Petronel Malan
Encyclopedia
Petronel Malan is a South African concert pianist
.
Grammy-nominated South African pianist Malan is an exclusive recording artist for the internationally recognized label Hänssler Classic
based in Holzgerlingen near Stuttgart in Germany. Her debut disc Transfigured Bach
: The Complete Bach Transcriptions of Bartok
, Lipatti
and Friedman
, was nominated for three Grammy awards, including "Best Instrumental Solo Album 2004." The album was on the Top-10 list for Classic FM
(Southern Africa) for over 30 weeks and was met with critical and audience appeal alike. Her second recording in the series "Transfigured Mozart," was released in 2006 during a 14-concert tour of South Africa, to commemorate the 250th anniversary of Mozart's birth. "Transfigured Beethoven" is slated for a 2008 release. As a "Blüthner
Artist" she uses their pianos exclusively for her recordings.
, Sicily
. After winning every competition she was eligible to enter in South Africa, she emerged as the top South African pianist of her generation when she became the youngest person ever to win the coveted SABC Music Prize Competition. She relocated to the United States in 1991 to pursue her career.
. Following her European debut in Rome
in 1987, she has continued to make orchestral, recital and chamber music appearances on four continents. Highlights include prestigious venues such as Carnegie Recital Hall, Salle Cortot (Paris), Mozarteum (Salzburg), Liszt Museum (Budapest), Kravis Center (West Palm Beach), Orchestra Hall (Chicago) and Bass Hall (Fort Worth) and venues in St. Petersburg, Russia. Festival appearances include the Gilmore, Jasper, Great Romantics and Ravinia Festivals. She has worked with conductors like Dmitry Manilov, Omri Hadari, Yashima Takeda, Bernhard Gueller, Fuzao Kajima and Terence Kern. Broadcasts for television and radio include live performances in Europe, Canada, across the US (also on NPR) and several documentary television-profiles in South Africa.
(www.mssc.edu/msipc) the Hilton Head International Piano Competition
(www.hhipc.org) and the Los Angeles Liszt Competition "Budapest Concert." She was also a grand prizewinner in the 2000 Web Concert Hall Competition (www.webconcerthall.com) and gold medalist in the Entergy Young Artist Award and the Grace Welsh Piano Prize, to name but a few.
In 2003, she was awarded the national "Rapport/City Press Prestige Award" as one of the "10 Most Inspirational Women Achievers" in South Africa. Ms. Malan completed her undergraduate studies at Michigan State University
and her graduate degrees at the University of North Texas College of Music
, studying with Joseph Banowetz
. Upcoming performances include appearances in Korea, China, Canada, and an extended European tour in the Fall 2008. She is serving as honorary Artistic Director for the "Indian Summer in Levoca" festival (www.lblfestival.eu) and will perform several concerts in Slovakia, Hungary and the Czech Republic.
She is currently living in Texas
.
Pianist
A pianist is a musician who plays the piano. A professional pianist can perform solo pieces, play with an ensemble or orchestra, or accompany one or more singers, solo instrumentalists, or other performers.-Choice of genres:...
.
Grammy-nominated South African pianist Malan is an exclusive recording artist for the internationally recognized label Hänssler Classic
Hänssler Classic
Hänssler Classic is a German classical record label based in Holzgerlingen.Friedrich Hänssler Senior founded Musikverlag Hänssler in 1919 to publish church music. Since 1972 Hänssler Classic has also published contemporary and jazz music...
based in Holzgerlingen near Stuttgart in Germany. Her debut disc Transfigured Bach
Johann Sebastian Bach
Johann Sebastian Bach was a German composer, organist, harpsichordist, violist, and violinist whose sacred and secular works for choir, orchestra, and solo instruments drew together the strands of the Baroque period and brought it to its ultimate maturity...
: The Complete Bach Transcriptions of Bartok
Béla Bartók
Béla Viktor János Bartók was a Hungarian composer and pianist. He is considered one of the most important composers of the 20th century and is regarded, along with Liszt, as Hungary's greatest composer...
, Lipatti
Dinu Lipatti
Dinu Lipatti was a Romanian classical pianist and composer whose career was cut short by his death from Hodgkin's disease at age 33. He was elected posthumously to the Romanian Academy.-Biography:...
and Friedman
Ignaz Friedman
Ignaz Friedman Ignaz Friedman Ignaz Friedman (also spelled by languages Ignace or Ignacy; exactly Solomon (Salomon) Isaac Freudman(n), (February 13, 1882January 26, 1948) was a Polish pianist and composer. Critics (e.g. Harold C. Schonberg) and colleagues (e.g...
, was nominated for three Grammy awards, including "Best Instrumental Solo Album 2004." The album was on the Top-10 list for Classic FM
Classic FM (South Africa)
Classic FM is a classical music radio station in South Africa.-External links:***...
