Today we’d like to introduce you to Steven Vanhauwaert .
Hi Steven, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I started my journey as a pianist at an early age, at the piano in my parent’s living room in Belgium. Something about the sound of the great masters of the piano on my father’s LP collection instilled in me an awe for the magic of musical sounds. I later on studied piano at the Royal Conservatory in Brussels and then came to the US in order to experience a different culture and ended up settling here. I am fortunate to be able to discover the world through my professional travels and to connect with audiences wherever the music takes me!
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
You won’t find many musicians who’s path was without struggles. I would say that moving by myself to a different continent and starting a career in the US from scratch certainly had its ups and downs. Overall, however, I feel beyond fortunate to be surrounded by great friends and family who have always been supportive throughout this journey.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
For the last 20 years, I have primarily been a touring classical pianist; going from one concert or festival to the next. It is at times quite a hectic lifestyle, but it has allowed me to visit many places I would not otherwise have been able to go visit; as well as meet people from various backgrounds and all walks of life. I always had a curiosity for repertoire that is a bit off-the-beaten-path, and I have tried to give those composers a special place in my concert programs. My teacher in Brussels always emphasized the importance of being able to assimilate musical works quickly, especially for us pianists (who frequently have a lot more notes to learn than our string colleagues for example). Developing this ability can serve as a way to discover more repertoire, and also to be able to accept a wider range of concert engagements simultaneously. I took that advice to heart and worked hard to develop this skill.
Recently I also accepted a position on the piano faculty of the University of Utah in Salt Lake City where I get to work with the next generation of pianists to pass on my experience and help them in their transition from students to professional pianists.
So, before we go, how can our readers or others connect or collaborate with you? How can they support you?
In the past 5 years, I have served as music director of the Second-Sundays-at-Two concert series in Rolling Hills, where I have come to experience the musical world from an organizational perspective. Music is all about connecting and community; all musical organizations, from symphonies to smaller series need support from patrons and audience members to continue their musical offerings. At Second-Sundays-at-Two we present 8 recitals per season on every second Sunday of the month. We always welcome people who want to help out, be on our board, or support our concert series through (tax-free) donations. If you are interested in supporting us; I invite you to reach out to me and check out this season’s wonderful artists at http://www.palosverdes.com/ClassicalCrossroads/SecondSundays.htm.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.stevenpiano.com
- Instagram: Steven.vanhauwaert
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/user/stevenvanhauwaert
- Other: http://www.palosverdes.com/ClassicalCrossroads/SecondSundays.htm
Image Credits
Tammy Horton
