Profile

Piano: Richard Mapp

Cello: David Chickering

Viola: Donald Maurice

Violin: Yuri Gezentsvey

The New Zealand Piano Quartet, formerly known as the Massey Piano Quartet, was formed in the year 2000 from members of the faculty at the Massey University Conservatorium of Music in Wellington, New Zealand.The group brings together some of the finest musicians in the country, all of whom have had illustrious careers both in New Zealand and abroad.

Over the short period of time they have been performing together, the musicians have developed a tremendous rapport resulting in dynamic, exciting and sensitive performances. In addition to their world-class renditions of the well-loved, traditional repertoire, they take an interest in performing and promoting new works.

Their committed performances of contemporary music have earned them praise, not only from composers but from audiences and critics alike. Recently, with the generous support of Creative New Zealand, the group was able to commission works from Sir William Southgate and Mike Nock and premiered ‘An Ocean Between Us’ , a work by Dorothy Buchanan for Piano Quartet and Soprano based on poems by Desiree Gezentsvey.

Over the course of the past few years, they have played throughout New Zealand. Their 2001 Chamber Music New Zealand tour of the North Island was highly successful, as was their performance in the 2002 New Zealand Festival of the Arts.

They have recently recorded their first disc together which includes some previously unrecorded works by Alfred Hill, New Zealand’s first professional composer.

• Works performed (4)