In the last year since September, I have been studying in Barcelona at the Liceu Conservatory on a full scholarship for my master’s degree for classical piano. I have taken a temporary break from professional concertising in order to focus on getting used to living in a new continent and city in which I have been making friends and connections along the way despite the challenges of living abroad. In Barcelona, the way of life and work is extremely different to what I am used to, and it has taken a lot longer to adjust to what I could have imagined. Despite this, I’m proud to say I have met a variety of artists, professionals and people who are beginning to ground my stay here well as I look forward to another year living here.
Meanwhile, I’ve been studying the great nationalist Spanish and Catalonian repertoire of which my final recital consists solely. My master’s thesis was also centered around this repertoire, assuring an academic basis for my studies.
To take advantage of being based in Europe, I have been visiting many renowned teachers I met in recent years to have lessons and further strengthen our relationships looking to the future. For example, I have visited Martha Zabaleta, Gustavo Diaz, Lev Natochenny amongst others.
I also have begun taking conducting seriously alongside my piano studies and will continue to keep them alongside one another for the foreseeable future, as they are both great interests to me and inform each other. I’ve had the privilege of meeting and studying under several esteemed conductors and have been visiting regularly the classes of Salvador Brotons. Recently, I have been conducting several concertos for peers, have participated in several local projects and participated in a rather gruelling conducting course in Porto, Portugal.
Much of this began because in November, I returned briefly to Sydney in order to conduct an orchestra at the Sydney Opera House in which I also played piano in some works. This was to commemorate the 50th anniversary of Vietnamese Settlement in Australia which is a meaningful anniversary for my family and the Australian Vietnamese Community.
Looking to the future, I will be founding an orchestra soon with a passionate team of peers in which we will be supported by the Conservatory. Here, I intend to create opportunities for myself and others which will hopefully be a deeply enriching experience for all involved.
I am also participating in the Piano à Collioure International Competition soon in June directly followed by participation in the Valencia International Performing Arts Festival in which I will take part in a competition, course and concerts involving the tutelage of renowned pedagogues such as Claudio Martinez Mehner and Eldar Nebolsin. I will also be performing concerts soon in Sydney and Barcelona, finally of chamber and solo programs of which I am very excited.
In short, I have been expanding my horizons in a new environment and have halted certain professional priorities in lieu of my studies and bourgeoning presence here in Europe while I get used to things. As always, I am grateful for the opportunity to learn, live, and continue down the path of music which I continue to be faithfully dedicated to.
