Clemens Leske
Resume
Distinguished pianist Clemens Leske has been concerto soloist with all of Australia’s symphony orchestras (Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, Tasmania, West Australia and Queensland) under such conductors as Vladimir Spivakov, Nicholas Braithwaite, Muhai Tang, Vernon Handley, Raimon Gamba and Tommy Tycho.
During his studies at the Juilliard School, New York, Clemens regularly appeared at Lincoln Center in the famed ‘Bang on a Can’ and ‘Focus’ festivals of contemporary music, and won numerous prizes and awards, including the ABC Young Performer of the Year, the David Paul Landa Memorial Scholarship (Australia), and the Hattori Award (London).
He has performed regularly with the Australian String Quartet, the Australian Chamber Orchestra, the Moscow Virtuosi and at such festivals as the Barossa International, Huntington, Spring and Adelaide. Recently, he was soloist with the Bangkok Symphony, performing the Schumann Piano Concerto for the King of Thailand’s birthday concert and with the Sydney Symphony performed the Tchaikovsky Concerto to great acclaim.
He has released three discs of solo piano and chamber music and recorded extensively for Australian radio stations ABC-FM, 2MBS and 5UV.
In 2005 Clemens gave his London debut in the Royal Festival Hall, performing Rachmaninov’s First Piano Concerto with the London Philharmonic Orchestra. As a result of this success, he was invited to perform Tchaikovsky’s First Piano Concerto with the London Philharmonic Orchestra at the Eastbourne Festival.
Recent appearances include performances in the eight-piano Steinway Spectacular, a performance of Bach’s Goldberg Variations at the Adelaide Fringe Festival, the world premiere of Carl Vine’s Anne Landa Preludes (2006) and a solo recital as part of Historic Houses Trust’s ‘House Music’ series at Government House.
Clemens has also appeared as soloist with the Sydney Symphony at Angel Place and the Opera House, performing Mozart’s K413 Piano Concerto; and he performed Strauss' Burlesque with the same orchestra under the baton of Vladimir Ashkenazy.