{{Short description|Australian husband and wife pianists}} {{Use dmy dates|date=February 2022}} {{Use Australian English|date=August 2015}} {{redirects here|Pamela Page|the American hurdler|Pam Page}} '''Max Olding''' AM (4 July 1929 – 17 November 2021) and '''Pamela Page''' (born 4 April 1934) were a distinguished Australian husband and wife team of duo-pianists. They performed separately in recitals and as concerto soloists, chamber music performers and accompanists both nationally and internationally, but were best known as a piano duo.
They met when they tied for first place<ref>{{cite news |title=Australians' Music Prize |url=https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/248936744?searchTerm=%22pamela%20page%22%20%22max%20olding%22 |access-date=19 August 2025|work=The Daily Telegraph|location=Sydney|agency=Australian Associated Press|date=2 December 1954|via=Trove}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Max Olding in competition tie |url=https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/69869673?searchTerm=pamela%20page%20max%20olding |access-date=21 August 2020 |work=Advocate |publisher=Harris & Co. |date=2 December 1954}}</ref> in the inaugural Royal Concert Trust Fund Competition in London in 1954.<ref name="The Courier-Mail">{{cite news |last1=Lim |first1=Naomi |title=Classical musician Pamela Page is planning an 80th birthday concert with husband Max Olding at QPAC |url=https://www.couriermail.com.au/questnews/southeast/classical-musician-pamela-page-is-planning-an-80th-birthday-concert-with-husband-max-olding-at-qpac/news-story/40574d3478cb42120e14010c96e672ed |access-date=20 June 2020|newspaper=The Courier-Mail|date=31 March 2014}}</ref> They married in Vienna in 1955.<ref>{{cite news |title=Programmes and People |url=https://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-1425896986/view?sectionId=nla.obj-1542010074&partId=nla.obj-1425987029#page/n18/mode/1up |access-date=21 August 2020 |issue=42 |publisher=The ABC Weekly |date=22 October 1955|volume = 17}}</ref>
They performed as a duo for the opening of ABC Television in 1956. They gave many recitals in Australia, the United Kingdom, the United States, Austria, Vietnam, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, Hong Kong, and New Zealand. In Australia they appeared with all major and many regional orchestras.
Their repertoire was extensive and included original two-piano works and concertos as well as arrangements and transcriptions. Larry Sitsky composed his ''Concerto for Two Solo Pianos'' for this duo.<ref>{{cite web |title=Concerto for two solo pianos : piano duo by Larry Sitsky (1967) |url=https://www.australianmusiccentre.com.au/work/sitsky-larry-concerto-for-two-solo-pianos |website=Australian Music Centre |access-date=21 August 2020}}</ref><ref name="Pleskun" /><ref>{{cite web |last1=Collett |first1=Morwenna |title=A Lifetime of Teamwork |url=https://www.australianmusiccentre.com.au/article/a-lifetime-of-teamwork |website=Resonate Magazine |publisher=Australian Music Centre |access-date=21 August 2020}}</ref> Olding and Page recorded this work with the Sydney Symphony Orchestra in 1977 on the World Record Club label.<ref>{{cite web|title=Concerto for woodwind quintet and orchestra (1971) : Concerto for two solo pianos (1967) / Larry Sitsky |date=1977 |volume=WRC: R 04694 |url=https://trove.nla.gov.au/work/16866329|via=Trove|type=catalogue record|access-date=19 August 2025}}</ref> Many other works have been dedicated to them by composers including Felix Werder, Peter Sculthorpe, Philip Bračanin, John Carmichael and Margaret Sutherland.<ref name="Pleskun">{{cite book |last1=Pleskun |first1=Stephen |title=A Chronological History of Australian Composers and Their Compositions|volume=2: 1955–1984|date=2012 |publisher=Xlibris |isbn=978-1-4797-5752-7 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=uSR9IDxK0ykC&q=max+olding&pg=PT629 |access-date=21 August 2020}}</ref>
In the 1950s, Olding and Page were duo-pianists who broadcast recitals on Australian Broadcasting Corporation radio, including repertoire by Australian composer Margaret Sutherland.<ref>{{cite journal |title=All the RADIO programmes |journal=The ABC Weekly |date=3 June 1959 |volume=21 |issue=22 |page=16 |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-1497143251 |access-date=21 August 2020}}</ref>
In 1975, Olding and Page appeared on TV, performing music for four hands in the Australian Broadcasting Corporation's educational television series, ''All About Music''.<ref>{{cite news |title=Look in ... on your week of television |url=https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/254797095 |access-date=21 August 2020 |work=The Bananacoast Opinion |issue=page 6 |date=5 February 1975}}</ref>
During the 1970s,<ref>{{cite news |title=2CY Monday to Sunday |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article136982932 |access-date=21 August 2020 |newspaper=The Canberra Times|issue=17 |date=2 September 1974}}</ref> 1980s<ref>{{cite news |title=Today's radio |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article122505885 |access-date=21 August 2020 |work=The Canberra Times |issue=17 |date=28 March 1985}}</ref> and 1990s,<ref>{{cite news |title=Arts and Entertainment |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article122304224 |access-date=21 August 2020 |newspaper=The Canberra Times|issue=10 |date=13 August 1990}}</ref> Olding and Page performed together in concerts that were also broadcast nationally on ABC radio.
