The Winner of 2007 International Web Concert Hall
Competition
(Honorary Mention)
Gaye England of the Brown/England (USA
- Piano Duo)
 MUSICAL
BACKGROUND: As a young child I always felt drawn to the piano. I
couldn’t go into a home that had a piano without sitting at the keyboard
and “performing”, pretending as I created sheer nonsense that I was
actually playing something beautiful! For years I begged my
grandparents, who raised me, for a piano and at age seven I was finally
granted my wish. I then began lessons and gave my first solo recital one
year later. I never lost that passion to play. Even when practicing
itself became a drudgery, all my grandparents had to do was threaten to
stop my piano lessons and, unlike many young students who would jump at
that chance to quit, I would immediately run to the piano and start to
practice!
My career began as a solo performer, but I have also served extensively
throughout the state and region as an accompanist for performing choirs
and for many vocal and instrumental concert artists. After many years as
a soloist, I discovered the joy of ensemble playing. I have been a
duo-piano artist for over 25 years and during that time was also a
member of the highly acclaimed Ivory Piano Quartet. I have several
recorded CDs of two-piano eight-hand and four-hand music that include
many of my own arrangements, some of which have been reviewed in the
national music publication The Triangle.
As far as my musical education, I hold two degrees from the University
of Utah--a Bachelor of Music degree in Piano Pedagogy and a Masters of
Music in Piano Performance. I am also a graduate of the Sherwood School
of Music in Chicago where I received a rare 100% on the final theory
exam.
OTHER MUSICIANS IN THE FAMILY: The only other musician in my
family was my grandfather, who was a very talented percussionist. I can
remember being absolutely in awe of him as a very young child, watching
and listening to the magical rhythms he could produce as he sat behind
what seemed like massive drums and cymbals!
ABOUT MY TEACHERS: I have studied with several prominent teachers
who were concert pianists themselves, including Solveig Madsen and Reed
Nibley, but the bulk of my training was with Oscar Wagner. Dr. Wagner
was a Dean of Julliard for many years and he settled in Salt Lake City
after retiring from Julliard and his own concert career due to health
reasons. He instilled in me not only prodigious technical skills, but
also contributed the most to shaping the way I think about music. With
him I discovered a passion for musical nuance and expression.
DUO VS. SOLO PLAYING: I enjoyed performing as a soloist, but in
my opinion, nothing can compare to the excitement and passion of
two-piano artistry. The genres are so different in execution--two people
with two distinct personalities having to think as one. The individual
musical dialogs must compliment each other and must meld together into
this whole musical picture that has the ability to move and inspire the
listener. The capacity of two pianos to produce a broad sound spectrum
is similar to the capabilities of an orchestra--virtuously limitless in
the variety of expressive colors.
 CAREER
HIGHLIGHTS: As a member of Ivory Keyboard Quartet, one of my most
memorable performances was for the 2002 Winter Olympics. It was a fun
program consisting of not only classical repertoire, but arrangements of
patriotic music such as America from West Side Story, Hoe Down from
Copland’s Rodeo, and of course The Stars and Stripes Forever by John
Phillip Sousa. Other performances with that ensemble included a concert
with the Traveling Smithsonian Institute “Salute to American Musicals”
concert. It consisted of the best loved music in American theater and as
such was again somewhat of a diversion from the classical genre, but it
was very rewarding to arrange our own music from such favorites as
Beauty and the Beast, The Sound of Music, and The Music Man, to mention
just a few.
As a piano duo, Lenora and I have
performed at many exciting venues throughout the United States, but I
would have to say that the definitive performance of our career was at
Carnegie Hall last year following a first-place win at the New
England Conservatory International Ensemble Competition.
SELECTING REPERTOIRE: There are some wonderful original works and
arrangements available for two pianos, but once you have exhausted the
existing repertoire, it’s difficult to find new pieces to explore. There
is a real demand for good two piano repertoire, and I have discovered
out of necessity how much I truly enjoy arranging music for the genre.
