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Deborah Grimmett

CANADIAN PIANIST

Review of Piano Pinnacle at Arts at One Concert Series, Douglas College

 Below is a review which was published following my ensemble Piano Pinnacle’s recital at Douglas College:


In The Key Of A Master

Iman Habibi and Deborah Grimmett with friends and fans. Photo credit: Kayla Steinman.

Iman Habibi and Deborah Grimmett with friends and fans. Photo credit: Kayla Steinman.

Arts at One presents Iman Habibi and Deborah Grimmett in ‘Piano Pinnacle’

By Kayla Steinman, Contributor

Last Thursday in the Laura C. Muir Performing Arts Theatre, one of Douglas’ immensely talented graduates returned and proved that hard work and determination can make just about anyone’s dreams come true. Iman Habibi, once a Douglas music student, now a composer and pianist, came back to his beloved college to premier one of his own compositions, along with his partner and Vancouver-based music teacher, Deborah Grimmett. These two brought with them a passion that could only be achieved by years of patience as they developed their music.

Focusing on music from the 19th and the 20th centuries, the duo played for us the sounds of Spain in “Ritmo” from Danses Andalouses, composed by Manuel Infante; the piece expresses the fun, energetic, and busy life of a person in Spain. Using two pianos for all of the compositions performed, one was able to hear, as well as picture, what life would have been like in Spain when this composition was created.

For this concert in particular, Habibi and Grimmett did something amazing by requesting for a number of miniature compositions, averaging a minute each, from all around Canada, which they went on to showcase five of. This experiment was intended to bring British Columbian composers more attention, a topic that means a great deal to the duo; they went on to wish to encourage more students and music enthusiasts to show off their talents. In these miniatures, they played the sounds of rain falling, a gentle breeze, and “Off to the Races,” a high energy and fast-paced piece.

The one song that they both agreed on as having been the most fun to play was a piece that was found in a box of unwanted music outside of Grimmett’s studio, entitled “In a Persian Market.” This piece allowed one to easily hear the hustle and bustle of a market: the camels coming and going as bookends, with a princess arriving in-between. Habibi, who hails from a Persian background, used said reasoning as a personal encouragement to initially read through the piece, and later perform it.

Habibi, as was stated before, premiered an original piece, entitled “Towering.” He further stated that he had gotten the idea for the piece from viewing a concert, in which the entire movement was a crescendo. “Towering” was very lovely, with the melodies and harmonies shared between the two pianos, it could make anyone want to become a music student. The piece was simply one of the most amazing original compositions I’ve heard created in modern times, and it was very special to have been a part of experiencing the piece first hand.

Take the time next week to see some of our very own Douglas alumni perform in the Arts at One’s “Alumni Vocal Recital,” once again taking place at 1 p.m. in the Laura C. Muir Performing Arts Theatre at the New West campus—don’t forget, all Arts at One performances are absolutely free!

Posted in Uncategorized Tagged concert review, piano duo review, press, review

Torneo Internazionale di Musica

Piano Pinnacle (piano duo comprised of Deborah Grimmett and Iman Habibi) has been selected as the only North American team to perform at the second round of the Torneo Internazionale di Musica, held in Paris, France, in June 2012.

Posted in News Tagged Canadian piano duo, piano duo competition, Piano Pinnacle, Torneo Internazionale di Musica

Piano Pinnacle Wins Audience Choice and Third Prize at NorthWest International Piano Duo Competition

Deborah Grimmett and Iman Habibi (Piano Pinnacle) win the Third prize, and the Audience Choice Award at the 2010 International Northwest Piano Ensemble Competition. This competition was their debut as a piano duo.
http://www.pianopinnacle.com/piano-pinnacle-wins-3rd-prize-and-audience-choice-award-at-2nd-nwipec/

Posted in News Tagged Canadian piano duo, international piano competition, nwidpc, piano duo

Solo Concert for Composers’ Collective Series

 On May 4, 2010, I will perform a solo recital of contemporary compositions for the Composers’ Collective Concert Series. Below is the press release:

Composers’ Collective Series Presents:
DEBORAH GRIMMETT: AN EVENING OF CUTTING-EDGE CONTEMPORARY PIANO REPERTOIRE
Deborah Grimmett, pianist
Piano Lounge, Graham House, Green College, 6201 Cecil Green Park Road, UBC
May 04 5:00 pm – 6:30 pm

Pianist Deborah Grimmett’s performances have been heard in major concert halls throughout Canada, and in Europe, such as the Auditorium Santa Croce and the Centennial Theatre. Her past achievements include personal funded invitations to the Vancouver International Song Institute (VISI) and the Toronto Summer Music Academy and Festival (TSMAF) master class program. She has the prestige of being a prizewinner in the BC piano Competition, and in July 2007, she attended the Casalmaggiore International Music Festival in Italy, where she performed in solo and chamber recitals. Ms. Grimmett enjoys an active performing schedule, both within the university environment, and in the community. Her list of mentors include renowned Canadian pianist Jane Coop, acclaimed American concert phenomenon, Sara Davis Buechner, and Rumanian Marietta Orlov. A born Vancouverite, Ms. Grimmett holds a Bachelor of Music Degree from UBC, and is currently completing her Master of Music in Piano Performance at UofT. For the Composers’ Collective series, she returns home to favour the listeners with a sampling of contemporary piano repertoire,including Fornax Chemica, by Jeffrey Ryan, Preludes by Iman Habibi, Preludes by Jared Miller, Events in Pulse in Resonance by Ryan Trew, Two Worlds by Alfredo Santa Ana, andSonatine by Ravel.

Posted in News Tagged composer Iman Habibi, composers' collective, contemporary music for piano, contemporary music recital, green college concert, Iman Habibi, press release, recital, solo piano recital
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