Sydney International Piano Competition Brings Andrey Gugnin and Arseny Tarasevich-Nikolaev to Sydney and Melbourne

Sydney International Piano Competition is excited to welcome back its 2016 first and second prize winners, Andrey Gugnin and Arseny Tarasevich-Nikolaev, for an exclusive double bill concert in Sydney and Melbourne this November. This superb pairing has taken over two years to achieve, given the popularity and extensive touring schedules of these young pianists.

Gugnin was the winner of the 2016 Sydney International Piano Competition, taking home four additional prizes including the Eileen Joyce Best Overall Concerto Prize and the Miriam Hyde Best 19th or 20th Century Concerto Prize. He has performed as a recitalist, chamber music partner and soloist with orchestras in over 20 countries and has played in iconic venues internationally such as the Louvre, Carnegie Hall, Moscow's Tchaikovsky Concert Hall and Vienna's Musikverein.

Audiences will be reminded of Gugnin's exceptional talent and his exquisite palette of colour and shade with a program of Busoni's transcription of Bach's Prelude and Fugue in D major BWV532, Schumann's Arabesque in C Major Op.18, and Chopin's Piano Sonata No.3 Op.58.

Tarasevich-Nikolaev, the grandson of famous Russian pianist Tatiana Nikolaeva, was the winner of the Percy Grainger Second Prize at the 2016 Sydney International Piano Competition at the young age of 23. He made his public debut at the age of nine with the Bryansk City Chamber Orchestra. He has since won the 5th International Scriabin Piano Competition, was awarded second prize for the performance of Russian music at the Cleveland International Piano Competition and second prize at the Grieg International Piano Competition in Bergen.

Tarasevich-Nikolaev will perform Mozart's Fantasia in D minor K.397, Liszt's Transcendental Études No. 11 and No. 12, and Rachmaninoff's 6 Moments musicaux Op.16.

Sydney International Piano Competition's Artistic Director, Piers Lane AO said, "After hearing these two remarkable pianists in the 2016 Competition, their continuing successes and achievements don't really surprise me! I have attended their performances on many occasions now - with the London Philharmonic, in St Petersburg, in Australia and in the States. They are uniquely talented and both are real musical communicators. Into the bargain they are good friends! To have them paired in a double bill concert will be something truly special and enjoyable. Audiences will be treated to a concert which clearly reveals the level of talent the Sydney Competition attracts and continues to support well after the jury pronouncements are made. Do come to this one-off concert - it really is unmissable."

Sydney
When: 7:30PM on Saturday, 10th November
Location: Verbrugghen Hall at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music - 1 Conservatorium Road, Sydney
Tickets: Students $25, Friends $52, Concession $54, Adult $60, Premium $70 - available from http://www.sydneypianocompetition.com.au

Melbourne
When: 3:00PM on Sunday, 11th November
Location: Yamaha Premium Piano Centre - 17B Market Street, South Melbourne
Tickets: Students $25, Friends $62, Concession $64, Adult $70 - available from http://www.sydneypianocompetition.com.au