KIRSTEN SIMPSON
Kirsten was born in New Zealand and in 2002 she graduated from the University of Canterbury with a MMus in performance piano, studying with Canadian-born concert pianist, Diedre Irons. In New Zealand she won the 'Young Performer of the Year' award and was a finalist in the National Concerto Competition.
Kirsten studied at the Royal College of Music with Gordon Fergus-Thompson, John Blakely and Roger Vignoles, and graduated with and a PGDip in solo/ensemble and a PGDip adv. in piano accompaniment. She was a finalist for the RCM concerto competition and was awarded two distinctions for piano accompaniment.
Kirsten has performed with Dame Kiri Te Kanawa at Blenheim Palace and for a sponsorship concert in London. She has also accompanied Dame Malvina Major and Sir Howard Morrison for the New Zealand tour: 'A Knight with a Dame'. Last year she performed with the principal flutist of the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra, Bridget Douglas.
Kirsten has performed in many prestigious venues in London including the Wigmore Hall, the Purcell Room, St James's Piccadilly and St John's Smith Square. Her performances with New Zealand soprano, Anna Leese, include the finals of the Kathleen Ferrier competition, Festival di Londra, Italy, and Les Azuriales Young Singers Competition in Nice.
Kirsten has recently performed with the Emerald Quartet on a cruise from Singapore to India. She has worked for three years on the Solti Accademia Di Bel Canto course in Italy, with classes given by Dame Kiri Te Kanawa, Mirella Freni and Leo Nucci. This year she will accompany classes with Dame Kiri and Frederica von Stade.
Her major sponsors are the Dame Kiri Te Kanawa Foundation, the Dame Malvina Major Foundation and the Solti Foundation.
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