara’s honour and to demonstrate the ongoing existence of the Foundation, which has been such a crucial source of support for aspiring young concert pianists in Australia. The students of Galstaun College performed a beautiful choral number, acknowledging Ara’s dedication and the vital contribution he made to the College and the Armenian community. Monti’s ‘Csárdás’, a short piece Ara often played after he finished tuning a piano, was performed as a surprise item, arranged for 16 hands on two pianos by Sam Zhan. At the conclusion of the evening Nyree, Tro and Haig were presented with a portrait of Ara painted by artist and musician Lisa Stewart. Ara’s wish was always to continue the Foundation’s quest to help young pianists achieve their dreams and to give them every opportunity we can. It is our intention to continue this Foundation [...]

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