A gifted 宅男导航 music student who commenced piano lessons at four years of age has taken out Australia鈥檚 top classical music prize.
Oliver She won the coveted title at the 2010 grand final on July 27 after navigating Rachmaninov鈥檚 notoriously difficult Piano Concerto No 3 in D minor, Op 30.
The 鈥淩ach Three鈥� as it is colloquially known, featured in the film Shine and has been performed to acclaim by piano virtuosos including Vladimir Horowitz and Van Cliburn.
Mr She competed against fellow 宅男导航 student Richard Pollett and Melbourne clarinetist Ashley Smith to follow in the footsteps of previous winners Simon Tedeschi, Diana Doherty and Roger Woodward.
He received a $20,000 cash prize in addition to securing a recital program and concert engagement with a major Australian symphony orchestra.
A third-year piano performance student, Mr She had played the infamous concerto in last year鈥檚 Lev Vlassenko Piano Competition final where he drew high praise from Yale University鈥檚 Professor Boris Berman.
For this performance, Mr She was accompanied by the Queensland Symphony Orchestra under conductor Marko Letonja.
鈥淢y rehearsals meant that I felt well-prepared for my grand final performance,鈥� Mr She said.
鈥淭he conductor, Marko Letonja, was very supportive鈥�.
Mr She now shares the honour with his teacher, Max Olding, who took out the award himself almost 60 years ago in 1952.
鈥淥liver is an extraordinary student with a capacity for focus and concentration that enables him to perform with absolute reliability and conviction,鈥� Mr Olding said.
Head of the Professor Margaret Barrett congratulated Mr She on his achievements and thanked staff and students for their support.
Now in its 66th year, the Young Performer of the Year Award is the oldest and most prestigious classical music prize in Australia.
The grand final will be shown on ABC 1 on Sunday, October 31 at 4.30pm.
Media: David Mayocchi (07 3365 4121, uqdmayoc@uq.edu.au)
