A Q&A with Dawn Hardwick, pianist and Artistic Director of The John Psathas Group

Ahead of the launch of The John Psathas Group, we chatted with London-based Welsh pianist and Artistic Director Dawn Hardwick about her long collaborative history and friendship with John Psathas, and what she's most looking forward to about the tour with Chamber Music New Zealand. 

What is it about John’s works that has so gripped you?​

I had never before heard such a fusion of Jazz, World Music, Rock – all so effortlessly intertwined with virtuosic classical techniques and such a huge focus on rhythm and intensity. It was wild and crazy, yet also elegant and heart-wrenching. It quite literally blew me away and I was hungry for more.​

​Since this first venture of mine into John’s music, so many other things now appeal further. Video/multimedia content, backing tracks, click tracks, political and environmental content – it’s an ever-changing soundscape that constantly surprises and challenges the listener and the performer.

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How did you first come across the work of John Psathas?

It was around twelve years ago when I got a random phone call from an orchestral manager in the UK asking me to perform a piano/percussion concerto with Dame Evelyn Glennie – one of those ‘phone calls of a lifetime’ in which you are slightly stunned and have to double-check if they are calling the correct person! What else was I to answer but a resounding ‘yes’?

The piece to be performed was John’s View from Olympus. I had never heard John’s music before and after a few months of totally immersing myself in this and some other of his works, I reached out to John to introduce myself and ask if he would potentially be interested in a commission from my chamber group at the time; a six-piano ensemble called Piano Circus. I was so delighted that John was enthusiastic to write for us, and here began a long friendship and musical collaboration that I very much hope will last years into the future.

Over the course of the last twelve or so years John and I have travelled far, performed in so many different scenarios - festivals, theatres, concert halls, and recording studios. We have coached, taught, planned, fundraised, made spreadsheets, socialised, been on road trips, sat on the beach, ate, drank, argued, despaired, and laughed a whole lot. John is my most important musical collaborator and cherished friend.

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You are credited as the Artistic Director, which is very interesting in a chamber music ensemble. Can you explain a little bit about what this role entails?

This is such an honour for me. About two years ago, John and I had a chat on the phone and I brought this idea up with the preface: ‘I’ve had an idea and you’ll probably hate it!’.

I didn’t see why there was in existence a ‘Steve Reich Ensemble’, ‘Bang On a Can’, ‘Philip Glass Ensemble’, ‘Colin Currie Group’ – so many others, but no John Psathas Group! John went away and thought about it for a while, and said something along the lines of, “If we take this further the only way I’m doing it is with you as Director of the group, do you agree?” I agreed!

My current role is ever-changing but, at the moment, I am the ‘go-between’ between the players and the production team. Apart from practising piano parts myself, I am in constant communication with John, George and Jack (our sound engineers), and CMNZ to talk all things tour, and to make sure that everyone is up to date with necessary information.

Eventually, the ‘Artistic’ nature will take the fore and I will take over from John some other aspects of the group, but John will always remain the Programming Director. An artistic director is necessary for a group with a lifespan, and this is what we intend for the John Psathas Group.

Earlier in the year, you performed with John in the Aotearoa New Zealand Festival of the Arts. How is this performance going to be different?

Both different and similar. We have video content that is pretty fun to watch, although it can be challenging and hardcore in places. The content will be similar – this music comes with a message! This time there will be a stage full of performers, and that will be inherently ‘watchable’ from an audience perspective. I encourage everyone to come and watch, listen, and share with us their views in a performance that will challenge the status quo of what is considered ‘classical music’.

Have you worked with Stephen, Katarzyna and Fabian before?

I haven’t! I have met Fabian in person a few times but we have never all performed together. John was adamant when we began talks about a potential ‘John Psathas Group’, that these were the correct musicians to invite for the inaugural tour. It has been such a brilliant few months getting to know these musicians online, via email and text, to work out various aspects of the tour and to get to know each other. I already know that we will be kindred spirits and of course, we all share in the love of John’s music.

What are you most looking forward to about the tour?

Where do I begin? To be absolutely immersed in this astounding music and epic concert experiences. To work with leading instrumentalists brought together from all corners of the globe; with CMNZ, John as both composer and performer, sound engineers, technicians, concert managers, all of whom are absolutely at the top of their game. What an extraordinary collective!

To travel in New Zealand – a huge privilege. I could not think of a better way to launch what is going to be a fruitful, forward-looking project in a country with such inspirational settings.

This is a bucket list experience coming up, and I do have to pinch myself occasionally that it is really about to happen. I consider myself one extremely lucky pianist.

​The John Psathas Group will be performing from 4 - 15 August throughout Aotearoa New Zealand.

• Auckland, Tuesday 4 Aug, 7.30pm, Concert Chamber, Auckland Live
• Hamilton, Wednesday 5 Aug, 7.30pm, Gallagher Academy of Performing Arts
• Hastings, Friday 7 Aug, 7.30pm, Toitoi - Hawke's Bay Arts & Events Centre
• Wellington, Sunday 9 Aug, 5pm, Michael Fowler Centre
• Nelson, Tuesday 11 Aug, 7.30pm, Nelson Centre of Musical Arts
• Christchurch, Thursday 13 Aug, 7.30pm, The Piano
• Dunedin, Saturday 15 Aug, 7.30pm, Glenroy Auditorium