Max Olding and Pamela Page have one son, the violinist Dene Olding.<ref>{{cite journal |title=Olding Joins Ensemble |journal=Uniken |date=19 March 1982 |volume=1982 |issue=3 |page=4 |url=https://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-255478179/view?sectionId=nla.obj-263040350&partId=nla.obj-255478704#page/n3/mode/1up |access-date=21 August 2020}}</ref><ref name="The Courier-Mail"/>
In 2025, the Australian Piano Duo Festival Inc.<ref>https://pianoduofest.org/</ref> announced a new piano duet/duo prize honouring Pamela Page and Max Olding.<ref>https://pianoduoprize.au/</ref>
==Max Olding== '''Maxwell Charles Olding''' was born on 4 July 1929. He grew up in Launceston, Tasmania, where as a pianist he often competed against Australian composer Peter Sculthorpe, who later joked that he turned his focus to composition because he could never beat Olding in piano competitions.<ref>"Backstage with Dene Olding", ''Limelight'', January 2016, p. 24</ref> In 1950, at age 21, he was appointed an Australian Music Examinations Board (AMEB) Examiner. He won the Commonwealth final of the 1952 ABC's Concerto Competition.<ref name="Symphony Services International">{{cite web |title=Young Performers Award Past Winners |url=http://symphonyinternational.net/artist-development/performers/past-winners/ |website=Symphony Services International |access-date=11 June 2020}}</ref>
He began his tertiary teaching career at the University of Melbourne Conservatorium. He was an adjudicator at the 1952 City of Sydney Eisteddfod and has since adjudicated at most of Australia's major music competitions, has chaired many of them and has acted as external examiner for higher degrees at the Universities of Melbourne, Western Australia, Tasmania, Queensland, Southern Queensland and Queensland University of Technology (QUT). Olding adjudicated at the 2010 National Young Performers Awards in Invercargill, New Zealand.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Lamont |first1=Sarah |title=Youngsters' talents win praise |url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/southland-times/4242720/Youngsters-talents-win-praise |website=stuff.co.nz |date=17 October 2010 |publisher=Stuff |access-date=27 August 2020}}</ref>
In 1952 he was a state finalist in the ABC Concerto and Vocal Competition.<ref name="Symphony Services International"/>
He was a patron of the Music Teachers Association of Queensland, the Piano Tuners and Technicians Guild and was a Fellow of the Queensland Conservatorium. He gave many master classes and seminars nationally and internationally.
He was deputy chair and principal examiner (Instrumental) for the Australian Music Examinations Board (AMEB) in Queensland.<ref>{{cite web |title=Australian Music Examinations Board Examiners |url=https://www.ameb.edu.au/examiners |publisher=Australian Music Examinations Board |access-date=20 June 2020}}</ref> In later years he also worked extensively in Southeast Asia and New Zealand for the board in examining and promotional activities.
