{{Use Australian English|date=April 2017}} {{Use dmy dates|date=June 2020}} {{Infobox musical artist | name = Simon Tedeschi | background = non_vocal_instrumentalist | image = Simon Tedeschi.jpg | image_size = | birth_date = {{birth year and age |1981}} | birth_place = Gosford, New South Wales, Australia | occupation = Pianist | website = {{URL|https://simontedeschi.com/}} }}

'''Simon Tedeschi''' (born 1981) is an Australian classical pianist and writer. {{TOC limit|2}}

== Early life and education == Simon (Alexander Meir{{Efn|{{langx|he|מֵאִיר}}}}) Tedeschi was born in 1981<ref name=npg>{{cite web | title=Simon Tedeschi, b. 1981 | website=National Portrait Gallery people | date= 2021 | url=https://www.portrait.gov.au/people/simon-tedeschi-1981 | access-date=3 March 2026}}</ref> in Gosford to Mark Tedeschi QC, Senior Crown Prosecutor for New South Wales,<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://www.theaustralian.com.au/arts/simon-tedeschi-hearing-a-different-beat/news-story/29053f336789e485cd0c788928cf024d|title=Hearing a different beat|author=Sharon Verghis|newspaper=The Australian|date=2010-07-02|access-date=2017-04-23}}</ref> and doctor Vivienne Tedeschi, the daughter of a Polish Holocaust survivor, Lucy Gershwin.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://library.deakin.edu.au/record=b3269765|title=Two of Us : Lucy Gershwin And Simon Tedeschi|website=library.deakin.edu.au|access-date=15 June 2020}}</ref>

Raised in a Jewish household, he grew up on the North Shore of Sydney<ref>[http://advance.org/articles/member-profile-simon-tedeschi/ "Member Profile – Simon Tedeschi"], advance.org {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160114150014/http://advance.org/articles/member-profile-simon-tedeschi/ |date=14 January 2016 }}</ref>{{cn|date=March 2026}} and attended Beaumont Road Public School in West Killara<ref>[http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/newslocal/north-shore/pianist-simon-tedeschi-visits-his-old-school-beaumont-road-public-school-in-killara/story-fngr8h9d-1226969220294 "Pianist Simon Tedeschi visits his old school Beaumont Road Public School in Killara"] by Danielle Nicastri, ''North Shore Times'', 29 June 2014</ref> and St Andrew's Cathedral School in Sydney, where the headmaster discouraged him from taking part in sports lest he damage his hands.<ref>[http://www.sacs.nsw.edu.au/downloads/SACS_221436_Inspired%20Magazine%20August%202014_Web_FA2.6688.pdf "Old Andrean: Simon Tedeschi"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141214162443/http://www.sacs.nsw.edu.au/downloads/SACS_221436_Inspired%20Magazine%20August%202014_Web_FA2.6688.pdf |date=14 December 2014 }} by Melanie Pennington, ''Inspired'' (St Andrews' school paper), 2014, pp. 6–7</ref>

His teachers were Neta Maughan in Australia, Noretta Conci in England, and Peter Serkin in the United States.{{cn|date=March 2026}}

When he was 9 years old, Tedeschi performed Mozart's Piano Concerto No. 19, K.459 in the Sydney Opera House. At age 13, he played for Luciano Pavarotti.<ref name="Pavarotti">{{cite web | last=Law | first=Benjamin | title=Dicey Topics: Pianist Simon Tedeschi | website=The Sydney Morning Herald | date=8 July 2022 | url=https://www.smh.com.au/national/pianist-simon-tedeschi-i-m-profoundly-acquainted-with-cortisol-20220608-p5as7r.html | access-date=7 July 2024}}</ref>

