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Eighteen-year old Pinchas Antal is a third-year Bachelor of Music student currently studying piano performance in the class of Ilya Poletaev here at the Schulich School of Music. He began his piano studies at the age of ten with Vladimir Krassov, while also studying advanced theory and composition with Professor Alexander Posdynakov. During this brief time, he has amassed a large repertoire, given numerous recitals, and has had the opportunity to perform for Professor Valeri Sigalevitch and Dr. Indrek Laul, and audition for Maestro Zubin Mehta.

In 2015, Pinchas won 1st place honours in the Crescendo International Music Competition and was invited to play in Carnegie Hall. In 2016, Pinchas performed Gershwin's Rhapsody in Blue with the Musicians of the World Symphony Orchestra in Montreal. At the age of fifteen, he won 2nd place in the 18-21 category at the Canadian Music Competition, following a performance of the 1st movement of Rachmaninoff’s Piano Concerto No. 2 Op. 15. Most recently, Pinchas won the 2019-2020 McGill Classical Concerto Competition and will perform with the McGill Symphony Orchestra on January 18, 2020 in Pollack Hall.

In preparation of his performance, we interviewed Pinchas over email:

Why did you choose to compete in the Classical Concerto Competition with Mozart’s Piano Concerto No. 24 in C minor?

This competition is a unique and major opportunity that the Schulich School of Music offers its students. I did not want to have any regrets for not having tried to compete in this competition before completing my bachelor’s degree.

I chose this concerto as it has always been my favorite of all of Mozart’s concerti. From the very first measure the music captivates you with its noble yet mysterious theme. There is also the fact that it is in C minor, which makes it irregular, as all of his concerti - except No. 20 in D minor - are in major keys.

When you won the Classical Concerto Competition, you were accompanied by a fellow pianist. Will your approach change now that you’re playing with an orchestra?

My interpretation will not change but my approach will. Now that I am playing with the orchestra, a whole new door of possibilities open, so there are many things to consider such as colour, timbre, dynamic, and balance.

Who is your biggest musical influence and why?

The person that has influenced me the most musically has to be my first piano teacher Vladimir Krassov. He has always cared about my musical education and artistry on the piano above and beyond the standards of any regular teacher. He was always extending lessons and always encouraging me to do better, something he still does today.