Ahead of the Out West Piano Fest 2024, to be held in Bathurst from 25-27 October, esteemed pianist and passionate advocate for accessible music, Grace Kim is looking forward to collaborating with fellow pianists, bringing a vibrant repertoire to life, including Ravel’s Ondine. She also shares insights on her teaching at the Sydney Conservatorium’s Rising Stars Program, her favourite composers, memorable moments from past performances, and her work with Sensory Concerts®, designated for the neurodivergent community.
1. What excites you the most about participating in the Out West Piano Fest 2024, and what can audiences look forward to in your performances?
Piano can be a lonely instrument, in the sense we don’t grow up with youth orchestras or music camps like other instruments. As a young pianist, the only way we would come in contact with other pianists were usually through competitions or masterclasses, which are not exactly the most relaxed environments.
So, whenever there is an opportunity to perform with fellow pianists, I’m all for it!
I’m looking forward to having a blast making music with not one, but three esteemed colleagues! And the repertoire we are presenting are all so much fun, so I’m very excited to be a part of this festive occasion.
2. Who is your favourite composer, and what draws you to their music?
I don’t have one particular favourite composer – there are so many composers that speak to my heart. There are composers who I love listening to, and there are composers who I love playing.
At the moment, I am enjoying playing Ravel. The way he can just open up a magical world of tone colours and unlock all the senses and imagination with just a single note, or bursts of harmonies, or intense virtuosity is just pure genius. I’m excited to perform “Ondine” from Gaspard de la nuit at the opening concert.
3. Sensory Concerts are a groundbreaking initiative for the neurodivergent community. What have been the most rewarding aspects of this project for you?
It’s been a journey of hard work, determination, and a wonderful sense of community. Sensory Concerts® is really a team effort, and I’m so grateful to have my Sensory Concerts team, musicians, and volunteers who believe in this project of making live concerts accessible to all members of the community. Everyone has been so generous with their time, skills and resources in making this happen, and 7 years on, we are going strong!
It is such a humbling and rewarding experience to see the positive emotional, physical, social impact of our concerts. Seeing the children and their families’ eyes light up when they hear our music is just a feeling that cannot be described. It reminds us of the pure role of music, and why we are doing it.
4. What do you enjoy most about teaching young talents in the Rising Stars Program at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music?
I love teaching at the Sydney Conservatorium. I’m inspired by my students – their curiosity, creative ways of thinking, and dedication. It gives me great pleasure to be a part of their absorbing, learning, and growing, not only as musicians, but also great human beings. I’m very proud of them!
5. What’s your favourite memory from a performance, and why does it stand out to you?
I’ve been lucky enough to perform in various concert halls around the world and for so many different audiences, from local communities to government officials, even royalties. There are so many memorable moments, but the most recent one would have to be from one of our Sensory Concerts. At the beginning of the concert, even before we played our first note, this girl came out to the front and announced something like “I don’t like this, I want to go”. She did stay though, and at end of the concert, she came out again and held up a piece of paper with 10/10 mark on it!
To know more about Out West Piano Fest 2024, click here