Young Brisbane pianist, Oscar Matthews made the decision to become a professional pianist when he was eleven years old, but even by then he had already accumulated four years of performance experience. Oscar began his piano studies at six years of age, and by age seven, he had given his first public solo performance.
Oscar will perform Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No. 3 as a guest soloist for the Sunshine Coast Symphony Orchestra’s second concert of 2023, Sensational Soloists, at The Events Centre, Caloundra, at 2pm on July 16.
This gifted young musician has won numerous prizes at competitions and eisteddfods across Australia, including first prize at the Queensland Piano Competition. Oscar is now in his second year of a Bachelor of Music (Performance) at the Queensland Conservatorium of Music where his teacher is esteemed Australian pianist, Daniel de Borah. He has also participated in masterclasses and lessons with pianists Jayson Gillham, Roy Howat and Mikhail Solovei.
Before Oscar had finished Grade 12 of his schooling, he had achieved a Licentiate in Music, the highest level for piano issued by the Australian Music Examinations Board.
“I was very focused on achieving one grade at a time,” said Oscar. “Through hard work and dedication, I kept improving. I have definitely put in a lot of effort over the years, so it is good to now reap the rewards. Rewards such as having the opportunity to perform as a soloist for larger audiences.”
In 2021 Oscar performed as a soloist with the Creative Generation Symphony Orchestra, a Queensland Government initiative for talented school music students.
He has also performed at various concert venues around Brisbane such as the Old Museum and St Andrews, and he has been a guest artist with the Ipswich Orpheus Chorale and the Brisbane Concert Orchestra.
Oscar dreams of one day studying piano abroad, in Europe or at the Royal Academy of Music in London.