Max Olding held positions as president of the Queensland Symphony Orchestra Society and deputy chair of the Brisbane Institute of Art. He was patron of the Queensland Piano Tuners and Technicians Guild, and was a Life Member of the Accompanists Guild of Queensland.<ref name=AGQ>{{cite web |title=AGQ Life Members |url=https://www.accompanistsguildofqld.org.au/committee/ |website=Accompanists Guild of Queensland |date=9 July 2012|access-date=1 January 2019}}</ref>
Olding was a Churchill Fellow, awarded in 1970 "To investigate new methods and techniques relating to pianoforte teaching and instruction at advanced and tertiary levels – Japan, Russia, Hungary, France, UK, USA".<ref>{{cite web |title=Winston Churchill Trust: Our Fellows |url=https://www.churchilltrust.com.au/fellows/detail/627/Max+OLDING%20AM |website=Winston Churchill Trust |access-date=20 June 2020 |archive-date=22 June 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200622080408/https://www.churchilltrust.com.au/fellows/detail/627/Max+OLDING%20AM |url-status=dead }}</ref>
Olding recorded chamber music including cello and piano works by Australian composer Dulcie Holland, on the CD, ''Study in Green: Music of Australian Composers'';<ref>{{cite web |title=CD Study in green: music of Australian composers |url=https://www.australianmusiccentre.com.au/product/study-in-green-music-of-australian-composers |website=Australian Music Centre |access-date=27 August 2020}}</ref> Mozart, Beethoven and Brahms with violinist Dene Olding on ''Great Violin Sonatas'';<ref>{{cite web |title=Great Violin Sonatas: Dene Olding, Max Olding |url=https://www.prestomusic.com/classical/products/8068408--great-violin-sonatas |website=Presto Classical |access-date=27 August 2020}}</ref> and several pieces with Dene Olding on the compilation album, ''The Essential Violin''.<ref>{{cite web |title=The Essential Violin |url=https://www.prestomusic.com/classical/products/8733949--the-essential-violin |website=Presto Classical |access-date=27 August 2020 }}{{Dead link|date=February 2026 |bot=InternetArchiveBot }}</ref>
Max Olding recorded solo piano examination repertoire for the AMEB.<ref name="Allans Publishing">{{cite book |last1=Bailey|first1=Kerin|last2=Olding|first2=Max|last3=Page|first3=Pamela|title=Piano for Leisure: Recording & Handbook|series=Series 2|date=2005 |publisher=Allans Publishing |location=Melbourne, Australia |isbn=978-1-86367-484-3 |url=https://trove.nla.gov.au/work/20731220?selectedversion=NBD40580591 |access-date=21 August 2020}}</ref>
He was also involved in conducting symphonic, choral, operatic and theatre works as well as teaching, administration and as organist and choirmaster.
In 2011, Olding (along with Page) received a Doctor of Music ''honoris causa'' from the University of Queensland, where he had taught piano for many years.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|title=Musical pioneers honoured (in UQ's Contact Magazine Summer 2011 issue).|url=https://alumni.uq.edu.au/files/71777/ContactMagazineSummer2011.pdf}}</ref> He also held senior teaching and administrative positions at the Queensland Conservatorium Griffith University<ref name=":1" /> (deputy director and principal lecturer in piano); QUT (acting head and senior lecturer); and City University of New York (visiting professor).
He died on 17 November 2021, aged 92.<ref>[https://music.uq.edu.au/article/2021/11/vale-max-olding-am-1929-2021 Univoersity of Queensland School of Music]</ref><ref name=":1">[https://www.abc.net.au/classic/read-and-watch/news/vale-australian-pianist-and-conductor-max-olding/13638766 ABC Classic, Vale Max Olding]</ref>
==Pamela Page== '''Pamela Harcourt Page''' was born on 4 April 1934.<ref name="The Courier-Mail"/> She won an Empire Overseas Scholarship to study at Trinity College of Music, London, where she was awarded the Maude Seton Prize for the most outstanding student. She later performed on BBC radio and television and gave solo and concerto performances in London and the English counties. She was subsequently accepted into Walter Gieseking's master class in Saarbrücken.
