Dublin International Piano Festival & Summer Academy | Lance Coburn | Faculty 2016

Lance Coburn

Lance Coburn, piano
Since winning 1st prize at the Tomassoni International Piano Competition, Cologne in 2001, Lance Coburn has performed in Austria, Germany, Italy, Greece, Israel, Russia, United States, Ireland, South Africa, Australia and Korea as both concerto soloist and recitalist. Blessed with a dazzling technique, innate musicianship, and a charismatic performance flair, Lance also broadcasts frequently for radio Deutsche Welle, BBC Radio 3, RTE Lyric FM (Ireland) and ABC FM (Australia).

In the Bonn International Beethoven Festival, critics described his 5-sonata recital as – “refreshing….uncompromising….unacademic….” In the Accademia Filharmonica Concert Series – Verona, Italy – the critics said - “Coburn’s piano playing is characterised by an undoubted technical mastery…[which]…allowed us to experience precious moments of tonal exploration”.

With the WDR – Cologne Orchestra, one critic described Lance’s performance of Beethoven’s “Emperor” concerto thus: “Coburn approached the grandiose work….with the vigour of a classically-inspired artist”. He has performed as a concerto soloist with many international orchestras including the RTE National Symphony Orchestra, Central Florida Symphony Orchestra, Israel Symphony Orchestra, Sydney Symphony Orchestra, Brisbane Symphony Orchestra and the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra.

Beginning his studies in his homeland of New Zealand, Lance furthered them in Australia, the Tchaikovsky Conservatoire – Moscow and finally with John O’Conor at the Royal Irish Academy of Music. During his studies, Lance was the recipient of many first prizes, including the Hephizibah Menuhin Scholarship, the inaugural Lev Vlassenko Piano Competition, and the Australian Young Performers’ Award (Keyboard Section), culminating in a performance of Liszt’s 1st Piano Concerto with the Sydney Symphony Orchestra, in the Sydney Opera House, which was also broadcast live across Australia on ABC Television.

Lance recently recorded an acclaimed CD collection of Esposito Sonatas with violinist Mia Cooper and cellist William Butt and has just finished recording a CD of Carl Vine’s solo piano works in Australia - due for release in 2014.

Much in demand as a solo performer, chamber musician and accompanist, Lance is regularly invited to adjudicate at numerous festivals including the New Park Music Festival. He is also a piano lecturer in the Royal Irish Academy of Music in Dublin.
Lesson with Lance Coburn. My lesson with Lance came toward the end of the course and at that stage I found the lesson immensely helpful as he clarified a number of ideas that had been occuring to me as I watched the other student's playing at the masterclass. Like Archie's class, the style of teaching was a little different to what I have been used to; both Archie and Lance's classes required very fine listening skills for the musical examples they played, a style of teaching that I would love to experience in future, as over time it helps the student to listen with full concentration and to learn from what they hear. Unfortunately neither of my main teachers to date have used this style.