Australian born pianist Bonnie Brown is an active soloist, collaborative artist and teacher. In 2008 she relocated to Paris where she is presently undertaking a mentorship with internationally renowned concert pianist Cristina Ortiz, parallel to studies under respected French pedagogue France Clidat at the Ecole Normale de Musique de Paris. To assist with her studies in Europe, she has been the recipient of many of Australia and France’s most prestigious grants and scholarships. These include, from Australia, a Winston Churchill Memorial Trust Fellowship, the Australia Council for the Arts Project Fellowship, the Empire Theatres Towoomba Brian Boak Outstanding Performer Bursary, as well as support from the Ian Potter Cultural Trust, the University of Melbourne Nickson Traveling Scholarship, the Phonographic Performance Company of Australia, the Harold Mitchell Foundation and the Opus 50 Charitable Trust. While in Paris, she has spent her first year as Australian Artist in Residence at the prestigious Cité Internationale des Arts on a residency scholarship, and was awarded the 2nd Prize Internationally from the Fondation Nadia et Lili Boulanger for 2009.
She began her musical studies at the age of three, and in 1994 was awarded a full scholarship to the Victorian College of the Arts Secondary School. She graduated Dux in 1999, having received the top mark for English, Literature, French and Music Performance: Solo. During this time she was also awarded her Licentiate Diploma (piano), Associate Diploma with distinction (piano) and Associate Diploma (flute) from the Australian Music Examinations Board. Bonnie Brown held a scholarship place at the Australian National Academy of Music in their Advanced Performance Program, from July 2006 until June 2008, under the guidance of Rita Reichman. In her capacity as Academy Musician, she collaborated with such renowned Australian musicians as William Hennessy, Brett Dean and Nigel Butterley, while participating in Masterclasses with such pedagogues as Cristina Ortiz, Dmitri Alexeev and Paul Lewis, to name a few. In addition to her work at The Academy, she was privileged to receive tuition in music analysis from Richard Gill AM (Music Director of Victorian Opera). Besides her study in Australia and France, Bonnie undertook a semester at the Universität für Music und Darstellende Kunst Graz in Austria under the late Professor Alexandr Satz, for which she was awarded a Melbourne Abroad Traveling Scholarship.
During her time at University of Melbourne, Faculty of Music from 2000-2007, Bonnie was under the supervision of renowned Australian pedagogue and concert pianist Professor Ronald Farren-Price. She has been awarded numerous prizes and scholarships, including a Melbourne Music Scholarship for her Bachelor of Music (performance) degree, which she attained with honours. For her Masters of Music (performance), she held an Australian Postgraduate Award as well as a Melbourne Research Scholarship. Other awards from the University of Melbourne include the 2003 Rosemary Kenny Prize for the “student who in the opinion of the Faculty is the best third or final year student in the Bachelor of Music course", the Ormond Exhibition – Third Year (2002) “for outstanding practical examination results”, the H.A. Owen Memorial Scholarship 2002 and the Eric and Linda Jullyan Memorial Scholarship 2001 for outstanding practical examination results. As a solo performer, Bonnie was selected for four recitals in the University of Melbourne Lunch Hour Concert series. In the same series, she directed a performance of Saint-Säens’ Carnival of the Animals (for small chamber ensemble), featuring veteran Australian actor Charles “Bud” Tingwell as narrator, to a full house. Ever versatile, she toured in 2008 in China where she performed in the capacity of Orchestral Keyboard as well as supporting concerto soloist. In 2008 she was also engaged to perform Messian’s canonical Visions de l’Amen for two pianos as part of the Messiaen 100th Birthday Celebrations.
In addition to these other collaborations, Bonnie performs as a founding member of a well-established piano duo, with Australian pianist Coady Green. The young duo took out the prize for Romantic Interpretation at the International Grieg Competition for Piano duo in Norway in 2008. As a serious ensemble for nearly a decade, the duo perform regularly in Europe and in Australia.
Bonnie performed as the featured soloist at the University of Melbourne 150th Anniversary Concert in the Melbourne Town Hall in 2003, collaborating with Maestro Marco Zuccarini for a performance of Beethoven’s Third Piano Concerto, to rave reviews. She has made other concerto appearances with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, members of the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra, and regional Australian orchestras. She has broadcast on ABC Classics FM as well as 3MBS FM, and has been a recipient of the ABC Young Artists Award, reached the second stage of the Symphony Australia Young Performers Award, was overall winner of the Austral Salon Instrumental Scholarship, second prize winner in the Musical Society of Victoria’s Hephzibah Menuhin Memorial Award, and was finalist in the Australian National Piano Award, to name a few competition successes.
While director of her own private music studio in Australia, Bonnie Brown was been a dedicated and active teacher of students from two years through to mature age since 1998. She has been employed at numerous schools, where she taught piano, music theory, aural skills and enrichment classes for pre-school aged children. She is also experienced in preparing students for Australian Music Examinations Board (A.M.E.B.) exams (preliminary grade through to A.Mus.A), and has worked as a piano accompanist for students and professionals alike.
Australian born pianist Bonnie Brown is an active soloist, collaborative artist and teacher. In 2008 she relocated to Paris where she is presently undertaking a mentorship with internationally renowned concert pianist Cristina Ortiz, parallel to studies under respected French pedagogue France Clidat at the Ecole Normale de Musique de Paris. To assist with her studies in Europe, she has been the recipient of many of Australia and France’s most prestigious grants and scholarships. These include, from Australia, a Winston Churchill Memorial Trust Fellowship, the Australia Council for the Arts Project Fellowship, the Empire Theatres Towoomba Brian Boak Outstanding Performer Bursary, as well as support from the Ian Potter Cultural Trust, the University of Melbourne Nickson Traveling Scholarship, the Phonographic Performance Company of Australia, the Harold Mitchell Foundation and the Opus 50 Charitable Trust. While in Paris, she has spent her first year as Australian Artist in Residence at the prestigious Cité Internationale des Arts on a residency scholarship, and was awarded the 2nd Prize Internationally from the Fondation Nadia et Lili Boulanger for 2009.
During her time at University of Melbourne, Faculty of Music from 2000-2007, Bonnie was under the supervision of renowned Australian pedagogue and concert pianist Professor Ronald Farren-Price. She has been awarded numerous prizes and scholarships, including a Melbourne Music Scholarship for her Bachelor of Music (performance) degree, which she attained with honours. For her Masters of Music (performance), she held an Australian Postgraduate Award as well as a Melbourne Research Scholarship. Other awards from the University of Melbourne include the 2003 Rosemary Kenny Prize for the “student who in the opinion of the Faculty is the best third or final year student in the Bachelor of Music course", the Ormond Exhibition – Third Year (2002) “for outstanding practical examination results”, the H.A. Owen Memorial Scholarship 2002 and the Eric and Linda Jullyan Memorial Scholarship 2001 for outstanding practical examination results.
As a solo performer, Bonnie was selected for four recitals in the University of Melbourne Lunch Hour Concert series. In the same series, she directed a performance of Saint-Säens’ Carnival of the Animals (for small chamber ensemble), featuring veteran Australian actor Charles “Bud” Tingwell as narrator, to a full house. Ever versatile, she toured in 2008 in China where she performed in the capacity of Orchestral Keyboard as well as supporting concerto soloist. In 2008 she was also engaged to perform Messian’s canonical Visions de l’Amen for two pianos as part of the Messiaen 100th Birthday Celebrations.