Pianist Jayson Gillham is visiting New Zealand for two concerts with two different orchestras.
Jayson Gillham Photo: Andy Holdsworth
He’s playing Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No 1 with the Auckland Philharmonia and conductor Giordano Bellincampi on Thursday, and then on Saturday performing with the Christchurch Symphony Orchestra and fellow Australian Benjamin Northey in Rachmaninov’s popular Piano Concerto No 2.
Jayson was born in a small rural town, and first became interested in music from hearing his older brother practice.
Jayson soon took the lead, and his family was so committed to his emerging talent that once a week they’d make a 500km journey to Brisbane for lessons – three hours each way.
Jayson first came to international attention when he won the 2014 Montreal International Musical Competition.
It led to numerous performing engagements, including a Beethoven concerto with Vladimir Ashkenazy conducting and a recording contract with ABC Classics.
His latest release, Romantic Bach: From Intimate To Epic was released just a few days ago.
Jayson Gillham talked to Upbeat about his early musical life, the process of making records and his love of beautiful, sweeping, romantic melodies.
