Invitation
The President The Hon. Bronwyn Bishop AO and the Friends Council have great pleasure in inviting the Friends to a Piano Recital by Calvin Abdiel on Sunday 12 July 2026 at 3pm at the Goethe Institut, 90 Ocean Street, Woollahra. Members $45.00, Non-Members $50.00.
Calvin Abdiel
Dubbed by The Australian as the ‘Piano Man’, the Indonesian/Australian pianist Calvin Abdiel is establishing himself as one of the finest young musicians internationally. He has given high profile performances in numerous countries, including in Australia, Austria, Russia, Indonesia, Germany, Denmark, and Switzerland.
He received the George Frederick Boyle Third Prize and Nancy Weir Best Australian Pianist Prize in the internationally renowned Sydney International Piano Competition (The Sydney) as its youngest competitor in the 2021 edition. He was noted to be the first Australian to reach the grand finale of the competition after almost 20 years, and he also received the Nancy Weir Best Australian Pianist prize as well as the Australian Elizabethan Theatre Trust prize of an overseas scholarship to further his musical career. Following the announcement of his win, The Australian’s, Matthew Westwood described him as the ‘Piano Man’ and wrote about his extraordinary ‘pianistic authority.’ He went on a debut recital tour in Australia in 2022 at various concert halls in NSW, ACT and Victoria which was presented by The Sydney.
Calvin Abdiel is currently undertaking his Master of Arts degree with Prof. Eldar Nebolsin at the Hochschule für Musik Hanns Eisler. Recently, he completed his Bachelor of Music (Performance) degree with First Class Honours at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music under Natalia Ricci. As a chamber musician, Abdiel performed in the Canberra International Music Festival in 2021 and Out West Piano Festival in 2023. He was the founding member and former conductor of the youth orchestra Cantate Deo Chamber Orchestra from 2020 to 2023. His musical activity has been supported by the SCM George and Margaret Hen.
.
Program
Program
PROGRAM
Ludwig van Beethoven — Piano Sonata No. 30 in E Major, Op. 109
- Vivace ma non troppo — Adagio espressivo
- Prestissimo
III. Gesangvoll, mit innigster Empfindung (Andante molto cantabile ed espressivo)
Frédéric Chopin — Scherzo No. 3 in C-sharp Minor, Op. 39
Robert Schumann — Humoreske in B-flat Major, Op. 20