Back in Australia, Page provided the close-up scenes of the pianist's hands in ''Wherever She Goes'',<ref>{{cite journal |title=News and Gossip: Young pianist for London... A T. S. Eliot rumour scotched...L-P records... Barry Tuckwell |journal=The ABC Weekly |date=4 August 1951 |page=26 |url=https://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-1445152449/view?sectionId=nla.obj-1549718670&partId=nla.obj-1445214991#page/n25/mode/1up |access-date=22 August 2020}}</ref> a 1951 biographical film about Eileen Joyce (whose character was otherwise played by Suzanne Parrett).<ref name="where">{{cite magazine|first=Stephen|last=Vagg|magazine=Variety|date=29 October 2025|access-date=29 October 2025|url=https://www.filmink.com.au/forgotten-australian-films-wherever-she-goes/|title=Forgotten Australian Films: Wherever She Goes}}</ref>
During the 1950s and 1960s, Pamela Page was a pianist for the Australian Broadcasting Commission, now known as the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC),<ref>{{cite web |title=Annual report of the Australian Broadcasting Commission 1968–1969|page=50|url=https://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-2769293044/view?sectionId=nla.obj-2791061297&partId=nla.obj-2772473691#page/n49/mode/1up |publisher=Australian Broadcasting Commission |access-date=21 August 2020}}</ref> including as a solo pianist.<ref>{{cite news |title=ABC Weekly |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-1499738843 |access-date=21 August 2020 |volume=19|issue=22, page 33 |publisher=Australian Broadcasting Commission |date=1 June 1957}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=ABC Weekly |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-1283255852 |access-date=21 August 2020 |volume=19|issue=31|page=15|publisher=Australian Broadcasting Commission |date=3 August 1957}}</ref>
Page has performed as a pianist in a recording with the Queensland Symphony Orchestra.<ref>{{cite journal |title=Concert Classics [EMI] |journal=[sound recording] |date=1975 |url=https://trove.nla.gov.au/work/21533846 |access-date=21 August 2020}}</ref>
Page gave many concerto performances in all capital cities, recitals on ABC radio, live TV appearances and also hosted a TV children's show.
Later, Page was appointed senior lecturer at the Faculty of Music, University of Queensland.
Pamela Page is also a painter, and has performed Mussorgsky's ''Pictures at an Exhibition'' accompanied by the display of her art.<ref>{{cite web |title=Australian Festival of Chamber Music 2009 Programme (p44) |url=https://issuu.com/oraclestudio/docs/2009-afcm-programme |publisher=Australian Festival of Chamber Music |access-date=26 January 2021}}</ref>
Pamela Page has recorded solo piano examination repertoire for the Australian Music Examinations Board.<ref name="Allans Publishing"/>
Pamela Page is a Life Member of the Accompanists Guild of Queensland.<ref name=AGQ />
In 2011, she (along with Olding) received a Doctor of Music ''honoris causa'' from the University of Queensland, where she had been employed in a teaching capacity since 1968.<ref name=":0"/>
==Honours and awards== In January 1991, Max Olding was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) "for service to music and to music education".<ref>{{Cite It's an Honour|recipient=Mr Maxwell Charles Olding|award=Member of the Order of Australia|postnominal=AM|id=869911|date=26 January 1991|access-date=19 August 2025}}</ref>
The Australian Music Examinations Board (AMEB) in Queensland has named its auditorium the Max Olding Auditorium.<ref>{{cite web |title=Venue Hire |url=https://ameb.qld.edu.au/about-us/venue-hire |website=Australian Music Examinations Board |date=3 June 2019 |access-date=21 August 2020}}</ref>
Both Pamela Page<ref>{{Cite It's an Honour|id=1117718|recipient=Ms Pamela Harcourt Page|award=Centenary Medal|date=1 January 2001|access-date=19 August 2025}}</ref> and Max Olding<ref>{{Cite It's an Honour|recipient=Mr Maxwell Charles Olding|award=Centenary Medal|id=1117258|date=1 January 2001|access-date=19 August 2025}}</ref> were awarded the Centenary Medal in 2001.
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== * [https://web.archive.org/web/20080726145612/http://www.griffith.edu.au/school/qcgu/about/industry_and_community/resources/doc/max-olding-pamela-page.doc "Musical Notes": Max Olding and Pamela Page] * [http://www.nqconcerto.org/History/2006%20Comp.html North Queensland Concerto and Vocal Competition]{{Dead link|date=February 2026 |bot=InternetArchiveBot }} * [http://www.resonatemagazine.com.au/article.php?id=71 Resonate: A lifetime of teamwork] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080720071949/http://www.resonatemagazine.com.au/article.php?id=71 |date=20 July 2008 }} * [https://web.archive.org/web/20110215214858/http://ameb.qld.edu.au/index.php/support/23-workshops--masterclasses/45-the-max-olding-auditorium.html AMEB Qld: Max Olding Auditorium] * {{Discogs artist|4246104-Max-Olding|Max Olding}} * {{Discogs artist|4246103-Pamela-Page|Pamela Page}} * {{IMDb name|6120213|Max Olding}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Olding, Max}} Olding, Max Category:Classical piano duos Olding Category:Married couples Category:Musical groups established in 1956 Category:Musical groups disestablished in 2021 Category:1956 establishments in Australia Category:2021 disestablishments in Australia Category:21st-century Australian classical pianists