Matej Dzido & Daniel Semmelrock - Classical in Havana

Matej Dzido Piano Daniel Semmelrock Drums / Percussion

Classical in Havana

Matej Dzido. Pianist and vocal accompanist, born 1993 in Ljubljana (Slovenia), began his pre-college piano studies at the age of 13 at the Universität Mozarteum Salzburg with Lucy Revers-Chin. At the same time, he received music theory and composition lessons from Franz Zaunschirm and Reinhard Febel. He also took harpsichord lessons with Wolfgang Brunner and jazz piano lessons with Oliver Kent. He completed his Master's degree in piano in 2021 at the Universität Mozarteum Salzburg with Stan Ford, graduating with unanimous distinction. He is a prize winner of many national and international competitions as a pianist, répétiteur and composer, including: in 2014, 1st prize at the "6th International Competition Svirel" together with Austrian recorder player Manuela Mitterer; in 2010, 1st prize in the highest solo piano category at "Prima La Musica" with a special prize for the best interpretation of contemporary music in cooperation with OE1 and Steinway & Sons. In 2014, he also received 3rd prize at the composition competition "10 Jahre Österreichische Blasmusikjugend" for his work Une Voyage A Paris for symphonic wind orchestra, which was premiered by the Bläserphilharmonie Mozarteum under the direction of Martin Fuchsberger in the Great Hall of the Stiftung Mozarteum Salzburg. In 2015, Matej wrote the film score for the Austrian documentary Wellentäler (redwire Production).

Classical in Havana - Matej Dzido radiates pure joie de vivre as his nimble fingers fly across the keys, blending familiar classical melodies with fiery Latin American rhythms and jazzy interpretations. In his virtuosic self-arrangements, Beethoven's "Für Elise," Mozart's "Alla Turca" and other famous pieces of the classical piano repertoire come alive in a vibrant Latin-jazz style. The unique concert programme by the young Salzburg-based artist is also peppered with original piano pieces by Latin American composers that are rarely heard on stage. An evening full of musical surprises!