In addition, I have traveled to the Library of Congress on two
occasions, searching for music for two pianos that is no longer in
print. When we select music for our concerts, we try to program pieces
that will give variety and emotional contrast for the listener. We will
often carry out a particular theme in our concerts; for instance we
might perform “Three Sets of Variations” along with “Three Symphonic
Poems” and discuss briefly with our audience some interesting aspects of
each of the two genres.
WHAT IS YOUR STRENGTH IN YOUR PLAYING, INDIVIDUALLY AND AS A DUO?
I was fortunate to have early training with a great teacher who was also
a master technician and demanded a strong technical foundation as a
basis of all musical interpretation. Once the technical demands are
mastered, it becomes so much easier for me to transmit a strong
emotional energy into the music that will capture not only the brilliant
virtuosic passages, but also the subtle nuances and rich palette of tone
colors that are so necessary in an expressive interpretation.
Lenora and I have been performing together as a duo for the past four
years and we have the same values when it comes to musical
interpretation. In our individual practice we are always aware of and
considering the other piano part so that we anticipate the importance of
one part over the other at any given moment. We try to break down and
analyze the basic elements of the piece, not only technically, but with
a focus on the composer’s objectives as to the emotional and
interpretive character of the piece. We then put our parts together,
incorporating and synchronizing our individual ideas until we determine
what best suits the musical picture as a whole, unifying each musical
concept until we play as one.
OTHER FORMS OF ART I ENJOY: I love all artistic mediums, but I am
particularly fond of paintings, probably due to the fact that my mother
is an excellent artist. I especially enjoy the work of Ray Dudli and we
have many of his original oil paintings in our home.
CHARACTERISTIC OF GOOD PERFORMERS: I believe that first and
foremost a good performer is aware of the significant connection between
composer and listener. He is the messenger between the composer’s
creation and his audience and he must never put himself above the
composition. He must show a sincerity and purity of the music he
performs. It is essential that he have a strong technique and a
masterful command of the keyboard. But more importantly, he must
understand the composer’s language and be able to present the ideas and
wishes of the composer while at the same time, giving the music his own
personal slant, thereby creating a mature and spontaneous communication
of the music that isn‘t overly calculated. Only then can he truly
captivate and move his audience.
WHAT
I HOPE TO ACCOMPLISH AS A MUSICIAN: We are so blessed to have the
musical heritage that we do, and the greatest accomplishment anyone can
achieve as a musician is to be able to bring that music to others, that
the world might experience the sheer joy of a composer’s creation. As a
performer, if I am able to be the messenger that bridges the gap between
the genius of a man’s conception and the ears of my listeners--if I am
able to inspire and touch the soul--then I have accomplished all that is
great and meaningful in this world.
OTHER HOBBIES: I am an avid reader and enjoy a variety of
authors. When I’m not reading, I do a lot of knitting---it helps to keep
my fingers limber! My husband and I also enjoy the mountains and try to
get to our cabin for fishing and relaxing as much as time will allow.
UPCOMING MUSICAL PROJECTS: I hope in the near future to be able
to publish some of the arrangements that I have finished for two pianos
eight hands. And the excitement that I experienced while recently
arranging Liszt’s Mephisto Waltz for two pianos four hands that my
partner and I debuted on the new CD we have just released has made me
realize how very much I enjoy arranging music for this genre, as well. I
intend to continue pursuing this interest in arranging as time permits.
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS: I believe
that the Web Concert Hall Competition is a rewarding and fulfilling
experience to any artist who wishes to take advantage of the
opportunity. To be able to participate in a competition through the web
is certainly an alternative solution to a performer who may not be able
to travel abroad due to visa or financial limitations. To be able to
reach a sophisticated global audience and to communicate with and enjoy
the music of other participants world-wide is a rare opportunity that is
very much appreciated.
On be half of the Web Concert Hall, we would like to thank you for your
time and we wish all the success.
To contact Gaye:
gayeengland@msn.com
Interviewed by
Webconcerthall November, 2007
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