== Career ==

Tedeschi signed with Sony Music Australia in 2000.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://trove.nla.gov.au/work/34380284?selectedversion=NBD22406573|title=Simon Tedeschi [sound recording] : [Gartner/Friedman, Scarlatti, Gershwin, Mageau, Palmgren, Rachmaninov, Debussy, Bach, Agnew, Shchedrin, Mendelssohn, Mozart, Seiber, Waller, Morton]. – Version details|website=Trove|access-date=2017-04-23}}</ref> His debut CD, ''Simon Tedeschi'', was nominated for at the ARIA Music Awards of 2000 for Best Classical Album.<ref name="ARIA2000">{{cite web | url = http://www.ariaawards.com.au/history/year/2000 | title = ARIA Awards – History: Winners by Year 2000 | publisher = Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) | access-date = 9 February 2018 | url-status = dead | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070926235639/http://www.ariaawards.com.au/history-by-year.php?year=2000 | archive-date = 26 September 2007 }}</ref> In 2004 he recorded Tchaikovsky's 1st Piano Concerto and Grieg's Piano Concerto with the Queensland Symphony Orchestra with Richard Bonynge. His album, ''Grieg / Tchaikovsky – Piano Concertos'', peaked at No.&nbsp;12 on the ARIA Classical chart in October 2005.<ref name="ARIA Report 818">{{cite journal | date = 31 October 2005 | archive-url = https://webarchive.nla.gov.au/awa/20051119130000/http://pandora.nla.gov.au/pan/23790/20051120-0000/issue818.pdf | title = Week Commencing ~ 31st October 2005 ~ Issue #818 | last = Thomas | first = Tara | journal = The ARIA Report| publisher = Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) | issue = 818 | page = 20 | url = http://www.aria.com.au/pages/documents/issue818.pdf | archive-date = 19 November 2005 | access-date = 9 February 2018 }}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref>

In November 2012 he released his next album, ''Gershwin and Me'' (Universal Music Group/ABC), which reached No.&nbsp;4 on the ARIA Classical, No.&nbsp;5 on the ARIA Hitseekers Albums, No.&nbsp;68 on the ARIA Top 100 Physical Albums charts in January 2013.<ref name="ARIA Report 1194">{{cite journal | date = 14 January 2013 | archive-url = https://webarchive.nla.gov.au/awa/20130103130100/http://pandora.nla.gov.au/pan/23790/20130104-0001/Issue1194.pdf | title = Week Commencing ~ 14th January 2013 ~ Issue #1194 | last = Wallace | first = Ian | journal = The ARIA Report| publisher = Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) | issue = 1194 | pages = 8, 21, 23 | url = http://www.aria.com.au/pages/documents/issue1194.pdf | archive-date = 3 January 2013 | access-date = 9 February 2018 }}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref> In that year, a follow-up album, ''Gershwin Take 2'', by Tedeschi with James Morrison and Sarah McKenzie was issued.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.abcmusic.com.au/discography/simon-tedeschi-gershwin-take-two|title=Simon Tedeschi – Gershwin: Take Two|website=ABC Music|access-date=2017-04-23}}</ref> It received two ARIA Award nominations in 2014 for Virginia Read's work as engineer and producer.<ref name="ARIA2014Wins">{{Cite web | url = http://www.ariaawards.com.au/history/year/2014 | title = 2014 ARIA Awards Winners By Year |publisher = Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) | access-date = 9 October 2014 }}</ref>

He released a recording of ''Mussorgsky's Pictures at an Exhibition'' for ABC/Universal<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://shop.abc.net.au/products/tedeschi-s-mussorgsky-pictures-at-an-exhibition-cd|title=Simon Tedeschi – Mussorgsky: Pictures at an Exhibition|last=Unit|first=Commercial Development|website=ABC Shop|access-date=2017-04-23}}</ref> and performed Rachmaninoff's Piano concerto no. 4 with the Sydney Symphony Orchestra.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.sydneysymphony.com/concerts-and-tickets/whats-on/event/symphony-for-the-common-man|title=Sydney Symphony Orchestra {{!}} Symphony for the Common Man|website=sydneysymphony.com|access-date=2017-04-23|archive-date=23 April 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170423153216/https://www.sydneysymphony.com/concerts-and-tickets/whats-on/event/symphony-for-the-common-man|url-status=dead}}</ref>

=== Media === He appeared regularly on the TV show Spicks and Specks on ABC TV,<ref>{{Citation|last=ABC TV|title=Spicks and Specks: Simon Tedeschi on Pianos|date=2014-02-19|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OqZ6D9Z9kOI |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170811235618/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OqZ6D9Z9kOI |archive-date=2017-08-11 |url-status=dead|access-date=2017-04-23}}</ref> and he participated in the Oscar-winning movie ''Shine'', where he played the hands of David Helfgott.<ref>Kelly Burke, "Of genius and geekdom", ''The Sydney Morning Herald'', 18 September 1999, Spectrum, p. 3s</ref><ref>Jane Albert, "The Face", ''The Weekend Australian'', 31 March – 1 April 2001, Review, p. R3</ref>

