Adelaide born Michael Ierace has been cited as having an ‘exceptional gift’ and his playing described as ‘revelatory’. He completed his university education at the Elder Conservatorium with teachers Stefan Ammer and Lucinda Collins where he gained a scholarship in every year of undergraduate study, culminating in him receiving the prestigious Elder Overseas Scholarship to help further his studies in London.
During his studies, he was asked to tour with the Australia/Malaysia Business Council and gave performances throughout Malaysia to their respective government members. In Austria while attending a summer school, he was selected as an outstanding participant and asked to play for the final showcase concert in the great Stift Altenburg.
Michael has had much success in local and national Australian competitions. Highlights include winning The Geoffrey Parsons Award – one of the few competitions to recognise the accompanist; winner of the national MBS Young Performers Award; first place in the Doris West Concerto Competition which earned him a performance with the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra. He later made his professional debut with the orchestra in the presence of the Premier of South Australia and the Polish Ambassador.
He later moved to London to study at the Royal College of Music with Professor Andrew Ball. He completed his Postgraduate Diploma and Artists Diploma, both with Distinction. While a student, he was selected as an RCM Rising Star and was awarded the Hopkinson Silver medal in the Chappell Competition, the RCM’s most celebrated keyboard award. He was later selected as a Junior Fellow in Piano Accompaniment holding the Gilbert and Eileen Edgar Junior Fellowship for 2 years.
In the Royal Over-Seas League (ROSL) Annual Music Competition, he received the ‘Coutts & Co Award for Keyboard’ as winner of the Keyboard Final and was later awarded the Accompanist Prize – the first pianist in the competition’s distinguished history to have received both awards. He has since been invited twice to perform at the ROSL’s series of recitals at the Edinburgh Fringe. In the International Haverhill Sinfonia Soloists Competition, he took 2nd place plus many specialist awards, and he also gained a place on the Phillip & Dorothy Green Young Concert Artist scheme. As a result of these awards he has performed extensively throughout the UK. Michael has also performed in many of the major halls in London including the Royal Festival Hall, Queen Elizabeth Hall, Cadogan Hall, St James, Piccadilly and St Martin-in-the-Fields.
Since moving back to Australia, Michael regularly performs throughout the country. Much sought after as an associate artist to national and international guests, he was instrumental in premiering Alexander Siloti’s recently discovered arrangements of Bach’s Violin Sonatas. He is also the regular repetiteur for the State Opera of South Australia and the Adelaide Festival, including playing for the Australian premiere of Brett Dean’s Hamlet.
Alongside his ‘classical’ duties, Michael is also the keyboard player for the Tributes in Concert Band, consistently praised as one of the best in the business after making their US debut in 2019.
Michael is currently working at the Elder Conservatorium.
