Getting concerts

[JK]

As I will be an undergraduate piano student next year I really want to start palying more concerts and especially solo recitals as I think this is an excellent way to be heard by as many diferent people as posible, whilst gaining valuable experience in the process. Can anyone suggest ways that I can get more recital oppurtunities or perhaps put me in the direction of organisations with which you can get recitals by audition?

Also do you think that the only way to be a succesful performer is to have won a big piano competition, all the performers that I see always seem to have some big competition to their name!

[ayahav]

Phone local churches... Most of them have pianos, and would be more than willing to organise a little concert for you, providing the admission fees go to the church, or something like that. I have done that a couple of times (even though I'm Jewish)... There's a church where I live that is really close to a big office building, and people know that every thursday they have a free lunch concert, so they come... and all I had to do was just volunteer to play, and they did everything... It was nice.... a 30minute programme...

Also, giving 'home concerts' can always be fun - if you have a grand and enough space to host more than 15 people or something like that....

cheers... Amit

[Alp635]

What year are you in undergrad, and what sort of repertoire do you have ready?  

And easy way to get concerts is to immediately start working with other instrumentalists...I have gotten great performing opportunities all over the world due to working with other people (british cellist...british concerts...)

Competitions are the surest way to get concerts!  You win something big, you get lots of concerts.  Unity temple haas a concert series that I played in recently and it is a beautiful hall, tickets go for 40 dollars and you will have a large audience.  Send them a tape...
Generally, you can send different organizations your bio, a tape and your proposed concert.  However, the larger the venue, the more choices they will have so you should sound good!  Do some competitions as well...

[JK]

Thats good advice. I'm not an undergrad at the moment but wil be next year!

[A.C.]

You'll receive more performing opportunities in the universities. They'll organize concerts for you and will prepare you to participate in chamber music. Some music colleges may have internal and external competitions, you can participate in those competitions and gain more experiences.