"Climate change is a very real issue that is seldom discussed in my life and the people around me in Australia. In each season of each year we experience record high temperatures and rainfall being set, warning the community about the devastating consequences such as bushfires and floods. However, we rarely touch on the roots of the problem and exactly WHY we are experiencing this and what WE can do to forestall this matter. My programme directly relates my thoughts and experiences in Australia – the Szymanowski and the Schubert depicting the repercussions of the scorching heat. The Ravel and Debussy represent the reality of climate change - the snow is melting and the water is rising in the Arctic…I will be switching between two very special pianos in my performance - a Kaps with Érard Mechanic from 1875 and a Pleyel from 1937, exploring different sound worlds from two different eras." (Robbin Reza)
Australian Pianist ROBBIN REZA (23 years old) completed a Bachelor of Performance with First Class Honours at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music. There, he studied with Daniel Herscovitch from 2007 till 2016. From October 2017, Robbin commenced a Masters Degree with Claudio Martinez-Mehner and Nina Tichman at the Hochschule für Musik und Tanz Köln in Germany. Robbin made the decision broaden his musicality in Germany after being the recipient of the Mendelssohn Scholarship for the 2016 Mendelssohn Akademie in Leipzig, studying with Arie Vardi and Jacques Rouvier. Robbin gave his first public recital at the age of 11 for the launch of the 9th Sydney International Piano Competition and has been awarded numerous prizes in important competitions in Australia such as the NSW Secondary Schools Concerto Competition, Sydney Conservatorium Concerto Competition, Allison and Henderson Scholarship Sydney Eisteddfod and the ABC Symphony Australia Young Performers Awards. Robbin has performed widely in Australia and abroad and has made live broadcasts and recordings with prominent classical radio stations in Australia. Having a keen interest in contemporary music he has a passion for being the interpreter of new works by living composers leading to an Australian Premiere of Elliot Carter’s Two Controversies and a Conversation (2010) at the Sydney Conservatorium. Apart from the piano Robbin enjoys gardening and exploring the mechanics and electronics of cars.
ANDREW HIGHAM is CEO of Mission 2020. He was in charge, within the UNFCCC, of drafting and delivering the Paris Agreement, and has crafted UNFCCC’s substantive strategy since 2011. He has over 15 years’ experience leading large teams and delivering highly complex initiatives. Previous roles include International Expert in Climate Policy at ECN – advising leading firms, public-private initiatives and governments on global technology and finance strategy and analysis – and Strategies Director providing thought leadership across Australian NGOs. He also spent a decade as a senior political and policy advisor, designing and implementing subnational and national policies, programs and campaigns in the areas of science, technology, natural resources and environmental policy.
