Afternoon Concert - Joan Chia and Alan Jenkins, Piano Duo

Please read on to find out a little more about the lives of these two respected musicians.

JOAN CHIA DSCM

How fortunate that my parents were able to migrate to Australia from China in the 1920s to establish a business that this country considered desirable. Otherwise, I shudder to consider what and who I would be had that not happened. I am therefore, a first generation born in Australia, sometimes referred to as an ABC (Australian-born Chinese), sometimes also referred to as a banana (yellow on the outside, white on the inside!). My parents assimilated well, which meant that I was privileged to have piano lessons with a local teacher beginning when I was about eight years old. Her students rarely participated in the examination system. Instead, we were more involved in competitions, talent quests and the like, allowing us to tackle a wider range of repertoire while performing to live, ready made audiences. Music is, after all, a performing art. My only ambition once I finished High School, was to become an office secretary, so I signed on at a Sydney business college to do shorthand and typing. Then I discovered that a Commonwealth Scholarship was being offered to me, which would allow study at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music, where I eventually achieved my Diploma (DSCM). Participation in eisteddfods and competitions, etc. continued during my Conservatorium days. It was during one of these eisteddfods that I attracted the attention of an adjudicator, one Harold Lobb who, several years later, offered me a position in the Piano Department of the newly formed Newcastle Conservatorium of which he had become its first Principal. The original request was to fill in for a teacher, Myra Heffernan, who had become ill and whose students I had competed against in Eisteddfods. I would go to Newcastle for 3 days and return to Sydney for a long weekend, when I would look after the handful of students I had at the time, as well as visit Miss Heffernan in hospital to find out what I should do next for her students! Sadly, she died before the end of that year. I regard that time ‘filling in’ as one of my most valuable learning experiences. So the job became mine and I had a very happy 9 years in Newcastle, including some ‘time out’ to study at the Juilliard School in New York – another life-transforming experience -- which eventually led to being offered a position by Ernest Llewellyn at the newly established Canberra School of Music. Arriving in 1969 to join the Keyboard Department, I was immediately involved in a variety of performance opportunities ranging from soloist with the Sydney Symphony Orchestra, Canberra Symphony Orchestra and the Royal Military College Band, Duntroon, to chamber music for Musica Viva, as well as being involved in productions for Canberra Opera and Canberra Philharmonic Society. As a Lecturer in Keyboard at the School of Music, I became responsible for courses and workshops in Piano Pedagogy, with a special interest in training Studio Piano teachers. In 1980, wanting to diversify and with the guidance of John Gordon, Carillonist at Sydney University, I became a Carillonist at the National Carillon, Canberra, giving solo recitals as well as performances in partnership with Brass and Military bands. Further carillon studies and performances in New Zealand, The Netherlands and USA have enhanced these carillon activities in which I continue to be involved. Indeed, what a fortunate life I enjoy!

ALAN JENKINS

Alan Jenkins grew up in Bowral and commenced piano and organ studies there. Further study continued at the N.S.W. Conservatorium, aided by several scholarships. After graduation, he was appointed an examiner for the Australian Music Examination Board (A.M.E.B.) and a member of staff at the N.S.W. Conservatorium. Other activities included broadcasts both as a soloist and associate artist , duties as a church organist and frequent concert appearances. When the Canberra School of Music was established, Alan was invited to join the fledgling institution – an exciting place to be during its best years! In Canberra, he was official A.B.C. associate artist for many years and played regularly in Faculty Concerts, which were an important feature of the city’s musical life. In retirement, he is still active musically with regular organ, teaching and accompanying commitments. Both Joan Chia and Alan Jenkins have played concerti with the Canberra Symphony Orchestra and have presented such works as Mozart’s Concerto for Two pianos.