Marc-André Hamelin facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Marc-André Hamelin
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Hamelin in 2010
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| Born | September 5, 1961 |
| Occupation | Pianist and composer |
Marc-André Hamelin, born on September 5, 1961, is a famous Canadian pianist and composer. He is known as a virtuoso, which means he is incredibly skilled at playing the piano. He has been nominated for 11 Grammy Awards, which are big awards for music. Mr. Hamelin also teaches music at the New England Conservatory of Music.
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About Marc-André Hamelin
Early Life and Music Studies
Marc-André Hamelin was born in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. He started learning to play the piano when he was just five years old. His father was a pharmacist who also loved playing the piano. He introduced young Marc-André to the music of special composers like Charles-Valentin Alkan and Leopold Godowsky.
Hamelin studied music at the École de musique Vincent-d'Indy in Montreal. His teacher there was Yvonne Hubert. Later, he continued his studies at Temple University in Philadelphia with Harvey Wedeen. In 1989, he won the Virginia Parker Prize for his musical talent.
Performing Around the World
Marc-André Hamelin has performed piano concerts in many cities across the globe. He has played at famous music festivals like Bad Kissingen, Ravinia, and La Roque d’Anthéron. He often performs in London at the Wigmore Hall and the South Bank Centre. He also plays every year in Munich, Germany, and has given many concerts in Tokyo, Japan.
In 2020, during the time of worldwide health restrictions, he performed a special online concert. He played with violinist Lara St. John and the Ulysses Quartet for the Naumburg Orchestral Concerts.
Recordings and Unique Music Choices
Hamelin has recorded many different types of music with the Hyperion company. His recording of Leopold Godowsky's Studies on Chopin's Études won a big award in 2000.
He is famous for finding and playing music by composers who are not as well-known. These often include musicians from the late 1800s and early 1900s. He enjoys playing pieces by other pianist-composers like Leopold Godowsky, Charles-Valentin Alkan, and Nikolai Kapustin.
Marc-André Hamelin's Own Compositions
Besides playing the piano, Marc-André Hamelin also writes his own music. He has composed a set of piano études, which are pieces designed to help musicians practice. These were finished in 2009 and published by Edition Peters. He also recorded them for Hyperion.
He wrote a group of seven pieces called Con Intimissimo Sentimento. Another famous piece he arranged is Tico-Tico No Fubá by Zequinha de Abreu. While most of his music is for solo piano, he has also written pieces for other instruments. These include Fanfares for three trumpets.
Awards and Honors
In 1985, Hamelin won the Carnegie Hall International Competition for American Music. He played his first concert at Carnegie Hall in 1988. In 2004, he received an international record award in Cannes, France.
He has been given special honors in Canada, becoming an Officer of the Order of Canada. He also received the Chevalier de l'Ordre national du Québec (National Order of Québec). He has won seven Juno Awards, which are Canadian music awards. His most recent Juno Award was in 2012 for his album of Liszt Piano Sonatas.
What Critics Say
Music critics are people who write reviews about performances. They have said many good things about Marc-André Hamelin.
In 2000, music critic Alex Ross wrote that "there is no one like him." Later, in 2010, Ross added that piano experts really admire Hamelin. They praise his amazing playing skills and his thoughtful way of approaching music.
In 2015, Zachary Woolfe from The New York Times noted Hamelin's "preternatural clarity and control." This means he plays with incredible clearness and precision. Woolfe also said that these qualities do not stop Hamelin from playing with feeling and beauty.
Discography
Personal Life
Marc-André Hamelin lives in Boston, Massachusetts. He lives there with his wife, Cathy Fuller, who is also a pianist. She works as a classical music broadcaster for WGBH.
See also
In Spanish: Marc-André Hamelin para niños
- List of classical pianists
- Canadian classical music
- List of people from Montreal
- List of Canadian musicians
