Rachael Lin brought a fresh repertoire of music to the 2024 edition of the Australian National Piano Award competition.
Photo by
Rechelle Zammit
Sydney-based pianist Rachael Lin, a 2022 finalist in the Australian National Piano Award, recently returned to Shepparton for her second appearance at the prestigious competition.
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Rachael, who holds a Bachelor of Music with First Class Honours from the Sydney Conservatorium of Music and a Master of Performance from the Royal College of Music, brought a thoughtfully curated program to the stage, showcasing works by Australian composers Carl Vine, Peter Sculthorpe and Julian Yu.
Rachael spoke about what set this competition apart, noting how it offered a rare opportunity for performers to deliver two full recitals before the finals.
“It’s a bit unique in this competition: everybody gets to play two recitals,” Rachael said.
“Sometimes in other competitions, you only play maybe 15 minutes or 20 minutes, and then you get knocked out and go home.
“This one is quite nice in that they let us play two full 40-minute programs.”
Juggling her full-time job teaching piano at Sydney Grammar School while preparing for the competition had been a challenge for Rachael this year, but she remained committed to her craft.
“I actually didn’t even touch solo piano last year, pretty much,” Rachael said.
“This time around, it’s been harder because I’ve had to juggle full-time work, piano rehearsals, and learning a lot of new repertoire for this competition.
“It’s just slowly chipping away, and you’ll never feel fully prepared by the time you step on to the stage.
“But no matter what happens, you’ve just gotta get on with it and sell the performance.”
Despite the heavy workload, Rachael continues to find joy in performing, particularly contemporary music.
“I think the Carl Vine Cilento is my favourite right now,” Rachael said.
“It’s so colourful, with so much to explore in the work.
“Some pieces just sound the same and don’t offer much variety in texture or technique.
“This one offers the full range, and it’s very contemporary.”
Pianist Rachael Lin with host Ngaire Rikys.
Photo by
Rechelle Zammit
Looking back on her experience two years ago, Rachael recalled how the competition was cut short by the 2022 floods in Shepparton.
“The unfolding was a bit traumatic,” Rachael said.
“The next morning, someone drove us out of there, and we managed to escape just before the floods hit Shepparton.
“I felt for the residents quite a lot because they were stuck here, whereas we were able to get out in time.
“It was not a good time, but they rebuilt, and they moved on.”
Rachael expressed her gratitude to be part of the event again. The support she’s received from the Shepparton community and her hosts is making this year’s competition a memorable experience.
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