Geoffrey Lancaster facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Geoffrey Lancaster AO FAHA
Background information
Born	(1954-08-20) 20 August 1954 (age 71) Sydney
Genres	Classical
Occupation(s)	Musician, educator
Instruments	Piano, fortepiano, harpsichord
Years active	1970–present

Geoffrey Lancaster is a famous Australian classical pianist and conductor. He was born in Sydney on August 20, 1954. He grew up in Dubbo, New South Wales, before moving to Canberra. He studied piano at the Canberra School of Music. He also earned advanced degrees from the Sydney Conservatorium of Music and the University of Tasmania.

In 1984, he went to Amsterdam to learn about the fortepiano. This is an older type of piano. He has taught music at many universities. These include the Royal College of Music in London and the Australian National University. Today, he is a professor at the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts in Perth.

A Master of Classical Music

Geoffrey Lancaster is an expert in playing old classical music. This is called "historical performance practice." He focuses on music by famous composers like Joseph Haydn, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, and Ludwig van Beethoven.

He has performed as a soloist and conductor with many major Australian orchestras. These include the symphony orchestras of Queensland, Melbourne, Sydney, and Tasmania. He has also played with the Australian Chamber Orchestra.

Touring the World

Geoffrey Lancaster has toured many countries. He has performed in Germany, Switzerland, China, and Japan. He has played with leading international orchestras. Some of these include the Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra and the Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra. He also tours Australia for Musica Viva Australia.

He has worked with many well-known conductors. These include Markus Stenz, Bruno Weil, Sir Charles Mackerras, Gustav Leonhardt, and Nikolaus Harnoncourt.

Teaching and Directing

Geoffrey Lancaster also works with smaller orchestras. He performs as both a soloist and conductor with groups like the Canberra Symphony Orchestra. He is also the artistic director of the Ensemble of the Classic Era.

He is a music professor. He teaches about 18th-century music performance. He also teaches piano, harpsichord, and fortepiano. He taught at the Australian National Academy of Music for ten years. He was also the Head of the Keyboard Department at the Australian National University. He continues his research and teaching at the UWA School of Music. He also teaches at the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts.

Music Recordings

Geoffrey Lancaster has recorded 51 CDs. His music has been released by major labels. These include Sony Classical, Australian Broadcasting Corporation, Tall Poppies, and Supraphon.

Awards and Special Recognition

Geoffrey Lancaster has received many important awards. In 1986, he won the 23rd Festival of Flanders International Mozart Fortepiano Competition in Belgium. He was the first Australian to win a major international keyboard competition.

In 1993, he received the Australian Artists Creative Fellowship. This award recognized his amazing artistic contribution to Australia.

In 2000, he was given the "H. C. Coombs Creative Arts Fellowship" at the Australian National University.

Australian of the Year

In 2006, Geoffrey was named Australian of the Year for the Australian Capital Territory. This was part of the National Australia Day Awards. He was recognized for being an inspiring musician and mentor. He also received an award from the University of Tasmania for his service to the community. He became an Honorary Professor of the University of Tasmania in 2007.

He was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia in 2006. This was for his contributions to arts and music education. In 2022, he was promoted to Officer of the Order of Australia. This was for his distinguished service to music through teaching, performing, research, and charity.

ARIA Music Awards

The ARIA Music Awards are annual awards in Australia. They celebrate excellent music across all genres. They started in 1987.