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Chris Greenslade (2019)

Chris Greenslade was a student of leading pianist Bruce Greenfield and went on to complete his honours degree in performance with Richard Mapp at the Wellington Conservatorium of Music. As well as receiving the NGCNZ Scholarship while at the conservatorium, he was a prize-winner in various competitions and conducted and presented research into the education of musically gifted children. Chris continued his post-graduate studies at the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester with Mark Ray, received the RNCM Julius Scholarship and studied chamber music with Dr Christopher Rowland formerly of the Fitzwilliam quartet. As well as regularly appearing in recitals and accompanying in New Zealand, Chris is a sought after teacher. He has been a regional coach for Chamber Music New Zealand’s secondary schools chamber music competition and his piano students have regularly had success in both regional and national competitions. Including, winner of the North Shore concerto competition and semi-finalists in every Wallace National Junior Piano Competition since its inception.

As well as teaching piano at St Paul’s Collegiate Hamilton where he is also the accompanist for the mixed choir, Chris is a keen supporter of music in the community and works with Conductive Education Waikato providing music appreciation classes for children with special needs.

His programme includes works by Schubert, Schumann, Debussy, Rachmaninoff and Beethoven.

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Review of Chris Greenslade:

Tauranga Musica’s 5th concert for 2019, held in Baycourt on Sunday 4 August, featured NZ pianist Chris Greenslade. The audience, that included a good number of children, were treated to a demanding programme encompassing works from the 19th to 21st centuries.

Schubert’s Impromptu in B flat was an excellent choice as a starter with its familiar melodic theme followed by several variations. The children in the audience could now see the reason for scale practice with some very nimble finger work from Greenslade that made things look so easy. The range of dynamics was a joy to listen to.

A selection of dances from Schumann’s Davidsbundlertanze reflected a wide range of personalities: Lively, Intimate, Impatient, Humorous, Wild and Boisterous, were as varied as the titles indicated. 5 preludes by Debussy followed that included The Girl with the Flaxen Hair. Greenslade’s sensitivity was ably demonstrated in his interpretation of both these works.

Goodnight Kiwi by NZ composer, Victoria Kelly, drew a parallel between the 1970s animation signalling end of TV for the night and the approaching end of her mother’s long illness.

Rachmaninoff’s Prelude in B minor, considered the composer’s personal favourite among his preludes, preceded the final ‘tour de force’, the Appassionata Sonata by Beethoven. These two works were challenging to play and Greenslade rose to the occasion giving the appreciative audience an enjoyable afternoon of piano repertoire. We were treated to an encore, Granados’ Epilogo, as a resolution to the Appassionata’s sense of struggle.

- Jeremy Whimster, 4th August 2019