Top pianist to test new grand

THE new grand piano at the Palmwoods Memorial Hall will be given a fitting official welcome on November 22, when international pianist Bernadette Balkus will perform as part of her national Musica Viva tour.

Bernadette’s reputation as an international concert pianist is growing, following performances in Italy, Czechoslovakia, Hungary, Norway and America.

She won the ABC Young Performer of the year in 1987 and has studied with renowned music tutors Dr Nelita True and Cecile Ousset. Bernadette recorded a program for ABC FM in June which will go to air later this year.

The Musica Viva tour will see Bernadette perform with Ensemble 34 in a series of concerts in Brisbane, Sydney, Newcastle and Canberra commencing in September.

She is also the Artistic Director of the Third Australian Women’s Music Festival and Conference which will be held in Sydney from September 26 to October 1.

Bernadette has a busy year planned for 1998 including a tour of Australia’s east coast as a solo artist, and a guest spot with the St Lawrence String Quartet from New York.

Her Palmwoods tour will be promoted coast-wide and will put the Memorial Hall on the map. Further information on bookings will be available for the October edition of the Palmwoods District News.