Gabriella Pusner - Associate Artist - Pianist
Commencing the piano at age ten, Gabriella attended the Conservatorium of Music High School in Sydney, and, studying with Igor Hmelnitsky, graduated with both Teacher and Performer Diplomas from the then N.S.W. State Conservatorium of Music. Subsequently she was awarded the Shadforth Hooper Memorial Prize for the most outstanding recitalist. She went on to represent Australia in several international piano competitions including the first Madame Butterfly Competition in Japan, the Queen Elisabeth Competition in Belgium, the Concert Artists Guild Auditions in New York where she reached the semi-finals, and the International Competition for Musical Performers in Geneva in which she was also a semi-finalist. From 1981 to 1991 Gabriella was a lecturer with the keyboard department of the Sydney Conservatorium and in this role enjoyed many examining and adjudicating opportunities. Since leaving the Conservatorium to resume her teaching and concert career, Gabriella continues to give regular solo recitals and works in conjunction with Australian musicians such as (singers) Jenny Duck-Chong and Alison Morgan, (cellist) Belinda Manwaring, and Matthew Wilkie and Diana Doherty who are both presently principal members of the Sydney Symphony Orchestra. Gabriella is in demand as associate artist for the Sydney Flute Society and is the official accompanist for the International Flute Festival in July 2006. She has teamed with visiting international flautists such as Alexa Still, James Kortum, Felix Renggli, Paul Edmund-Davies, William Bennett and most recently, Leone Buyse and Michael Webster. Gabriella has recorded numerous broadcasts for the ABC, 2MBS, and has toured extensively giving recitals and concerto performances throughout Australia. Working closely with Theme & Variations for the past 20 years, she also maintains a busy teaching schedule whilst also travelling throughout Australia giving workshops to teachers and students including remote areas such as Mount Isa. She is known for her logical, academic and sensitive approach to teaching. Her musical collaborations have earned her great accolades both as a consummate musician and a spectacularly accomplished pianist.