(Southern Africa) for over 30 weeks and was met with critical and audience appeal alike. Her second recording in the series "Transfigured Mozart," was released in 2006 during a 14-concert tour of South Africa, to commemorate the 250th anniversary of Mozart's birth. "Transfigured Beethoven" is slated for a 2008 release. As a "Blüthner
Blüthner
Blüthner, formally Julius Blüthner Pianofortefabrik GmbH, is a piano-manufacturing company founded by Julius Blüthner in 1853 in Leipzig Germany.- History :...
Artist" she uses their pianos exclusively for her recordings.
Background
Born into a political family in South Africa, of French Huguenot descent, she started piano lessons with her mother, an opera singer, at age four. Considered the "last prodigy" of the late South African pedagogue Adolph Hallis, she debuted with the Johannesburg Symphony at the age of ten. Malan won her first national gold medal at age twelve (ATKV Prelude Competitions) and her first international gold at age fourteen at the Third International Piano Competition in MarsalaMarsala
Marsala is a seaport city located in the Province of Trapani on the island of Sicily in Italy. The low coast on which it is situated is the westernmost point of the island...
, Sicily
Sicily
Sicily is a region of Italy, and is the largest island in the Mediterranean Sea. Along with the surrounding minor islands, it constitutes an autonomous region of Italy, the Regione Autonoma Siciliana Sicily has a rich and unique culture, especially with regard to the arts, music, literature,...
. After winning every competition she was eligible to enter in South Africa, she emerged as the top South African pianist of her generation when she became the youngest person ever to win the coveted SABC Music Prize Competition. She relocated to the United States in 1991 to pursue her career.
Repertoire
She continued her studies under Joseph Stanford, Steven de Groote and Ralph VotapekRalph Votapek
Ralph Votapek is an American pianist notable for winning the First Van Cliburn International Piano Competition in 1962....
. Following her European debut in Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
in 1987, she has continued to make orchestral, recital and chamber music appearances on four continents. Highlights include prestigious venues such as Carnegie Recital Hall, Salle Cortot (Paris), Mozarteum (Salzburg), Liszt Museum (Budapest), Kravis Center (West Palm Beach), Orchestra Hall (Chicago) and Bass Hall (Fort Worth) and venues in St. Petersburg, Russia. Festival appearances include the Gilmore, Jasper, Great Romantics and Ravinia Festivals. She has worked with conductors like Dmitry Manilov, Omri Hadari, Yashima Takeda, Bernhard Gueller, Fuzao Kajima and Terence Kern. Broadcasts for television and radio include live performances in Europe, Canada, across the US (also on NPR) and several documentary television-profiles in South Africa.
Awards
In 2000, four gold medals were awarded to her at the Louise McMahon International Music Competition, the Missouri Southern International Piano CompetitionMissouri Southern International Piano Competition
The Missouri Southern Competition was a biannual international piano competition organized by the Missouri Southern State University first held in 1987. It was dissolved in 2008 following the retirement of its director, Vivian León....
(www.mssc.edu/msipc) the Hilton Head International Piano Competition
Hilton Head International Piano Competition
The Hilton Head International Piano Competition is an annual piano competition held since 1996 at Hilton Head Island, South Carolina's First Presbyterian Church.-Selected list of jurors:...
(www.hhipc.org) and the Los Angeles Liszt Competition "Budapest Concert." She was also a grand prizewinner in the 2000 Web Concert Hall Competition (www.webconcerthall.com) and gold medalist in the Entergy Young Artist Award and the Grace Welsh Piano Prize, to name but a few.
In 2003, she was awarded the national "Rapport/City Press Prestige Award" as one of the "10 Most Inspirational Women Achievers" in South Africa. Ms. Malan completed her undergraduate studies at Michigan State University
Michigan State University
Michigan State University is a public research university in East Lansing, Michigan, USA. Founded in 1855, it was the pioneer land-grant institution and served as a model for future land-grant colleges in the United States under the 1862 Morrill Act.MSU pioneered the studies of packaging,...
and her graduate degrees at the University of North Texas College of Music
University of North Texas College of Music
The University of North Texas College of Music, based in Denton, is a comprehensive music school with the largest enrollment of any music institution accredited by the National Association of Schools of Music, and the oldest in the world offering a degree in jazz studies...
, studying with Joseph Banowetz
Joseph Banowetz
Joseph Banowetz December 5, 1936, is an American-born pianist, pedagogue, author, and editor, currently teaching at the University of North Texas...
. Upcoming performances include appearances in Korea, China, Canada, and an extended European tour in the Fall 2008. She is serving as honorary Artistic Director for the "Indian Summer in Levoca" festival (www.lblfestival.eu) and will perform several concerts in Slovakia, Hungary and the Czech Republic.
Recordings on Blüthner
Ms. Malan is a Blüthner Concert Artist, and uses these instruments exclusively for her recordings.General
An icon in the South African music world, scholarships are donated in Malan's name. Petronel has graced magazine covers, appeared as a picture-clue in crossword puzzles and make regular charity appearances when in South Africa. Apart from a love for vintage gowns, her stage wardrobe is designed by foremost South African designers such as Henja Schaap and Hip Hop Clothing Company. A supporter of classical music in schools, she finds time in her touring schedule to visit schools and speak to students about classical music.She is currently living in Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
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