Classical Pianist
Paul deHueck and Norman Walford Career Achievement Award – Keyboard Artistry
1998 Recipient
” I’m at a stage when my professional activity is slowing down, but I still keep busy playing a limited number of engagements, and am busy in the recording studio since being named the first recipient of the DeHeuck Walford Award.”
What are you currently doing?
At 78, I’m definitely at a stage when my professional activity is slowing down, but I still keep my fingers busy and play a limited number of engagements every year. In addition, I have remained busy in the recording studio since being named the first recipient. Highlights include integral sets of the Beethoven (Juno short-listed) and Mozart piano sonatas plus major works by Schumann and Brahms. Recently, a second batch of 22 Beethoven sonatas, recorded live, is due for on-line release, as is a vinyl album of late works by Chopin. Also, in 2013 I was named to the Order of Canada.
What did receiving the Paul deHueck and Norman Walford Career Achievement Award in Keyboard Artistry mean to you?
Receiving an honour that one cannot apply for is always gratifying, of course. Through my various professional activities, the cash prize quickly made its way to others who work diligently in the classical music “industry.”
What does private arts philanthropy mean to you as a working artist?
Given the struggle that so many independent artists face daily, private arts philanthropy plays a crucial role in the cultural life of a country on a national and regional scale.