WOW 2016: Ke Ma

Ke Ma was one of the finalists of the Hastings 2016 International Piano Concerto Competition and was awarded the 5th Prize in this prestigious event.

The concert will be a mix of classical and contemporary women composers, in addition to some influential male composers. The programme features Clara Schumann, Ruth Crawford, Chopin, Lili Boulanger, Amy Beach, Elliot Carter, Paul Patterson and Chen Yi.

Clara Schumann Prelude and Fugue in F sharp minor
Ruth Crawford Piano Study in Mixed Accent
Amy Beach Five Improvisations for piano, Op. 148
Chopin Two Nocturnes, Op. 27
Lili Boulanger D’un soir triste
D’un jardin clair
Elliott Carter Caternaries
Paul Patterson Hastings Toccata
Chen Yi Duo Ye

About Ke Ma

Born in 1994, Ke is currently studying at the Royal Academy of Music with Professor Christopher Elton in a Master degree. Most recently, Ke won the first prize in the 18th Concours International de Piano de la ville de Maisons-Laffitte, in France.

She was introduced to the piano at the age of three by her grandfather and father, and quickly reached an accomplished level; at five years old she won second prize at the prestigious Xiwangbei piano competition in Beijing and subsequently went on to study with Professor Zhong Hui. In 2006, she began studies with Professor Galina Popova in the Xinghai Conservatory of Music. After a successful audition for the Morningside Music Bridge Festival in Canada, she started to attend masterclasses and gave performances in Poland and Canada. She has participated in masterclasses with many great pianists, including Angela Hewitt, Peter Frankl, Huang-kuan Chen, John Perry, Pascal Devoyon, Joanna MacGregor, Yevgeny Sudbin, Boris Berman, Arie Vardi and Imogen Cooper.

Ke has won several prizes, both external and internal including the Harriet Cohen Bach Prize, the Harold Craxton Prize and the Masie Lewis Young Artists Fund, she was also highly commended for the Sternadle Bennett Prize. In 2012 she received 3rd place at the Ettlingen International Piano Competition in Germany. In 2015, she won the Shenzhen International Piano Concerto Competition in China and later received the Prince’s Award from the Worshipful Musicians’ Company. The fifth place in the Hastings Piano Concerto Competition in Britain, 2016

Ke has appeared as a soloist with many different orchestras and conductors including, Christian Ehwald, Daye Lin, Nigel Wilkinson, Qiyuan Zhu, Uros Lajovic and Brian Wright. And she collabrated with some Chinese major orchestras and Royal Philharmonic Concert Orchestra in Hastings. Later this year, she is invited to perform with Young Musicians Symphony Orchestra under the baton of James Blair on 28th Sepetember.

Besides her solo practice, she also plays a lot of chamber music. Last year, Ke made her duo debut recital alongside British violist Timothy Ridout in Wigmore Hall that was supported by Kirckman Concert Society.

Ke is most generously supported by the Leverhulme Trust, the Edward Mandel Bursary, Mr John Burgess, the Steinway & Sons Scholarship, the Ian Fleming Award from Help Musician UK Postgraduate Award 2016/2017, the Tillett Trust and Music scholarship from Liechtenstein Music Academy.

http://www.kemapianist.com

About the Women of the World Concert series

Equator Festival launched the Women of the World concert series in 2007, with the simple aim of promoting female performers  from all music genres, from all over the world.  Each year Equator showcases the best in female performers, musicians and songwriters.  Over the last nine years the WOW series has presented music from Africa, Eastern-Europe, Middle East, India, Australia and the UK.  The performances have included everything from choirs to solo performers, works you have heard before and new commissions.  Previous performers include: Beyounes Quarter, Commander-in-Chief, Hannah Marcinowicz, Ignite Ensemble, London Bulgarian Choir, London Klezmer Quartet, London Tango Trio, Monica Vasconcelos, Oclay Bayir, Shallu Jindal and Shiva Nova