Geoffrey Lancaster facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Geoffrey Lancaster AO FAHA
Background information
Born	(1954-08-20) 20 August 1954 (age 70) Sydney
Genres	Classical
Occupation(s)	Musician, educator
Instruments	Piano, fortepiano, harpsichord
Years active	1970–present

Geoffrey Lancaster is an 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.

Geoffrey studied piano at the Canberra School of Music. He also earned a special degree called a Doctor of Philosophy from the Sydney Conservatorium of Music. Later, he completed a master's degree at the University of Tasmania. In 1984, he went to Amsterdam to learn about the fortepiano with Stanley Hoogland. The fortepiano is an early version of the piano.

He has taught music at many famous places. These include the Royal College of Music in London and the UWA School of Music in Western Australia. From 2000 to 2012, he was a professor at the ANU School of Music. Today, he lives in Perth. He is a professor at the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts at Edith Cowan University.

A Musician's Journey

Geoffrey Lancaster is an expert in playing music from a long time ago. This is called "historical performance practice." He especially loves the music of famous composers like Joseph Haydn, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, and Ludwig van Beethoven.

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

Geoffrey has traveled the world to perform. He has toured Germany, Switzerland, China, and Japan. He has played with famous international orchestras like the Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra and the Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra. He also tours Australia for Musica Viva Australia. He has worked with well-known conductors such as Markus Stenz and Sir Charles Mackerras.

Working with Orchestras

Geoffrey Lancaster also works with smaller orchestras. He has performed as both a soloist and conductor with the Canberra Symphony Orchestra. He is also the artistic director of a group called the Ensemble of the Classic Era.

Teaching and Research

Geoffrey Lancaster is not just a performer; he is also a professor of music. He teaches students about 18th-century music. He also teaches piano, harpsichord, and fortepiano.

From 1999 to 2009, he taught at the Australian National Academy of Music. He used to be 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 Schola Cantorum Basiliensis.

Music Recordings

Geoffrey Lancaster has recorded 51 CDs! These recordings have been released by big music companies. Some of these include Sony Classical, Australian Broadcasting Corporation, and Supraphon.

Awards and Special Recognition

Geoffrey Lancaster has received many important awards for his music.

In 1986, he won a big competition in Belgium. It was called the 23rd Festival of Flanders International Mozart Fortepiano Competition. He was the first Australian to win a major international keyboard competition.

In 1993, he received a special award called the Australian Artists Creative Fellowship. This award recognized his amazing artistic work for Australia.

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

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

Order of Australia

Geoffrey Lancaster has been honored with the Order of Australia. This is a very high award in Australia.

In 2006, he was made a Member of the Order of Australia. 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 the arts," especially in education, performance, research, and helping others.

ARIA Music Awards

The ARIA Music Awards are a big event in Australia. They celebrate the best music and musicians each year.