Piano
Saturday 1st August 2026
VENUE: Balaklava High School Performing Arts Centre – See Eisteddfod Venues page
CONVENOR: Nicole Matthews
ADJUDICATOR: Penny Cashman
Collaborative pianist Penelope Cashman has performed at venues including the Haus der Musik (Vienna), Ukaria Cultural Centre (South Australia), and the Holywell Music Room (Oxford, UK). Recent performance projects include the world premiere and recording of Glyn Lehmann’s chamber song cycle “As the Universe Expands” and recitals for the Elder Lunchtime Series and Chamber Music Adelaide’s On The Terrace. In 2025, together with tenor Kyle Stegall, she established the recital series, Magpie Artsong.
Also active as a vocal coach, Penelope has presented masterclasses at the University of Waikato Conservatorium of Music (NZ) and served as faculty member for the State Opera of South Australia Opera Academy. Opera work has taken her to the Pieve di San Leolino (Chianti, Italy), Theater Akzent (Vienna), and the Festival Theatre (Adelaide). Penelope teaches lyric diction at the Elder Conservatorium of Music and her repetiteur credits for State Opera South Australia include Così fan tutte, Madama Butterfly and Ross Edwards’ Christina’s World.
Penelope has a thriving piano teaching studio in Adelaide and online, and is a certified instructor in the Taubman Approach. She is passionate about life-long music learning and co-ordinates the Adelaide University’s Open Music Academy Continuing Education program. The 2026 Australian Piano Pedagogy Conference featured her presentation, “Lifelong Possibility at the Piano: Neuroscience-Informed Teaching for Adult Learners”.
In addition to a PhD from Adelaide University, Penelope holds a Masters of Vocal Accompaniment from the Musik und Kunst Privatuniversität der Stadt Wien (Austria), and performance degrees from the Conservatorium van Amsterdam (The Netherlands) and the Australian National University, where she received the University Medal.
DISCIPLINE INFORMATION
Entrants MUST read the Syllabus Notes for Saturday 1st August 2026 for detailed information and the Rules & Conditions of Entry
Sections will include solo and duet/trio (2-3 pianists)
SEE SYLLABUS FOR FULL DETAILS
Piano Sections
9.00am – Junior ‘B’ Piano Solo – Age 10
9.45am – Junior ‘A’ Piano Solo – Age 9 & under
10.25am – Novice Piano Solo – Any age – * Conditions apply *)
11.05am – Intermediate Piano Solo – Age 13 & under
11.45am – Duet & Trios (4-6 hands) – Junior – All members 13 & under
1.00pm – Duet & Trios (4-6 hands) – Open – Ensembles with any members 14 & over
ANNOUNCE PIANO DUET & TRIO CHAMPION – GRACE ANDERS MEMORIAL AWARD
2.15pm – Open Piano Solo – Any Age
3.20pm – Senior Piano Solo – Age 16 & under
ANNOUNCE PIANO SOLO CHAMPION
ANNOUNCE MERIEL & ANDREW LANE ENCOURAGEMENT AWARD
For full Program Outline with section details click HERE
(See the Program page for full program)
GRACE ANDERS MEMORIAL AWARD
(Piano Duet & Trio Champion)
VICTORIA GRACE ANDERS
20.07.1911 – 06.02.2010
Grace, as she was known to many, was the great energy behind the Balaklava Music Lovers’ Society. She was trained as a primary school teacher and had very good facility as an accompanist, theory student and sight reader. She transposed at sight and composed music to fit any occasion.
Grace conducted choirs and played the Uniting Church pipe organ for 50 years. One of her major achievements was to receive her Associateship of Music of Australia in Piano performance at the age of 45 years. To achieve this, she travelled to Adelaide once a fortnight to have lessons from George Pearce. Unlike today thought, travelling to Adelaide was not easy in 1956.
Grace taught for many years at Balaklava Primary School and then taught students in her private studio. Her great interest was in playing classical pieces, she was well rounded enough to play for dances throughout World War 2 and to accompany singers and instrumentalists in many genres of music.
Until her last few months of her long life, Grace played for functions at Mill Court Retirement Home, where she was known as their ‘resident pianist’.