Pianist Awadagin Pratt is here to judge the Kerikeri International Piano Competition Photo: Supplied
U.S. concert pianist Awadagin Pratt is probably the only concert pianist who can boast that he’s played with ‘the three B’s’ – Bill, Barack and Big Bird… he played at the White House three times across the Clinton and Obama years, and shared a piano, briefly, with Big Bird on Sesame Street in 1998.
The multi-talented young Awadagin began studying piano at age 6 and violin at 9, being accepted at the University of Illinois before his 16th birthday. He went on to study at the Peabody Institute of Johns Hopkins University, becoming the first student in the school’s history to receive degrees in three performance areas: piano, violin and conducting. At the age of 16 he won the prestigious Naumburg International Piano Competition in 1992.
Now a Professor of Piano at the College-Conservatory of Music at the University of Cincinnati, he founded and directed the World Piano Competition there.
Pratt says competitions provide a unique platform for young musicians to be heard and be noticed. “You have to be ready to represent yourself at your very best and then ready to accept whatever result comes, while remembering that judging is highly subjective.”
In 2011 Awadagin Pratt launched the Art of the Piano in Cincinnati, a festival created to raise the level of artistry for young pianists, giving them an opportunity to work with the world’s leading teachers and artists.
In the very conservative world of classical music, Pratt broke stereotypes early in his career, turning up for concerts with his trademark dreadlocks and dressed in eclectic outfits rather than the usual tuxedo and tails.
“There were a few people who advised me when I was a student to be more conservative but I really didn’t pay much attention. As an artist, you have to be who you are, whatever it is that you’re doing.”
It’s all part of his desire to engage with and promote classical music to contemporary audiences.
He encourages his music students to have a broad knowledge and interest in the world outside of music, in order to communicate with the audience and connect with the world at large.
Kerikeri International Piano Competition
Awadagin Pratt is one of the three internationally-renowned pianists judging this year’s Kerikeri International Piano Competition, along with Soo-Jung Shin (South Korea), and Phillip Shovk (Australia).
The biennial competition began in 1987 as a national event and is recognised as New Zealand's foremost classical event for solo pianists.
This year there are fifteen contestants from China, Republic of Korea, Australia, USA, Israel, Japan and New Zealand.
Competitors in the KIPC will have the chance to participate in a Masterclass with Pratt before the competition final.
The competition opens tonight with the judges’ recital at the Turner Centre.
Rounds one and two will take place from Thursday 27th to Saturday 29th, with morning and afternoon sessions and the four selected finalists going ‘head to head’ on the afternoon of Sunday 30th September.
Alumni of the competition include John Chen, Stephen de Pledge, Dan Poynton, Jun Bouterey-Ishido, John-Paul Muir, Yeh Shih Hsien, Alex Rainieri and 2016 winner Dong-Wan Ha.
2018 Kerikeri International Piano Competition Photo: Supplied
