Phillip Shovk
Phillip Shovk - piano
Phillip Shovk is considered to be one of Australia's foremost concert pianists, chamber musicians, accompanists and pedagogues. After initial lessons with Anatole Mirosznyk he continued his studies with George Humphrey at the Sydney Conservatorium High School from where he graduated with the Frank Hutchens Prize for being the most promising performer of his year. He then furthered his studies at the Moscow State Conservatory, studying with Professor Valery Kastelsky (himself a student of the legendary Heinrich Neuhaus) and graduating as a Master of Fine Arts with highest marks in all musical subjects.
In 1987 he become a Laureate at the Vianni di Motta competition in Lisbon and in 1988 at the Sydney International Competition, where he was awarded the Hephzibah Menuhin Prize and the Best Australian Pianist Prize. He was also awarded a Best Accompanist prize at the Tchaikovsky Competition in 1994.
He has performed to great acclaim in Russia, Georgia, Portugal, France, Germany, Switzerland, Belgium, Singapore, New Zealand, China, USA, Spain, Norway and the UK.
Phillip Shovk has also adjudicated at many of Australia's leading competitions including the Sydney International Piano Competition, the Lev Vlassenko Competition, Sydney Eisteddfod, Yamaha Youth Competition, Hephzibah Menuhin Competition and others. He has also been a jury member of Concours Animato in Paris, the New Zealand National Concerto Competition and the Singapore National Piano Competition and has taught at the Conservatoire Rachmaninoff in Paris, the Australian Institute of Music and Chetham’s School of Music in Manchester. He is presently Lecturer in Piano and Accompaniment at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music.