Australian Piano Duo Festival

Come and hear world-class music for two pianists across 3 special concerts, presented by The University of Queensland School of Music and the Australian Piano Duo Festival. Pianists from across Australia will be joined by Latvian duo, Juris Žvikovs & Sanita Glazenburga, in programs that feature the music of Poulenc, Gershwin/Grainger, Davidson, Crumb and music by Latvian composers. Winners of the 2025 Page Olding National Piano Duo Prize - CC Keys Duo - will be featured, along with Adam McMillan, Jenni Fleming and the Viney-Žvikovs Duo who will give the QLD premiere of a work based on the life of Australian politician and activist Bob Brown.

All events are held at the Nickson Room, University of Queensland School of Music.  Best value for all three concerts is the three concert pass - $80 Full/Concession, $25 Students
 
Exploring the joy and diversity of 20th/21st Century music for four hands and two pianos, these concerts are not to be missed!

Saturday 24 October, 7pm: Poulenc, Gustavino, Gershwin/Grainger, Crumb

featuring Juris Žvikovs & Sanita Glazenburga, CC Keys Duo (Winners of the 2025 Page Olding Piano Duo Prize), Jenni Flemming & Adam McMillan

Monday 26 October, 7pm: Portrait of Bob Brown by Rob Davidson 

featuring Viney-Žvikovs Duo, with Bob Brown (QLD Premiere)

We all make music whenever we speak, says composer Robert Davidson; in fact, we're all composers without even realising it. We make melodies with our words.

Bob Brown is certainly no exception. Robert interviewed him at his office in Hobart and has spun Bob's distinctive way of speaking into a song cycle of twelve compositions, each taking their melodies directly from Bob's speech with the video of Bob answering Rob's questions closely integrated into this performance.  This is virtuosic piano music in tight synchronisation with the video, weaving a kind of musical picture frame around Bob's speech, enhancing perception of his inherent melodies. Robert's music reinforces narrative and emotional traits of Bob's stories about his life and passions. The piece aims to be a portrait of the man, rather than a political piece. Bob tells stories about people who have inspired him, about how he found himself entering public life, about his experiences in the UK as a young doctor, and the encouragements he had from friends to "just be who you are" when confronted with entrenched homophobia in the 1970s, about his love of the Franklin River and the extraordinary planet we inhabit.

Tuesday 27 October, 7pm: Music by Latvian Composers

featuring Juris Žvikovs & Sanita Glazenburga

For more than twenty years, the Latvian piano duo Juris Žvikovs and Sanita Glazenburga has cultivated a distinctive artistic identity shaped by shared musical values, curiosity, and a spirit of adventure. Their collaboration has endured across decades, grounded in a deep aesthetic affinity and a commitment to exploring the full breadth of the piano‑duo repertoire — from Baroque counterpoint to avant‑garde experimentation. Drawn to unconventional modes of performance, the duo frequently designs innovative, cross‑disciplinary concert programs that integrate other artistic media. Their projects often challenge traditional concert formats, reflecting both pianists’ artistic restlessness and eagerness to discover new expressive possibilities. Individually, Juris Žvikovs is one of Latvia’s most respected pianists, a laureate of major international competitions and a recipient of the Latvian Great Music Award, regularly performing with leading orchestras and chamber ensembles. Together, Žvikovs and Glazenburga have appeared at festivals, collaborated with composers, and presented masterclasses internationally — including recent engagements in Australia through ERASMUS+ mobility, where they performed and taught at the University of Queensland. Both artists currently serve on the faculty of the Jāzeps Vītols Latvian Academy of Music, where they contribute to the training of the next generation of pianists and collaborative musicians.