=== Writing ===

In 2022, Tedeschi published his first book entitled ''Fugitive'', an unclassifiable work encompassing prose poetry, philosophy, memoir, meditation, aphorism and essay; the title is a reference to Prokofiev's collection of piano miniatures, ''Visions fugitives''.<ref name=Cosic>{{cite magazine|url=https://limelightmagazine.com.au/features/simon-tedeschi-key-change/|title=Simon Tedeschi: Key Change|author=Miriam Cosic|magazine=Limelight|date=26 April 2022|access-date=26 April 2022}}</ref> It was shortlisted for the 2023 Victorian Premier's Prize for Poetry.''<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=The 2023 Victorian Premier's Literary Awards |url=https://www.wheelercentre.com/victorian-premiers-literary-awards/victorian-premiers-literary-awards-2023/ |access-date=2022-12-14 |website=The Wheeler Centre |language=en-US |archive-date=3 February 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230203100916/https://www.wheelercentre.com/victorian-premiers-literary-awards/victorian-premiers-literary-awards-2023/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>'' In May 2022, Tedeschi was announced as the winner of the ''Australian Book Review''{{'}}s Calibre Prize for his essay "This woman my grandmother".<ref>{{cite magazine|last=Tedeschi|first=Simon|url=https://www.australianbookreview.com.au/abr-online/current-issue/977-may-2022-no-442/9101-2022-calibre-essay-prize-winner-this-woman-my-grandmother-by-simon-tedeschi|title=This woman my grandmother|date=May 2022|magazine=Australian Book Review}}{{subscription required}}</ref> ''Fugitive'' was shortlisted for the Judith Wright Calanthe Award for a Poetry Collection at the 2023 Queensland Literary Awards.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-08-02 |title=Queensland Literary Awards 2023 shortlists |url=https://www.booksandpublishing.com.au/articles/2023/08/02/234999/queensland-literary-awards-2023-shortlists/ |access-date=2023-08-02 |publisher=Books+Publishing}}</ref>

=== Work for children === He played the role of Mozart in Sydney Opera House's ''Babies Proms'',<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://en.damai.cn/event/tickets_109790/|title=Sydney Opera House Babies Proms – Meeting Mozart in Beijing|website=en.damai.cn|access-date=2017-04-23|archive-date=23 April 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170423160818/https://en.damai.cn/event/tickets_109790/|url-status=dead}}</ref> and performed a show based on his childhood, ''Simon Tedeschi: Pianist and Prankster'' at the Monkey Baa Theatre Company.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://riversideparramatta.com.au/show/simon-tedeschi-pianist-and-prankster/|title=Simon Tedeschi: Pianist and Prankster » Riverside Parramatta|website=riversideparramatta.com.au|access-date=2017-04-23}}</ref>

==Discography== ===Albums=== {| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" border="1" |+ List of albums, with selected details ! Title ! Details |- ! scope="row" | ''Simon Tedeschi'' | * Released: 2000 * Format: CD * Label: |- ! scope="row" | ''Piano Concertos: Tchaikovsky, Grieg'' <br> (with The Queensland Orchestra & Richard Bonynge) | * Released: 2006 * Format: CD * Label: |- ! scope="row" | ''Simon Tedeschi & Ian Cooper'' <br> (with Ian Cooper) | * Released: 2008 * Format: * Label: |- ! scope="row" | ''Gershwin & Me'' | * Released: 2012 * Format: CD, Digital * Label: ABC Classics (ABC 481 0032) |- ! scope="row" | ''Mozart: Piano Concerto No. 23, KV488'' <br> (with Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra & Alexander Briger) | * Released: 2013 * Format: CD, Digital * Label: ABC Classics (ABC 481 0189) |- ! scope="row" | ''Gershwin & Me: Take Two'' | * Released: 2013 * Format: CD, Digital * Label: ABC Classics (ABC 481 0629) |- ! scope="row" | ''Tender Earth: Australian Music for Piano'' | * Released: 2014 * Format: CD, Digital * Label: ABC Classics (ABC 481 0960) |- ! scope="row" | ''Enoch Arden'' <br> (with Alfred Tennyson, Richard Strauss & John Bell) | * Released: 2017 * Format: CD, Digital * Label: ABC Classics (ABC 481 5558) |- ! scope="row" | ''A Winter's Tale'' <br> (with Roger Benedict) | * Released: 2018 * Format: CD, Digital * Label: ABC Classics (ABC 481 6751) |}

