Michael Houstoun
Encyclopedia
Michael Houstoun is a concert pianist
from New Zealand
.
Born and educated in Timaru
, Houstoun studied piano under Sister Mary Eulalie and Maurice Till in Dunedin and Christchurch. Having won every New Zealand piano competition and award as a teenager, he then travelled and entered three major international competitions: Van Cliburn
(1973, 3rd place), Leeds
(1975, 4th place) and Tchaikovsky
(1982, 6th)
Houstoun returned to live in New Zealand in 1981 and regularly plays with New Zealand's professional music ensembles as well as solo recitals and recording.
In the 1990s he performed and recorded the complete Beethoven sonata cycle, and collaborated with Tainui Stephens on a television documentary about Franz Liszt
entitled Icon in B minor.
in 1999, Houstoun received an honorary doctorate in literature from Massey University
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:...
from New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
.
Born and educated in Timaru
Timaru
TimaruUrban AreaPopulation:27,200Extent:Former Timaru City CouncilTerritorial AuthorityName:Timaru District CouncilPopulation:42,867 Land area:2,736.54 km² Mayor:Janie AnnearWebsite:...
, Houstoun studied piano under Sister Mary Eulalie and Maurice Till in Dunedin and Christchurch. Having won every New Zealand piano competition and award as a teenager, he then travelled and entered three major international competitions: Van Cliburn
Van Cliburn International Piano Competition
The Van Cliburn International Piano Competition was first held in 1962 in Fort Worth, Texas and is hosted by Van Cliburn Foundation. It was created by Fort Worth area teachers in honor of Van Cliburn, who had won the first International Tchaikovsky Competition four years prior with Tchaikovsky's...
(1973, 3rd place), Leeds
Leeds International Pianoforte Competition
The Leeds International Piano Competition informally known as The Leeds takes place every three years in Leeds, West Yorkshire, England. It was founded in 1961 by Marion, Countess of Harewood and Fanny Waterman, who is today its Chairman and Artistic Director. The competition was first held in 1963...
(1975, 4th place) and Tchaikovsky
International Tchaikovsky Competition
The International Tchaikovsky Competition is a classical music competition held every four years in Moscow, Russia for pianists, violinists, and cellists between 16 and 30 years of age, and singers between 19 and 32 years of age...
(1982, 6th)
Houstoun returned to live in New Zealand in 1981 and regularly plays with New Zealand's professional music ensembles as well as solo recitals and recording.
In the 1990s he performed and recorded the complete Beethoven sonata cycle, and collaborated with Tainui Stephens on a television documentary about Franz Liszt
Franz Liszt
Franz Liszt ; ), was a 19th-century Hungarian composer, pianist, conductor, and teacher.Liszt became renowned in Europe during the nineteenth century for his virtuosic skill as a pianist. He was said by his contemporaries to have been the most technically advanced pianist of his age...
entitled Icon in B minor.
in 1999, Houstoun received an honorary doctorate in literature from Massey University
Massey University
Massey University is one of New Zealand's largest universities with approximately 36,000 students, 20,000 of whom are extramural students.The University has campuses in Palmerston North , Wellington and Auckland . Massey offers most of its degrees extramurally within New Zealand and internationally...