The young artist's canvass...

OW: In a recent concert held at Marayong on March 6th, thanking the Polish Consulate in Sydney for their gift of a brand new piano, you played two pieces - one was Liszt's "Petrach Sonnet" and the other Lecuona's "Malaguena". Could you tell us a little more about these pieces and why you chose to play them?

EP: This particular Petrach Sonnet no. 104 comes from a set of three which were originally songs for tenor voice. They are romantic, poetical and serene pieces. The Malaguena is an emotional and sensuous Spanish gypsy song, in which long notes and drawn out phrases become the basis of improvisation and cadential flourishes. This Spanish dance tune has achieved great popularity which is one of the reasons why I performed it. It's a piece that the audience could relate to and enjoy. Contrast was another factor as it gave variety and interest to my performance. Because I was performing for a very important occasion, I chose the pieces I was most comfortable with and able to execute all the technical challenges. I think from the audience's point of view it was clear that I captured their interest while dazzling them with my talent.

OW: Indeed, you did dazzle us! How long have you been playing the piano and what made you choose the piano as your instrument of study?

EP: It's been a while, so I vaguely remember. I started learning piano from a local teacher at the age of 6. At the time, I was mainly playing for leisure. After 3 years, I applied to the Conservatorium of Music where I got accepted and I started intensive training with Neta Maugham. I've been with Neta Maugham for the past 8 years. I didn't really choose the piano as my instrument of study, my parents did!!!

OW: Ahh, isn't that more often the case than not! But I'm sure we can safely assume you took to their choice with no qualms! You completed your highschool studies & HSC at St Andrew's Cathedral School in 2004. I understand you're now studying Commerce & Science at the University of Sydney, but that you're also teaching piano professionally?

EP: Not professionally, yet. At the moment it's just to earn some money and gain experience. If I want to teach professionally I have to do a teaching degree.

Eric Piotrowski.

OW: When you say you have to do a teaching degree to teach professionally, such a qualification would have to be attained in addition to passing the examinations for piano set by the Australian Music Education Board (AMEB)?

EP: Well the diplomas I got (A.Mus.A and L.Mus.A), they are both performance degrees and don't have anything to do with teaching. Just because you are a good performer doesn't necessarily mean you can teach. Teaching in an institution such as the Conservatorium is very hard to get into with only performance degrees. You need a teaching qualification. However, in saying that, I think you need the experience such as performance to be able to teach piano or any other instrument.

OW: If you could name a few composers whose works you enjoy performing or listening to most, who would they be?

EP: Definitely Fryderyk Chopin, obviously because of a Polish background. But I also enjoy playing and listening to Liszt and Mozart. All very different compositonal styles but equally fascinating to play and study.

OW: On a seemingly completely unrelated note - your Dad is Polish and your Mum is Chinese. I suppose what is of most interest to young Polish-Australians is what your experiences are living in a household containing, in effect, three different cultural traditions - Polish, Chinese and Australian.

EP: We celebrate mostly Polish traditions. However, my Mum celebrates Chinese New Year. We are all Catholics so there isn't any religous difference. Sometimes the language barriers can interfere but English is the common language in our household. I am closer to my Polish relatives due to the fact that I was brought up by my Polish grandparents when I was a baby. The food however is mostly Chinese because my Mum does the cooking. However, once in a while, I don't mind Polish cuisine. My experiences living in a household with different cultures are not as different as one would think. I haven't really found it a problem in my family.

OW: Eric, I understand that you'll soon be performing for radio. Can you please provide us with details so that readers can tune in to listen to your next performance?

EP: Yes, well I'll be performing a 45 minute recital on 2MBS.FM (102.5), which is a classical radio station. It's on the 30th of March at 12:00pm. It's part of a competition called the "Young Performer's Award" which is open to any instrument and any performer aged up to 25yrs. Before this I had to get through an audition where they picked 15 performers to go through to the recital stage. It's a big task ahead of me, as I have to juggle with uni. It's also a big competition and I'm really happy to just get through.

OW: Congratulations! We'll be sure to tune in! Lastly, do you have any advice to impart to students sitting their musical exams or performing in public in general?

EP: Remember, don't worry about the audience and what they think of you, most of them would be petrified to even get up on stage - so just think about what you have to do and just perform!!! My teacher always told me "it's not practice that makes perfect, it's perfect practice that makes perfect".