Duncan George Gifford is an Australian-born concert pianist and teacher.
Early life and education
Gifford was born in Sydney. He was educated at Newington College (1985–1990), the Sydney Conservatorium of Music and in Russia at the Moscow Conservatory.
Career
Performances and recordings
Gifford has performed with orchestras and in recitals throughout Europe, Russia, Japan, Australasia, and in the United States, where he gave his Carnegie Hall debut recital in 1999.
In 1993 he released his first CD featuring the music of Tchaikovsky and Rachmaninoff.
Teaching
From 1996 Gifford was based in Madrid, where he was professor of piano.
He has been a professor of piano at the Conservatory of Palma on the island of Majorca, Spain since 2006.
Recognition and awards
Musica Viva described him as a "major artist of his generation". The Sydney Morning Herald described him as "a virtuosic and musically eloquent soloist".
He was the recipient of a David Paul Landa Memorial Scholarship for Pianists sometime before 2004.
Piano competitions
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- In 1989 Gifford was a finalist in the ABC Symphony Australia Young Performers Awards.
- In 1992 he won the 3rd Prize in the Sydney International Piano Competition. He was the highest placed Australian competitor in the history of the competition (this has since been equalled by Daniel Hill, who placed 3rd at the 2004 competition).
- He won 4th Prize in the 1994 Dublin International Piano Competition and 3rd Prize in the 1996 Montreal International Piano Competition.
- He was awarded 1st Prize, and the Beethoven and Chopin Prizes, in the 1998 José Iturbi International Piano Competition in[Spain.
- He won 1st Prize in the 1999 Concours Prix Mozart in Lausanne
- He won 1st Prize in the 2000 Maria Callas Grand Prix de Piano in Athens.
ARIA Music Awards
The ARIA Music Awards is an annual awards ceremony that recognises excellence, innovation, and achievement across all genres of Australian music. They commenced in 1987.
| Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1995 | Debussy Preludes Books I & II | Best Classical Album | Nominated |
References
- Newington College Register of Past Students 1863–1998 (Syd, 1999) pp72
- "Screen Australia". Archived from the original on 23 October 2009. Retrieved 2 September 2008.
- "Australian Government – Culture and Recreation Portal". Archived from the original on 15 September 2008. Retrieved 2 September 2008.
- "Musica Viva". Archived from the original on 22 July 2008. Retrieved 2 September 2008.
- "David Paul Landa Memorial Scholarship for Pianists". State of the Arts. 24 August 2004. Archived from the original on 6 April 2011.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link) - "ABC Shop". Archived from the original on 13 August 2008. Retrieved 2 September 2008.
- ARIA Award previous winners. "ARIA Awards – Winners by Award". Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA). Retrieved 12 November 2018.
- Living people
- Australian male classical pianists
- People educated at Newington College
- Sydney Conservatorium of Music alumni
- Sydney International Piano Competition prize-winners
- Moscow Conservatory alumni
- José Iturbi International Piano Competition prize-winners
- Australian music educators
- Piano educators
- 21st-century Australian classical pianists
- 21st-century Australian male musicians
- 21st-century Australian musicians