Michael houstoun biography
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1 Apr, 2021
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I got to evolve one go to the trouble of on interpretation schedule beforehand the virus upended likelihood. By picture end splash February I was already rescheduled inspire 2021 duct my sequestration was suspended.
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Michael Houstoun was born in Timaru, New Zealand in October 1952. He began piano lessons at the age of five and under the guidance of Sr Mary Eulalie and subsequently Maurice Till he moved through the grades of the Trinity College of London examination system (ATCL 96%, LTCL 97%). At the same time he won all the major piano competitions in NZ and began playing with orchestras.
In 1973 at the age of twenty he entered and placed third in the Van Cliburn International Piano Competition. This led to a year of study with Rudolf Serkin at the Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia.
In 1975 he placed fourth in the Leeds International Piano Competition and then in 1982 sixth in the Tchaikovsky International Piano Competition.
After living overseas for six years - including a valuable period of study with Brigitte Wild in London - he returned home in 1981 where he has enjoyed his life as something of an 'Artist in ResideNZ', performing recitals, concertos and chamber music all over the country year in year out.
Most years he performs one or two new programs and consequently has built a very large repertoire spanning from J S Bach to the present day. Included are many compositions by NZ composers and quite a few commissions.
Houstoun has twice presented the complete Bee
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Michael Houstoun
Michael Houstoun | |
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Michael Houstoun in 2013 | |
Birth name | Michael James Houstoun |
Born | (1952-10-20) 20 October 1952 (age 72) Timaru, New Zealand |
Genres | classical |
Occupation | concert pianist |
Instrument | piano |
Website | www.michaelhoustoun.co.nz |
Musical artist
Michael James HoustounCNZM (born 20 October 1952) is a concert pianist from New Zealand. He has twice in his life performed the complete cycle of Beethoven sonatas and in between these achievements, he overcame focal hand dystonia.
Early life
[edit]Houstoun was born in Timaru in 1952.[1] His parents were Archie and Ngaire Houstoun. He received his education at Claremont Primary School and Timaru Boys' High School.[1] Houstoun started playing piano at the age of five and studied under Sister Mary Eulalie in Timaru and, from age 15, Maurice Till in Christchurch.[1][2]
Career
[edit]Having won every New Zealand piano competition and award as a teenager, Houstoun then travelled and entered three major international competitions: Van Cliburn (1973, 3rd place), Leeds (1975, 4th place) and Tchaikovsky (1982, 6th).[3]
From 1974 to 1981, he studied at the Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia and London.[2