About Piano Plus

Emerging from the almost 50-year-old Sydney International Piano Competition (The Sydney), Piano Plus is an essential resource for pianists and concert goers nationally, fostering the joy of piano-playing and opportunities for music education.

Over five decades, The Sydney has been in the international keyboard spotlight and has nurtured the very best of young international and Australian pianists. It has provided opportunities for Australian audiences to hear great talent, not only in Sydney, but in many places around the country.

Piano Plus is a presentation and production company with The Sydney the jewel in its presenting crown. We offer regional tours for competition winners and extend existing education and outreach programs. The success of Out West Piano Fest inaugurated in Bathurst in 2022 has ensured its ongoing return. Piano Plus offers the Composing the Future award, supporting and encouraging the composition of new Australian works for the piano.

Piano Plus presents interactive programs in partnership with key learning institutions. The Autumn Piano School, in partnership with the New England Conservatorium of Music, created an intensive course located in picturesque Armidale, give students of the piano, from youngsters to adults, an immersive and memorable experience.

Piano Plus is for you, wherever you live in Australia.

Claire Dan, AM OBE

Claire Dan AM, OBE was born in Hungary 1920, and became an Australian citizen in 1954. She committed her life to the performing arts and improving opportunities for artists both internationally and in Australia.

In 1976 she founded the Cladan Cultural Institute of Australia, a private philanthropic body established to encourage and develop cultural exchange. Her aim through the Institute was “to help music, theatre and the arts, and to encourage young people” and to bring prestige to the musical profile of Australia. One of Claire’s first achievements was to establish the Sydney International Piano Competition of Australia with the help of Rex Hobcroft, Director of NSW Conservatorium of Music.

Rex Hobcroft, AM

Rex Hobcroft was one of the most universally admired figures in Australian music.

He was a teacher, conductor, administrator, and notably, the first Australian to play the complete cycle of Beethoven’s 32 piano sonatas in public. He held directorships at the Conservatoriums of Sydney and Tasmania and was a co-founder of the Competition. Rex was one of the international jurors for the Competition over a number of years. Many of his innovations have been incorporated into other competitions around the world.

Robert Tobias, OAM

Robert has had a great interest in piano since he was young and is one of the co-founders of the Sydney International Piano Competition. He has been a lifelong advocate of the benefit and joy that the piano brings to people and to that end has sat on either the Executive Committee or the Board of Directors of the Competition for more than 35 years and has been involved with the Competition since its inception in 1977. Robert was a lawyer for more than 45 years with global law firm, DLA Piper in Sydney before retirement. His focus in the corporate world is on regulation and compliance and he also advises on directors’ duties and corporate governance.