Mekhla Kumar Explained

Mekhla Kumar is an Australian virtuoso pianist and chamber musician.

Early life and education

Mekhla Kumar was born in Adelaide, South Australia.[1] She began studying piano at the age of four.[2]

After graduating from Wilderness School[1] in 2007, Kumar gained a place at the University of Adelaide's Elder Conservatorium of Music, in the class of German-Australian Professor Stefan Ammer, where she completed a Bachelor of Music and graduated with distinction.[3] [4] At Hochschule für Musik Freiburg, she studied under Tibor Szász.[1] [5] [6]

In 2016, Kumar was working on a PhD at the University of Adelaide on Franz Liszt's Sonata in B minor.[7]

Career

Kumar has performed as a soloist with the Elder Conservatorium Symphony Orchestra and has participated in master classes with Roy Howat, Bart van Oort, Leslie Howard, Imogen Cooper, Bernd Glemser, Claudio Martinez Mahner and Robert Hill, and played alongside Marc-André Hamelin[8] [9] and Konstantin Shamray.[10]

Kumar has performed in Germany and Australia, including live radio performances in Germany. Her performances include an arrangement made for her chamber music ensemble of Igor Stravinsky's The Rite of Spring, the rarely performed Linea by Luciano Berio, a solo recital at the Bach Festival in Adelaide,[11] a solo performance with the Adelaide Youth Orchestra,[12] and a solo performance for the Posthumous Composer in Residence series at Elder Hall in Adelaide.[13]

In 2015, she collaborated with Estonian-born bassoon virtuoso, Martin Kuuskmann, and the Langbein Quartet at the Port Fairy Spring Music Festival and at Elder Hall in celebration of the centenary of Scriabin's death, alongside Konstantin Shamray, Ashley Hribar, and master pianist, Stefan Ammer.[14]

Recognition and awards

Kumar has been a recipient of the Principal's Scholarship, the Patrick Cecil Greenland Scholarship, the EMR travelling Scholarship and was awarded the Rotary Club of Burnside's "Carpe Diem" Trust. Other awards and recognition include:

Notes and References

  1. News: Play for the heart . 21 May 2022 . . June 15, 2011. Gale.
  2. News: Spain . Katie . Introducing Mekhla Kumar, pianist . . September 13, 2014. ProQuest.
  3. News: Mekhla Kumar: expertise and eclecticism on Firm foundations. Graham Strahle. The Australian. 1 November 2016. 15 May 2022.
  4. Web site: The Firm to Welcome Mekhla Kumar. Tyler Peterson. BroadwayWorld.
  5. http://www.australianpianoaward.com.au/assets/files/documents/Profiles/2016/BIO_Mekhla_Kumar.pdf Profile, Pianist Mekhla Kumar (27yrs)
  6. News: Connections through time. The Advertiser. Adelaide. November 2016. Walters. Melanie.
  7. Web site: Dante at TVC.
  8. Web site: Adelaide Town Hall - Celebrating 150 Years of music at the Adelaide Town Hall . 28 November 2017 . 25 September 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180925003100/https://www.adelaidetownhall.com.au/blog/celebrating-150-years-of-music-at-the-adelaide-town-hall . dead .
  9. Web site: Mekhla Kumar – Pianist at Noel Stockdale Room, Flinders University, Adelaide . allevents.in . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20171201030718/https://allevents.in/adelaide/mekhla-kumar-pianist/733278060185842 . 2017-12-01.
  10. News: Silsbury . Elizabeth . Mekhla Kumar, Konstantin Shamray lead the way for superb Schubertiade at Elder Hall . 21 May 2022 . . July 27, 2015.
  11. News: Langbein Quartet show why they're Firm favourites. The Advertiser. Adelaide. 5 October 2015. Silsbury. Elizabeth.
  12. News: Smith . Rodney . Youth orchestra proves rhythm is king at Town Hall 150th gala . 22 May 2022 . . June 26, 2016.
  13. News: Walters . Melanie . Mekhla Kumar plays works for solo piano for The Firm at Elder Hall . 21 May 2022 . . November 1, 2016.
  14. Web site: Excerpts from 'I am GOD'- the complete piano sonatas by Alexander Scriabin performed by Ashley Hribar, Mekhla Kumar, Konstantin Shamray and Stefan Ammer with visual projection of natural free form opals.
  15. Web site: Adelaide Summer Orchestra: A Scandinavian Summer: Norwood Concert Hall, 17 January 2016. 28 November 2017 . 1 December 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20171201040435/http://www.adelaidesummerorchestra.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/Program2016Sibelius.pdf . dead .
  16. http://www.szenerostock.de/teaser-detail2017/-11-15_die-magie-von-musik-und-licht/
  17. News: Nguyen . Justine . Mekhla Kumar has won the 2019 Geoffrey Parsons Award . 21 May 2022 . . September 20, 2019.

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