The Ivory Duo Piano Ensemble

Home

About the Duo

Panayoti Archontides: Bio

Natalie Tsaldarakis: Bio

What critics say...

Repertoire

Forthcoming Concerts

Past Concerts

Video

CD

News

Sponsorships

Sponsors' Club

Publicity Photos

Blackheath Piano Studio

Links

Contact Us

Panayotis Archontides and Natalie Tsaldarakis, piano

Natalie Tsaldarakis, concert pianist
Bio

Natalie Tsaldarakis was born into a family of Greek political refugees in Sodertallje, Sweden. She decided at an early age to become a musician, and studied with Dimitri Toufexis, then head of the music dept. at The American College of Greece, and Gina Bachauer’s only Greek pupil Danae Kara, both Julliard graduates. 

Her musical training is extensive, receiving a Master’s degree in piano performance from West Chester University’s music dept. (now an all-Steinway school of music) and a further Master’s degree in musicology from University of London’s Royal Holloway. She also attended masterclasses with Larissa Dedova, then professor of piano at Moscow Conservatory, James Tocco, acclaimed pianist and former jury member of the Van Cliburn Competition. She was also coached by Trinity College of Music professors Elena Riu and Martino Tirimo (London, UK). 

Natalie has received many scholarships and important awards, including being elected to membership of the American National Music Honour Society Pi Kappa Lambda in 1994. With several first and second place prizes in competitions in the US, she was also invited to participate in the Vienna Beethoven Competition 1997 and the Gina Bachauer International Piano Competition 1998, attracting the attention of both the distinguished panels and their audiences. Early recognition came not only through the Greek press which heralded her as a pianist of international stature (Estia, Ta Nea, To Vima), but also by being included in the Dictionary for Greek Music (Kalogeropoulos, Giallelis Editions, 1998)


Natalie has given highly acclaimed recitals and as a soloist she has performed in Helsinki’s Sibelius Academy, Philadelphia Complex for the Arts (US), Performing Arts Centre of Marywood College (PA, US), Charlton House, London, Athens’ Athenaeum International Cultural Centre (of the Maria Callas International Competition), Lykeio Hellinidon Athens Annex, Cecil Sharp House, London, St Brides' Church, London, Isidor Bajic Concert Hall, Serbia, Glasgow City Halls, Austrian Cultural Centre Rome, etc.

Her repertoire is extensive and varied; she performs both solo and chamber music, including major 20th century works, such as Debussy, Barber, Prokofiev, Shostakovich and Ravel and works by contemporary composers. She has also lectured on Greek 20th c. composer Yannis Constantinides (Morley College 2008, World Piano Conference 2009) and 20th c. British composer Cornelius Cardew (Cardew Conference, Glasgow 2011, The Engine Room Conference, Morley College 2011).

As a performer she has worked with many musicians of international standing including Ian Pace, John Tillbury, Douglas Finch, Yonti Solomon, Andrea-Lauren Brown, Theodora Baka, Michael Travlos, and as a researcher with Philip Fowke, Stephen Hough, Martino Tirimo, Duo Contiguglia and others.

Natalie has recorded for the National Greek Radio (ERA-1, ERA-3), and has made appearances on Greek TV as well as UK’s Resonance FM 104.4. As a guest speaker she has appeared on the panel of Creative Futures events at both Royal Holloway and Goldsmiths College. 

Natalie was faculty member of The American College of Greece (1995-2005), where she was also artist teacher in residence (2002-2005), the National Conservatory of Music in Athens Greece as piano professor and examiner (2003-2005), as well as universities and colleges in the UK (Canterbury University, Greenwich University, Canterbury College, etc.).



Copyright©2011 Ivory Duo ensemble. All rights reserved.

 

Web Hosting powered by Network Solutions®