Ian Holtham

One of Australia's most important and distinguished artists, Ian Holtham has long had a special relationship with the great composers of nineteenth century pianism and with Chopin in particular. His recordings includes the complete Etudes Op 10 and Op 25, the complete Ballades, the complete Scherzi, the complete Preludes Op 28, the complete impromptus and various other works. He has also had a long established relationship with the Art of Vocal Accompaniment under the near lifelong guidance of the Geoffrey Parsons. During his early musical training, Ian Holtham was based in Europe for over a decade. He is a student of Geza Anda, Geoffrey Parsons, Enrique Barenboim and Peter Feuchtwanger, whose assistant he was for nearly five years in London. He studied composition and conducting at the Guildhall School of Music. As accompanist he has worked with Rosamund Illing, Yvonne Kenny, Andrew Dalton, Dinah Harris and many other major artists. He is Professor of Music at the University of Melbourne where he has responsibility for Australia's largest and most distinguished piano school for over a decade and is the Associate Dean (Academic) of the University's newly formed Faculty of the VCA and Music. Professor Holtham is the Federal Chair of the Australian Music Examinations Board, the Chair of the AMEB's Piano syllabus and the Chair of the AMEB in Victoria. He has performed, taught, and adjudicated in Australia, Asia, Europe and the USA since the early 1970s. 2010 has already seen the release of a new solo CD, his eleventh, in commemoration of Chopin's 200th birthday as well as broadcasts with the ABC and performances for Musica Viva with Rosamund Illing.