ROBBIN REZA

With a keen interest in classical and modern piano music, 28 year old Japanese-Australian pianist Robbin Reza loved performing for the public from a very early age. Currently based in Cologne, Germany, Robbin began his studies at the age of 5 in Sydney with Sayano Ito. At the age of 11 Robbin made his solo recital debut with the invitation of Warren Thomson OAM, performing at the Art Gallery of NSW and the launch of the 9th Sydney International Piano Competition at the Seymour Centre, University of Sydney. 

Subsequently, Robbin attended the Sydney Conservatorium High School, beginning his studies on the piano with Daniel Herscovitch and the trumpet with Leanne Sullivan. Being awarded with a full scholarship (Bessie Cook Scholarship), Robbin continued his artistic studies (BMus Performance) with Daniel Herscovitch at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music. In 2016 he graduated with First Class Honours for his research and recital on Modern Australian Music. Robbin made the decision to further his studies in Germany after being awarded the Mendelssohn Scholarship to participate in the 2016 Mendelssohn Akademie at the Hochschule für Musik und Theater Leipzig, studying with Arie Vardi and Jacques Rouvier. Robbin completed his Master of Music at the Hochschule für Music und Tanz Köln and in 2021, completed his Konzertexamen (Artist Diploma) with Claudio Martinez Mehner and Nina Tichman. In 2022, he finished his years of studying after graduating from his Masters in Chamber Music with Anthony Spiri and early music with Andreas Staier. His studies overseas were made possible with the support from the Theme and Variations Foundation Scholarship, the Australian Music Foundation, International Piano Foundation Lieven, Hamburg and DAAD.

During his studies in Sydney, Robbin was awarded numerous prizes in important competitions in Australia such as the Ku-Ring-Gai Philharmonic NSW Secondary Schools Concerto Competition (Senior Section) performing the first Australian concerto in the competition - Carl Vine's Piano Concerto, NSW Finalist in the 2013 ABC Symphony Australian Young Performers Awards, Semi-Finalist in the 2018 ABC Young Performers Awards, Winner of the Sydney Conservatorium Concerto Competition, with Scriabin's Piano Concerto and has been the winner of many competitions in NSW such as the Northern Beaches Eisteddfod, St. George Eisteddfod, Ryde Eisteddfod and the Shoalhaven Eisteddfod. Robbin was a prize winner in the 2018 Australia National Piano Award. He has also made live broadcasts and recordings with prominent radio stations in Australian such as ABC Classic FM and Fine Music FM, also WDR and Radio Ljubljana in Europe. Robbin performed as a soloist and chamber musician in Australia, China, Hong Kong, and around Europe including Germany, Italy, France, Slovenia, Belgium, Switzerland, Austria, Poland and the UK. 

In 2021, Robbin received the Klassik-Stipendium from the Werner Richard - Dr. Carl Dörken Foundation, for a series of concerts around North-Rhine Westphalia, was selected to participate as a semi-finalist in the 2021 ABC Young Performer Awards of Australia and as a finalist in the Australia National Piano Award. He was also the winner of the Fingertips International Piano Competition and the 2022 Excellence Piano Awards and will be recording a CD featuring works by lesser known composers such as N. Medtner, Blagoje Bersa and a new work premiere. 

Chamber music also plays a very major role for Robbin and is a member of various ensembles - with Trio Midas (Clarinet Trio) and Quartett Philimaro (Clarinet Quartet), Aelius Trio (Piano Trio) and Duo Nirin (Piano Duo) to mention a few. In the 2022, Trio Midas and Quartett Philimaro were also winners of the Klassik-Stipendium from the Werner Richard - Dr. Carl Dörken Foundation. Robbin is also very interested in piano accompaniment/collaborative piano, especially music for saxophone and piano and plays regularly as a Duo and larger ensembles. 
 
In conjunction with the study of classical piano repertoire and chamber music, Robbin has a passion for promoting works by lesser known composers, being the interpreter of new works, and collaborating with the composers of today. Recently he recorded a new work Sospiro e Luce (2020) by Vassilis Kitsos with Saxophonist Eva Kotar for Lions Club International, worked with Saxophonist, Composer and Conductor - Vincent David in a German Premiere performance of his work Nuée Ardente (2018) in Wuppertal, Germany,  and collaborations with Ensemble Musikfabrik in Cologne. In 2013, Robbin performed the Australian Premiere of Elliot Carter's Two Controversies and a Conversation (2010) with Claire Edwardes at the Sydney Conservatorium, in 2016 worked with Australian composer Gerard Brophy in the performance of Gheranos (1980) and what really happened (2014). 
 
Apart from the piano, Robbin enjoys modifying his car, collecting perfume, gardening and travelling. As of October 2022, Robbin is a lecturer for accompaniment at the Hochschule für Musik und Tanz in Cologne.