Ian Munro, one of Australia’s most notable and awarded pianists, will visit Ballarat on April 30 to deliver the annual Don Huntley Memorial Piano Recital at the Wendouree Centre for Performing Arts.

However, earlier the same day he will also give a free masterclass to the city’s aspiring pianists.

“This piano recital is the most significant in the district for the entire year,” performance coordinator Bronislaw Sozanski said .

“It’s of a calibre you would pay three times as much for in Melbourne. We’re very fortunate to be able to get him here.”

Mr Sozanski said Munro’s visit was not only about delighting audiences, it also had a “pedagogical bent”.

“When I look for our guest artists I look for someone who is also a good teacher so we get the extra benefit of a top teacher conducting a masterclass,” he said.

“I open it to the whole community, anyone can come in.”

He said Ballarat’s piano scene was flourishing.

“Well there certainly are a lot of fine young musicians here. We just need to highlight it a bit more by putting on events,” he said.

“(Piano is) such a general instrument where you can play it solo, use it as accompaniment, and it’s used in all styles of music from rock and roll to pop and particularly jazz. As an educational tool, the piano is unbeatable.”

Munro trained in Melbourne before continuing in Vienna, London and Italy. His international career began in the UK, where he performed with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Philharmonia, English Chamber Orchestra, London Mozart Players, BBC Concert Orchestra and the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra.

He was awarded the Premier Grand Prix in 2003 at the Queen Elisabeth International Competition for composers in Belgium.

For details on Munro’s Ballarat performance, phone 5338 0980 or visit www.wcpa.com.au. For information on the masterclass, contact Mr Sozanski on 5338 0879.