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Corey McVicar

(He/Him)
Pre-College
  • Piano
Corey Jamason headshot

Contact

Office 305

Courses Taught

Applied Lessons

Ensembles

Sydney Symphony Orchestra

Queensland Symphony Orchestra

Awards and Distinctions

Frinna Awerbuch International Piano Competition

Liszt International Piano Competition

Yale Gordon Piano Competition

Dan Saslov Piano Competition

Notable Studio Wins

Sarah Tuan - First Prize Virginia Waring International Piano Competition

Yifu Xu - Prize winner 2022 Jefferson Symphony Colorado Piano Competition

Distinguished Alumni

Soo Yeon Cho - teaching and performing career in NYC

Sarah Tuan - participant and prize winner in numerous international piano competitions

Claire Chang - current Pre-College student winner and prize winner of many national piano competitions

McVicar's performance was duly poetic and exhilarating"

— Sydney Morning Herald

Q&A

What is your hometown?

I was born in Sydney, Australia.

What is your favorite recording?

I have so many favorite recordings: Andras Schiff’s Bach Well Tempered Klavier Books 1 and 2; Zubin Mehta’s “Turandot” with Sutherland, Pavarotti and Caballe; Herbert Von Karajan’s “Tosca” with Price and De Stefano; Montserrat Caballe singing Bellini arias; Jean Yves Thibaudet playing “Conversations with Bill Evans. But, I would have to say Horowitz playing Rachmaninov and Scriabin on "Russian Romantics" is my favorite recording.

What are you passionate about outside of music?

I enjoy food and travel, particularly in Asia and Europe.  I also enjoy bike riding in the Bay area.

What question do you wish students would ask sooner rather than later?

I encourage my students to ask many questions during their lessons about the music that we are studying together, but ultimately the question I want to help them with is, "What will I do next after I graduate?" There are so many options.

What was a turning point in your career?

After completing graduate studies in 1990, deciding that I wouldn't return to Australia, but to take on residency in the United States and begin teaching full time at the Peabody Conservatory of Music.

If you could play only three composers for the rest of your life, who would they be?

Gosh, only three? That's so difficult… Corelli, Bach, Mozart, Wagner, Rachmaninov, Mahler, Richard Strauss, Prokofiev…but if I were on an island with the works of only three composers, they would be Chopin, Liszt and Beethoven.

What recordings can we hear you on?

Homage, VDA Classics
Tableaux, VDA Classics

What is your unrealized project?

I am not even close to learning everything ever written for the piano...

Biography

Corey McVicar, described as a “truly poetic and exhilarating” pianist by the Sydney Morning Herald, has performed worldwide. He has appeared extensively throughout his native Australia, including notable performances at the Sydney Opera House and Sydney Parliament House; he has also given concerto performances with the Sydney and Queensland Symphony Orchestras. Other international performances include solo recital and concerto engagements in Singapore at Victoria Hall; in Thailand at the American University and Goethe institute; in France at the Saint Germain en-Laye Bibliotech; and in the United States at the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, Carnegie Weill Recital Hall and Strathmore Hall. Mr McVicar’s performances have been broadcast on radio stations throughout Australia, France, and the U.S. and his CD recordings have been released by VDA Classics. Mr. McVicar’s competition successes include the New York Frinna Awerbuch International Piano Competition, the Liszt International Piano Competition (Italy), and the Yale Gordon and Dan Saslov Piano Competitions in Maryland. He earned his music degrees at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music of the University of Sydney, and the Peabody Conservatory of Music of the Johns Hopkins University. Postgraduate study took place in Germany and France. The various artists with whom he has worked include Ann Schein, Yvonne Lefebure, Leon Fleisher, and Murray Perahia. Before joining the San Francisco Conservatory of Music in 2011 Mr McVicar held piano teaching positions at the Peabody Conservatory of Music of the Johns Hopkins University and Columbia University; and he has given piano masterclasses in Asia, Australia and North America. Many of his current and former piano students have won major prizes in both National and International piano competitions.