== Awards == Tedeschi was awarded the ABC Young Performer of the Year in 1998,<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.abc.net.au/classic/content/2016/08/18/4520361.htm|title=ABC Classic FM – Young Performers Awards returns in 2017|website=ABC Classic FM |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170423152200/http://www.abc.net.au/classic/content/2016/08/18/4520361.htm|archive-date=2017-04-23|url-status=dead|access-date=2017-04-23|quote=The competition has been an important launch-pad for many successful music careers, unearthing an extraordinary number of talents including Simon Tedeschi}}</ref> performing the Ginastera Piano Concerto no. 1 with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra under the baton of Jun Märkl.{{cn|date=March 2026}}

He was the winner of the top prize in the keyboard section of the Royal Over-Seas League Music Competition in London (2002).<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.rosl.org.uk/13-rosl-arts/music|title=Royal Over-Seas League|website=Royal Over-Seas League (ROSL)|access-date=2017-04-23}}</ref>

In January 2001 Tedeschi was awarded a Centenary of Federation Medal with a citation, "For service as a Young Australian of the Year Finalist."<ref name="Honours">{{cite web | url = https://honours.pmc.gov.au/honours/awards/1128083 | title = Award Extract – Name Tedeschi, Simon | work = Australian Honours Search Facility | publisher = Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet | access-date = 9 February 2018 }}</ref>

===ARIA Music Awards=== The ARIA Music Awards is an annual awards ceremony that recognises excellence, innovation, and achievement across all genres of Australian music. They commenced in 1987. {{awards table}} ! {{Abbr|Ref.|Reference}} |- | 2000 | ''Simon Tedeschi'' | Best Classical Album | {{nom}} |rowspan="2" | <ref name="ARIAClassical">ARIA Award previous winners. {{cite web|url=https://www.ariaawards.com.au/history/award/best-classical-album?view=list#|title=ARIA Awards – Winners by Award|publisher=Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA)|access-date=12 November 2018}}</ref> |- | 2006 | ''Piano Concertos: Tchaikovsky, Grieg'' (with The Queensland Orchestra & Richard Bonynge) | Best Classical Album | {{nom}} |- |rowspan="2" | 2014 |rowspan="2" | Virginia Read for ''Gershwin: Take Two'' | Engineer of the Year | {{nom}} |rowspan="2" | |- | Producer of the Year | {{nom}} |- | 2023 | ''Debussy – Ravel'' (with Roger Benedict) | Best Classical Album | {{nominated}} | <ref name="ARIA2023noms">{{cite web|url=https://musicfeeds.com.au/news/nominees-announced-for-2023-aria-awards/|title= Nominees Announced for 2023 ARIA Awards|website=Music Feeds|date=21 September 2023|access-date=24 September 2023}}</ref> |- {{end}}

== Notes == {{Notelist}}

==References== {{reflist}}

==External links== *{{official website|https://www.simontedeschi.com/}} *[http://www.theaustralian.com.au/arts/simon-tedeschi-hearing-a-different-beat/story-e6frg8n6-1225885716673 "Simon Tedeschi: hearing a different beat"] by Sharon Verghis, ''The Australian'', 3 July 2010 *[http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/entertainment/arts/piano-star-simon-tedeschi-shares-the-keys-to-his-success-in-school-holiday-show/story-fniv7r7y-1227063765167 "Piano star Simon Tedeschi shares the keys to his success in school holiday show"] by Chris Hook, ''The Daily Telegraph'', 20 September 2014 *{{IMDb name|nm0853738|Simon Tedeschi}} *{{YouTube|ObLf72aTNdo|Simon Tedeschi plays}} his transcription of Danny Elfman's theme for ''The Simpsons''

{{Portal bar|Biography|Classical music}} {{Authority control|state=collapsed}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Tedeschi, Simon}} Category:1981 births Category:Living people Category:People from Gosford Category:Musicians from Sydney Category:Australian male classical pianists Category:21st-century Australian classical pianists Category:21st-century Australian male musicians Category:21st-century Australian musicians Category:21st-century male pianists