Violinist Linda Gilbert returns to her hometown of Taree this weekend to give a recital at the Seventh-day Adventist Church.
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“I am always honoured to play for the exceptionally warm Taree audience,” said Linda.
“This year my pianist from Melbourne, William Schmidt, will join me in what I can promise is an event not to be missed.”
The afternoon, titled Reflections of Greatness, will include performances of masterworks for violin and piano by Mozart, Brahms, Chopin, Wieniawski and more.
The recital is a chance for Linda to raise funds that will allow her to continue her studies in Moscow, Russia.
This year she is also honouring her late father, William Scott Gilbert, who passed away suddenly last September.
“I am very glad that this concert program contains all Dad's favourites, not least the Brahms Violin Concerto.”
Next month sees Linda begin her final year of study in the Undergraduate Diploma at Moscow State Tchaikovsky Conservatory.
“I am so honoured to study for the past two years under renowned violin virtuoso, conductor and pedagogue Professor Maxim Viktorovitch Fedotov,” said Linda.
“He has opened my eyes to what artistry in violin playing and being a true performer is all about.
“His powerful playing and insightful artistic advice have had a very deep and powerful influence on me not only as a violinist but also as a person and I think that is very important.
“Now that I am in my final phase of study, Maxim Viktorovitch says he is very glad I have been having such professional performance opportunities of late, and that at this stage it is about getting as many of these performance opportunities as possible, including many competitions.”
At the age of 30, Linda said the quantity of international competitions left to try is somewhat smaller (the age limit is often 32).
“I am planning to still take part in whatever large-scale international competitions are still available to me.” Last year Linda gained second prize in Italy's Euterpe International Competition.
Throughout July and August this year Linda has travelled to various parts of Australia to perform concerts, violin demonstrations and masterclasses (Linda also has a great passion for teaching).
She plans on entering the Moscow State Tchaikovsky Conservatory's Doctorate degree mid next year majoring in performance.
The recital is on at Taree Seventh-day Adventist Church, corner of Gipps and Cowper Street, Taree, at 3pm Sunday August 20. It is free, with donations gratefully received to help Linda fund her graduation year.
William Schmidt – pianist
Pianist William Schmidt, who will be appearing with Linda, completed his Master of Music Performance at the University of Melbourne under Glenn Riddle in 2011, as well as a Master of Arts with distinction in piano performance at the Musik und Kunst Privatuniversität der Stadt Wien in Vienna under Prof. Johannes Kropfitsch in 2015.
William has worked extensively as an accompanist, chamber musician, solo performer, music director, composer and teacher in Australia, Austria and Italy.
He has performed in partnership with eminent musicians such as tenor Hannibal Means of America's Got Talent fame, and has been recorded live many times for radio stations 3MBS and ABC Classic FM.
He has also had his compositions broadcast on both of these stations, and was the featured composer for the Camberwell Music Society's 2011 concert series.