Some Photographs from NORIKO OGAWA'S Piano Masterclass

The official Leeds competition media person
Tristan catches choice shots from the masterclass.

As part of the 2018 Leeds International Piano Competition, a piano masterclass was organised at the Yong Siew Toh Conservatory on Sunday (8 April 2017), where three students performed for the Japanese concert pianist Noriko Ogawa who was a member of the competition's travelling jury.

I will always have fond memories playing for Noriko at the Chetham's Piano Summer School in Manchester in 2007, where we worked on piano pieces by Debussy, Brahms and Rachmaninov. There, the hour-long private lessons were open to the public, and were essentially masterclasses in all but name. Noriko is a wonderful teacher, always patient and encouraging, and she knows exactly how to bring out the best in a piano player. I am sure the students would have benefited from her no-nonsense advice and keen insights to making music.

Adriana Chiew performs the first movement
from Beethoven's Tempest Sonata (Op.31 No.2).

Beethoven's music is full of surprises and shocks,
and so the pianist has to find extremes in dynamics.

Koh Kai Jie performed two Debussy Préludes.

Noriko demonstrates how Debussy sounds
with judicious use of the pedals.

Finally it was April Foo's turn to perform,
playing Schumann's Kinderszenen.

The music was about an adult looking back
on childhood years and experiences.

A child goes to sleep rather quickly and comfortably,
not like an adult or old person. Noriko's useful
advice was well-received by both pianist and audience.